How to Wire a Sailboat Battery

For many, unfurrowing the sails and setting a course into blue water is the epitome of sailing. Heading out for calm waters and stout winds is a pastime that gets you out of the urban rat race. Sailboats typically have two electrical systems: An AC-based shore system, in which connections are plugged directly to the vessel, and an at-sea deep-cycle, or DC, battery system.

Things You'll Need

  • Adjustable wrench
  • Cola and toothbrush (optional)
  • Deep-cycle marine battery
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open the battery housing panel and locate the battery cables. Dip a toothbrush into a cup of cola-based soda and scrub off any corrosion on the cable fittings. Cola has an acid that breaks down battery acid and helps clean the corrosion off the terminals and cables.

    • 2

      Place the DC battery into the housing and pop off the rubber caps from the battery terminals. Look to see if there is a white, thin grounding wire next to the battery cables. Not all sailboats have the grounding wire. If yours does, attach the grounding wire to the black battery terminal before connecting any other cables.

    • 3

      Attach the black cable to the black terminal on the battery. Use the wrench if necessary. Attach the red cable to the red terminal.

    • 4

      Look for a second battery housing. Most sailboats run off of two DC batteries and are set on a parallel system. Place a second DC battery into the housing and attach the secondary cables off the other battery to the second DC battery. Connect the secondary cables -- found in the housing -- going red-to-red and black-to-black between both DC batteries.