Common Reasons for Battery Damage?

Question:

How often should batteries be checked? And what could have caused the amount of damage seen in the batteries on my boat?

Answer:

Hi Andrew,

The liquid level of your batteries should be checked once a month, especially if the batteries are cycled. With experience, you could check every 2 or 3 months. Be careful you do not overfill since the optimal height of liquid in your battery differs for each model and manufacturer. We recommend that you contact your battery dealer and they will know what the best liquid height for your batteries.

The damage to your batteries could have been caused by incorrect maintenance and not having the correct amount of liquid. This is not uncommon; we recently saw a case where there was almost no liquid in the batteries, and the owner was unaware that it was necessary to maintain the liquid level in order to prevent damage.