Trolling motor battery winter storage question

[Randyjr.]

This is my first trolling motor. I've got the battery inside for the winter. Do I need to trickle charge or do anything with it while it is in winter storage? Distilled water was added in October after my last time out.

[BobT]

Make sure it is fully charged when you put it away. Put a charger on it periodically to make sure it is maintained at full charge.

There are some chargers out there that can be used to maintain it during the off season but if you check it once in a while you'll be fine. I check mine about once a month.

Speaking of which, it's about time for me to do that again.

[CaptainBly]

Don't set it direcly on the concrete put a board down first. I think I was told that by leaving on the concrete it will lose its charge faster. Maybe someone can correct me. Check the charge once a month.

[Whoaru99]

Don't set it direcly on the concrete put a board down first. I think I was told that by leaving on the concrete it will lose its charge faster. Maybe someone can correct me. Check the charge once a month.

Afaik, that has been pretty well debunked.

[Whoaru99]

FWIW, I just left mine in the boat all year, winter included. Left the OB charger plugged in most of the time, especially during winter. The batteries are shot now and I need all new ones this spring....after eight years and some odd months.

[BobT]

FWIW, I just left mine in the boat all year, winter included. Left the OB charger plugged in most of the time, especially during winter. The batteries are shot now and I need all new ones this spring....after eight years and some odd months.

Same here on leaving them in the boat. I once thought otherwise but recently learned (on this site) that it is actually better for the battery to store it cold. The chemical reaction in the battery slows down when it is cold and it actually loses charge at a slower rate than it would if it was kept warm. The important thing is to make sure it doesn't lose its charge enough to freeze. Putting a charger on it once in a while will help maintain its charge level.

There are also maintenance chargers that are safe to leave on all the time I believe.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I leave mine in the boat, but have a battery maintainer on them. Got it at Northern Tool.