Over charged boat batteries??

[bigdog]

Put away the boat yesterday and noticed some water/acid in the all three of the trays. Question is why? The batteries are all 2 years old and none were cracked. My first thought was that they were overcharged and overflowed. But I have a Dual-Pro Sportsman built-in charger that should go to trickle charge automatically. Any ideas.

[musky hunter]

I've noticed the same thing. I think what is being seeing is acid fume condensation. Hyrodgen bubbles carries a small amount of battery fluid out with them, and it condenses inside the battery case. It apparently is not harmful to aluminum. But it left a mess, and I easily cleaned it up with a solution of baking soda and water.

[Animal]

I noticed this as well. I think that the boat takes a pretty good jostling while being trailerd. Unless the batteries are sealed there is venting in the caps. I think that what we are finding is a result of a little over-spill through the vents.

[cableguy031]

Be careful with that battery acid there pal... I lost a good shirt and a pair of shorts because I failed to see the leaking/pooling battery juice. The acid will eat your clothes out like no tomorrow, your clothes will literrally fall apart, it becomes so brittle that even a 4 year old child can reduce your shirt into shred without much effort.

[musky hunter]

I second the battery acid comment. A couple years ago while removing the batteries from the boat there was just a little residue on the plastic battery case. I was wearing a new Carhart jacket. Next day at work I was shocked to see what looked like a knife cut right across the front of the battery, it was just about the length of the battery case. I've also got a pair of jeans with acid splatter on them, now it looks like those jeans that were intentionally shot for style.