Boat Summerization Tips: Get Your Boat On The Water Safely And Promptly (NAPSA)—Boating season is well on its way and boat owners are looking forward to some summer fun. Unfortunately, that first trip to the lake can be a short one if the boat has not been properly maintained over the winter and fully prepared for use. The main culprit in a boat that won't start or doesn’t last the first day on the water is a faulty battery or electrical system. Optima Batteries offers the following helpful tips to boaters getting their rig out of storage this spring. First of all, check and clean all electrical terminals on your batteries. Clean connections are important to electrical system performance. Next, fully charge your batteries. Once charged, check the Open Circuit Voltage, or OCV (the battery’s voltage with nothing connected to it). A voltmeter should read at least 12.45 volts; any less and you should have your batteries professionally checked. If you have to buy a new set of batteries, several technologies are available. Traditional flooded and gel-cell lead-acid batteries can be purchased at most automotive or marine retail outlets, but do not feature the latest technology available to consumers. An advanced-technology battery like an Optima BlueTop lasts longer and provides more cycling and cranking power than other batteries on the market today. Advanced-technology batteries are also more forgiving to misuse and abuse. For instance, Optima batteries are 15 times more vibration resistant than standard batteries and can > 4 # be stored for up to 12 months while maintaining enough charge to start your engine. Once you have your batteries checked, charged and ready to go, reconnect all the power cables. All cables should have been disconnected while in storage to eliminate any draw from electronics. Make sure to tighten all terminal connections fully, as loose connections can cause electrical problems and are unsafe. Then checkall electrical equipment including live-wells, bilge pump(s) and runninglights to ensure they are operating properly. The middle of the lake is not the place to find out your equipmentis not in working condition. It is easier than ever for consumers to get their boats ready for use. Batteries, including advanced-technology marine batteries like Optima, spark plugs, oil, lightbulbs, electrical connectors and other marine products are available at marine stores and automotive stores across the coun- try. For a list of battery and equipment dealers across the country, visit www.optimabatteries.com.
