Boston Whaler 20 Justice Series, Operation & Maintenance Manual

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Section 6 Boat Maintenance
Off-Season Storage
All boat and engine systems must be carefully pre-
pared for long periods of non-use. This preparation is
particularly important in regions where you experience
extreme changes in temperature or where the temper-
ature is consistently below freezing.
Outboards
You must protect your outboard engine from freeze
damage and from internal corrosion caused by
extreme changes in temperature. Store your outboard
in the vertical, operating position to avoid trapping
water in the cooling system passageways. Trapped
water can freeze and cause extensive damage.
Internal engine parts can be damaged by corrosion
due to lack of proper storage lubrication. Your out-
board engine operator’s manual has a detailed proce-
dure for adding extra internal lubrication just before the
engines are stored.
Follow all the storage and winterization recommenda-
tions in your outboard operator’s manual.
Batteries
Remove the batteries from the boat during cold
weather or off-season storage. Always protect the
batteries from freezing temperatures.
You must not allow your batteries to become com-
pletely discharged. As a battery discharges, the active
material on both positive and negative plates changes
to lead sulfate, causing the plates to become similar in
chemical composition. The battery electrolyte
becomes weaker and the voltage drops. As the bat-
tery remains discharged, this process continues until
recharging the battery becomes impossible.
Leave the batteries in their plastic boxes. Store the
batteries in a cool, dry location. Check the battery
condition monthly during storage to avoid serious
damage.
Make sure the batteries are fully charged before you
reinstall them.