Charging Your Legend Boat Battery: A Step-By-Step Guide

Legend Boats marine batteries are essential for firing up your motor and running other electrical accessories like trolling motors, sonar units, GPS units, livewells, and bilge pumps. There are two types of marine batteries: Cranking and Deep Cycle. Cranking batteries are designed for short bursts of energy to start the motor, while Deep Cycle batteries are meant for consistent use over longer periods to power accessories. To ensure optimal performance and longevity, it's crucial to properly charge your Legend Boat battery. Improper charging is the leading cause of early battery death, so following the correct charging procedure is essential.

How to charge a Legend boat battery without causing damage

To charge a Legend boat battery without causing damage, there are a few key steps to follow. Firstly, it's important to understand the two types of marine batteries: cranking batteries and deep-cycle batteries. Cranking batteries deliver an instant burst of energy to start the motor and then need to rest and recuperate, while deep-cycle batteries provide consistent power over an extended period to electrical accessories. Most larger fishing boats have at least one of each.

To ensure optimal performance and longevity of your Legend boat battery, follow these steps:

• Choose the Right Charger: Match the charger to your battery's chemistry and voltage. If you have multiple batteries, ensure the charger can accommodate all of them. Select between an onboard or portable charger, with the former being more convenient and the latter being more portable and affordable.
• Select the Right Time: The optimal charging temperature for ionic lithium batteries is above freezing, but they can be charged at temperatures as low as -4°F to -131°F without causing damage. Avoid extreme temperatures to ensure safe and efficient charging.
• Clean the Battery Terminals: Grimy battery terminals can disrupt the charging process, so clean them before charging to ensure efficiency and prevent delays.
• Connect the Battery Charger Properly: Connect the red (positive) cable to the red terminal and the black (negative) cable to the black terminal. Plug in the charger and turn it on.
• Monitor the Charging Process: If you're using a smart charger, it will stop charging automatically. Ionic lithium chargers often have Bluetooth for easy monitoring. With a lead-acid charger, set a timer to manually disconnect it when it's finished.
• Disconnect the Charger Once Fully Charged: Once the battery is fully charged, unplug the charger and then disconnect the cables, starting with the black cable.

By following these steps, you can safely and effectively charge your Legend boat battery, ensuring optimal performance and a long lifespan.

The importance of keeping your Legend boat battery charged

Legend boat batteries are essential for a range of functions, from firing up the motor to powering on-board electronics such as sonar units, GPS, livewells, and VHF radios. Therefore, keeping your Legend boat battery charged is of utmost importance to ensure a smooth and enjoyable boating experience.

Extended Battery Life

By keeping your Legend boat battery charged, you can significantly extend its lifespan. A fully charged battery can last up to 10 years, while a neglected battery may fail much sooner. When a battery is left discharged, lead sulfate slowly hardens, making it increasingly difficult to charge and more prone to quick discharge. As a result, the battery becomes less effective and will need to be replaced sooner.

Avoid Deep Discharges

Deep discharges, or draining the battery below 50% of its capacity, can severely shorten its service life. By keeping your Legend boat battery charged, you can avoid this issue and ensure the battery can handle the power load. Regularly discharging the battery more than 10% of its capacity can also be mitigated by keeping it charged, as this will prevent the need for frequent deep discharges.

Optimal Performance

A well-maintained and charged Legend boat battery will provide optimal performance. This includes ensuring the battery can handle the power demands of various on-board electronics and accessories. A charged battery will also help avoid issues such as power interruptions or a complete loss of power while out on the water.

Cost Savings

Replacing a Legend boat battery can be costly, typically ranging from $100 to $500. By keeping your battery charged and maintained, you can avoid the expense of frequent replacements. Additionally, a well-charged battery can help reduce maintenance costs associated with improper charging or deep discharges.

Peace of Mind

A charged Legend boat battery provides peace of mind while out on the water. You can rest assured that your boat will start reliably, and your on-board electronics will function as expected. This is especially important for safety equipment, such as navigation lights, and for maintaining communication devices such as VHF radios.

How to prevent deep discharges in your Legend boat battery

Deep discharges are a common cause of early battery death. Here are some tips to prevent deep discharges in your Legend boat battery:

Firstly, it's important to understand the two types of marine batteries: cranking batteries and deep-cycle batteries. Cranking batteries deliver an instant burst of energy to start your motor and then need to rest and recuperate. Deep-cycle batteries, on the other hand, provide consistent power over an extended period to electrical accessories. Most larger fishing boats will have at least one of each.

