One of the late Dr Wright's boats sank last week. I pumped it out, cleaned/started engine with my truck battery, and like that. My question is: the fairly new Optima "Blue Top" battery was completly submerged. It has discharged it's charge during submersion,as evidenced by the amount of electolitic residue on the Suzuki's metal surfaces. Would it be possible,since this is a sealed battery system,to recharge a battery after being underwater for a couple of days? I am thinking of using a trickle charger rather than our big garage type charger and seeing if it will hold. I put this post on this heading rather than the maintenance and repair section,as I want the opinion of our regulars.

Try it out, what can it hurt? It will either hold the charge or not. I personally do not have any experience with this situation.

As a marine mechanic, I like to call myself, if the boat was submerged in salt water, just throw it to the curb and get another one. The electrolic action also happened between the poles on the battery, causing it to discharge at a quick, more than normal, rate. If you want to give it a shot, go ahead. Just make sure that you do it on the back 40 away from the house. This is just in case it does overheat and explode or if it no longer completely seal, only heat will tell, the phosgene gas won't kill you. Don't mean to make it sound scarey, but is a possibilty.

Thanks for the input...Will test and report.
Also have a failed transom mounted hydrolic lift, which I hope proves to be wiring. New Suzukis are nice, but so darned compact,it's tough to see stuff...

I have a 500 CCA Marine Battery that I bought when I was in a Hurry Its Too small for my Boat I needed a 1000 CCA.You can have It if you need one I was going to just let it sit around till >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

hey adder ... tell us a little more here. so it sounds like it sunk in a slip, but the engine was not completely under water? just curious about what all you find out as you get her back together. is it a decent sized suzuki 4 stroke?

as for the battery ... i woudn't put a charger on it, even if it does not blow, i wouldnt be able to trust it.

good luck ... bo

I own 4 Optima Blue Tops. 2 of them spent 2 days under water. One held a charge after a charge/load-test/charge cycle (3amp), the other didnt. I cleaned up the one that was a bust and sent it to Optima. They replaced it at no charge. Now I have 4 working blue tops...

Try it. It wont blow-up, it just wont hold a charge if busted.

...BTW, AWESOME batteries.

All problems have been solved. Either the Boat Fairy came Sunday Night or our boat mechanic(pronounced "maniac") put a new battery and a heavy duty bilge pump in the boat. (Of course, it was following his directions the boat sank in the first place.He suggested leaving the deck drain plugs out to allow rain water to escape. Of course we would not use plugs anyway if the baffles were any good,and did not leak. So the water came in and eventually defeated the old bilge pump,then the battery, and sank. I keep the skiff tied up on the floating dock,which prevented more of the 50hp Suzuki from going under) Oh,well.Alls well now.I hope.

Damn! F-the boat....how is the battery(ies)....;0

Speaking of Dr. Wright, I was speck fishing in Lynnhaven yesterday and cruised down Long Creek through all the spot fishermen. Sure didn't look the same without the big red boat and the old doc trying to catch a citation yellow belly.

Yeah, I hate for Thursdays to roll around now.

Late Dr. Wright? Did I miss something in the news?

Yes. He expired in late August. Many threads on this board are more eloquent than I,if you look at some of the Ches.Bay forum late August/early September.

I had two batteries go under last year as well. Pulled them out, cleaned them up, put the charger on them, and gave them a full charge. They have been working ever since, but I also make it a habit to take my portable battery booster with me just in case. The hot wires were burnt in my throttle handle causing me to loose the motor lifts as well. Replaced all cable/wire connectors and boat has been running strong ever since. Good luck.