Jump Start
It's fine to use jumpstart batteries on your boat - just make sure you know the safety precautions.
by David G. Brown
January 19, 2007
Q: I worry about running my battery dead while I'm out fishing on Lake Erie. Is it safe to
purchase one of those portable jumpstart batteries as a backup? Can they be used on a boat?
Jack Long, Dayton, OH
A:Self-contained jumpstart packs are a standard item around boat shops. There's no electrical
reason why you cannot use one aboard a boat. There are, however, safety considerations with a boat
that don't exist when jumpstarting an automobile.
Both gasoline fumes and hydrogen gas vented from the boat's battery present explosion
hazards. Before breaking out the jump pack, make sure to ventilate battery compartments and the
boat's bilge completely. Don't connect the jump pack if you smell gasoline fumes. A spark may set
off an explosion or cause a fire.
Wear eye protection when jumpstarting. Connect the positive (+) red clamp of the jump pack to
the boat battery first. The negative (-) black clamp is attached second, and it can be connected to
the engine block or the boat battery. The layout of the engine room will determine which location
you choose.
Be sure everyone is clear of rotating machinery before turning the key to start the engine.
Once it starts and is running smoothly, remove the black (-) negative lead first, then the positive
(+) red clamp.
If the engine doesn't start quickly, quit trying. Save what battery power you still have for
making a distress call on the VHF marine radio.
Send your BoatCraft Q&A questions to Dave Brown c/o Boating World, 2100 Powers Ferry
Road, Atlanta, GA 30339. You can also e-mail your questions to
editor@boatingworld.com. Due to the
volume of inquiries, Dave Brown will be unable to answer every question.