Preventative Maintenance of Electrical and Electronic Systems

Give your boat a good annual check up to help avoid problems on a sunny summer weekend

By Michael Kelly, Bayland Enterprises
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Time spent checking out a boat’s electrical and electronic systems is time well spent. Preventive maintenance can eliminate potential problems that may occur during the cruising season. Often small problems, such as loose or corroded connections, can cause major issues if not corrected as soon as possible. The following are a few areas to inspect this spring.

The battery is the heart of the DC electrical system, so how it is maintained has a major effect on the system as a whole.

Check the battery terminals for corrosion. If they are corroded, clean with baking soda and water. Make sure the battery caps are tight on the wet cell batteries as baking soda neutralizes the battery acid.

Have the batteries checked out with an electronic battery tester. This will show the state of the battery and will determine if it needs to be replaced.

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