"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Boater" wrote in message
...


I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in
the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on
its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of
batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I
sold that boat.


I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good
shape regardless of how
well they were cared for. Don't like surprises.

Eisboch

Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the
battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old.
Surprized me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and
engine starts easy now.

My vehicle batteries usually last 5-7 years ... even with our 4 months of
winter

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Boater" wrote in message
...


I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in
the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on
its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of
batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I
sold that boat.


I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good
shape regardless of how
well they were cared for. Don't like surprises.

Eisboch

Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the
battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old. Surprized
me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and engine starts
easy now.

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Boater" wrote in message
...


I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in
the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on
its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of
batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I
sold that boat.


I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good
shape regardless of how
well they were cared for. Don't like surprises.

Eisboch

Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the
battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old.
Surprized me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and
engine starts easy now.

My vehicle batteries usually last 5-7 years ... even with our 4 months of
winter



You probably don't drive much either.

That was good information about storing batteries on a cement floor.

Do you have the link to the source.

In summary:

1) Because the battery cases are better that they once were storing a
battey on a cement floor will not **by it's self **accelerate self
discharge BUT.

2) The difference in temperature between the floor and the room CAN
accelerate sefl discharge so....

3) A cold cement floor and a warm garage might not be a good
combination.

So since it costs nothing I'm going to be sure NOT to store my
batteries on a cement floor. I dont know about you but my garage floor
is frequently much colder than the garage. (especially in bare feet
looking for a clean towel in the morning before a shower)

This is similar to the distilled water vs tap water debate. For the $2
per year I'll use distilled water.

Kip

On Jan 2, 2:21*pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in message

...







"Boater" wrote in message
...

I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in
the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on
its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of
batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I
sold that boat.

I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good
shape regardless of how
well they were cared for. *Don't like surprises.

Eisboch

Agree completely. *Wife's car was slow starting. *Was going to get the
battery tested and when *I looked at the battery was 6 years old. *Surprized
me that it lasted that long. *Got a replacement battery and engine starts
easy now.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I don't know what has changed, but used to be, a battery would slowly
go bad. My recent experiences were that the battery would go bad all
of a sudden. Three times, two in my Jeep, and one in my boat. Jeep
started perfect, drove to the office, went to leave, and nothing.
Interior light wouldn't even come on. Happened a few years later, same
vehicle. Boat battery, went out, battery dead. Charged overnight,
still dead.

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Boater" wrote in message
...


I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench
in the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger
on its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair
of batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good
when I sold that boat.


I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good
shape regardless of how
well they were cared for. Don't like surprises.

Eisboch

Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the
battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old.
Surprized me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and
engine starts easy now.

My vehicle batteries usually last 5-7 years ... even with our 4 months of
winter



You probably don't drive much either.

About 7K miles a year..plus I use an electric 'battery blanket' and a 'block
heater' when the temp dips below 10F

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Boater" wrote in message
...


I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench
in the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off
charger on its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out
of a pair of batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were
still good when I sold that boat.


I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in
good shape regardless of how
well they were cared for. Don't like surprises.

Eisboch

Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the
battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old.
Surprized me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and
engine starts easy now.

My vehicle batteries usually last 5-7 years ... even with our 4 months
of winter



You probably don't drive much either.

About 7K miles a year..plus I use an electric 'battery blanket' and a
'block heater' when the temp dips below 10F


I learned via a lighter wallet that storage in really hot weather is worse
for a battery than storage in cold weather.

Eisboch

On Fri, 2 Jan 2009 11:21:30 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"Eisboch" wrote in message
m...

"Boater" wrote in message
...


I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in
the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on
its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of
batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I
sold that boat.


I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good
shape regardless of how
well they were cared for. Don't like surprises.

Eisboch

Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the
battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old. Surprized
me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and engine starts
easy now.

Too late for that one, but I think wiping my batteries down has made
them last years longer. Do it when I change oil.
You'll notice a thin sheen of acid/oil on the battery top.
Think that's bad due to allowing some current discharge across cells.
But I'm not much on electrics.
Use a clean rag and watch the acid.
Read it many years ago and it seems to do some good.

--Vic

Calif Bill wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in message
...
"Boater" wrote in message
...

I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in
the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on
its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of
batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I
sold that boat.

I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good
shape regardless of how
well they were cared for. Don't like surprises.

Eisboch

Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the
battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old. Surprized
me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and engine starts
easy now.



If you don't use your boat often, or never go far from the dock, you
really don't need to worry about having a 5 yr old battery. If the
battery fails, you just paddle back to the dock. As Harry stated, in 5
yrs he put on less than 125 hrs on the engine because he would always
fish less than 15 min. from shore.

I automatically replace my auto battery after 5 yrs, and that is used
daily.

Don White wrote:
"Calif Bill" wrote in message
...
"Eisboch" wrote in message
...
"Boater" wrote in message
...

I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in
the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on
its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of
batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I
sold that boat.

I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good
shape regardless of how
well they were cared for. Don't like surprises.

Eisboch
Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the
battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old.
Surprized me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and
engine starts easy now.

My vehicle batteries usually last 5-7 years ... even with our 4 months of
winter



Yipeee!