Salt Water Boating; Battery Maintenance - CORRECT CRAFT Sport Nautique Owner's Manual

NOTE: BE SURE THE ENGINE IS OFF WHEN YOU ARE DRAINING
YOUR OIL. (See Chapter 8 for step-by-step instructions)

Salt Water Boating

IF YOU USE YOUR BOAT IN SALT WATER, FLUSHING YOUR ENGINE
AND COOING SYSTEM IS A MUST. Flushing the system by running the
boat in fresh water is a good way to flush the engine, but it must be done
immediately. If this is not possible, Correct Craft offers a optional fresh water
flush kit. The relief valve in this fitting prevents excessive water pressure from
being applied to your engine. We strongly recommend the use of this system
for boats that are used in salt water.

Battery Maintenance

WARNING: The battery cables should be removed from the battery
when the boat is placed in storage, on display, or in transit. This will
eliminate the possibility of the engine accidentally starting without a
supply of cooling water and damaging the engine.
Here are several suggestions for the care and cleaning of your marine battery:
• DO wear eye protection and rubber gloves when working on or around
batteries.
• DO take care when connecting or disconnecting a battery charger. Be sure
the charger is turned off and unplugged from power source when you clip
on/off the connecting clamps. Make sure you have a solid connection with
the charging clamps. Poor connections are common causes of electrical arcs
which can cause an explosion. Follow the instructions.
• DO use a voltmeter or hydrometer to check the battery charge condition.
• DO NOT smoke or bring a flame near a battery at any time.
• DO NOT have your head directly above a battery when making or breaking
electrical connections.
• DO NOT use a metal object to spark between battery posts to check if the
battery is charged.
• DO NOT make or break electrical circuits at the battery terminals; a spark
usually occurs when a live circuit is opened or made.
To clean your battery, remove and wash down the battery case with a diluted
ammonia or baking soda/water solution to neutralize the acid, then flush with
fresh water. Keep the fill/vent caps tight so the neutralizing solution does not
get into the battery cells.
The electrolyte level should be checked every 30 days. Add distilled water to
maintain the level between the top of the plates and the bottom of the fill/vent
cap. Do not overfill and remember that batteries contain sulfuric acid which
can cause severe burns.
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