To prevent deep discharges, you must match the battery size to the expected load. This means ensuring that the battery is powerful enough to handle the electrical demands of your boat and its accessories. If you regularly discharge your battery, consider investing in deep-cycle batteries, as they can survive numerous cycles of charging and discharging, which starting batteries are not designed for.

Another way to prevent deep discharges is to recharge more often. Multi-step marine chargers can be helpful in this regard, as they charge your battery more quickly and prevent overcharging. They charge your battery to about 60-70% capacity, then keep the voltage constant, allowing the battery to charge to 90-95%. They then switch to a lower voltage float mode to safely charge the battery to its maximum capacity.

Additionally, keep your battery charged and maintained. When a battery is left discharged, lead sulfate slowly hardens, making it more difficult to charge and causing it to discharge more quickly. This creates a vicious cycle that will eventually render your battery useless. So, be sure to fully charge your battery and keep it charged.

Finally, avoid extreme temperatures, as they can hinder the chemical process that produces electricity inside your battery. In cold weather, ensure your batteries are fully charged and periodically check that they remain charged. In hot weather, park your boat inside a garage or in the shade to prevent the battery from baking.

How to clean your Legend boat battery terminals

Legend Boats marine batteries are responsible for powering your motor, as well as other electronics like trolling motors, sonar units, GPS units, livewells, and more. To keep your battery in good condition, it's important to perform regular maintenance, including cleaning the battery terminals. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to clean your Legend boat battery terminals:

• Create a Cleaning Solution: In a container, mix 4 cups of water with 6 tablespoons of baking soda. Stir the mixture until it forms a paste-like consistency. This solution will help remove corrosion and grime from the battery terminals.
• Apply the Solution: Using a toothbrush or a clean cloth, dip it into the paste and scrub the battery terminals. Make sure to cover all corroded areas thoroughly. The baking soda mixture will react with the corrosion, neutralizing it and making it easier to remove.
• Option to Remove Battery Posts: If you want to clean more thoroughly, you can choose to remove the battery posts. When removing the posts, always start with the negative (-) post first and reinstall it last. This is an important safety precaution.
• Rinse and Dry: Once you've applied the cleaning solution and scrubbed the terminals, rinse the battery with water to remove any remaining residue. After rinsing, allow the battery to dry completely before proceeding. This step is crucial, as water and electricity can be a dangerous combination.
• Reinstall and Test: If you removed the battery posts, now is the time to reinstall them. Reinstall the positive (+) post first, followed by the negative (-) post. Ensure they are securely connected. Once your battery is reassembled, test it by connecting it to your Legend boat.

By regularly cleaning your Legend boat battery terminals, you'll ensure good electrical contact and a smooth flow of power to your devices. Remember to take safety precautions when handling batteries and always wear protective gear, such as gloves and eye protection.

How to know when your Legend boat battery is fully charged

Legend Boats marine batteries are available in two types: cranking and deep-cycle. Cranking batteries deliver a short burst of energy to start your motor, while deep-cycle batteries provide consistent power over a longer period to electrical accessories. To ensure your Legend boat battery is fully charged, follow these steps:

• Check the voltage: Use a battery tester or voltage meter to check the voltage. A fully charged marine battery should have a reading of 12.8 volts, while around 12.4 volts is sufficient to power onboard technical components.
• Maintain the water level: Keep the water level topped up, ensuring it never drops below the level of the plates. Use distilled water, as regular tap water may contain harmful substances that can damage the battery.
• Prevent extreme temperatures: Extreme heat or cold can damage the battery. Park your boat in a garage or under shade during hot weather, and ensure the battery is fully charged before storing it for the winter.
• Avoid deep discharges: Regularly discharging the battery below 50% of its capacity will shorten its lifespan. Match the battery size to the expected load, or consider purchasing deep-cycle batteries, which can better handle frequent discharges.
• Use a multi-step marine charger: These chargers prevent overcharging and efficiently charge your battery to its maximum capacity. They initially charge your battery to 14.4 VDC, then keep the voltage constant at that level until the battery reaches 90-95% capacity. Finally, they switch to a lower voltage float mode to safely complete the charging.

By following these steps, you can ensure your Legend boat battery is fully charged and maintained, extending its lifespan and improving its performance.

Frequently asked questions