Spring checklist for boat electrical systems

Spring is the season where bad electrical connections come to haunt you. Moisture and salt air are the natural enemies of your boat’s wiring, so a focused electrical audit is essential before your first launch. Here is your targeted Spring Electrical & Electronics Checklist.

Battery Bank & Charging

Your batteries are the heart of the system. After sitting all winter, they need a checkup.  

• Clean terminals
• Check for bulging or leaking cases. If a battery is swollen it needs to be replaced
• Voltage check, a 12 volt battery should read 12.5 volts or more when full.
• Load test - load up the battery as much as possible to see if it can hold its voltage under load
• Check connections and tighten as necessary.  Wingnuts are no longer permissible.

Wiring and Distribution

• Tug Test - Gently tug on wire terminations to make sure terminals and crimps are tight.
• Fuse Blocks - Look for blown fuses
• Bilge pump - lift the float switch to ensure the pump turns on

Navigation and Communication

• VHF Radio  Perform a radio check
• Chartplotter - power up and check for software update.  Update charts
• Transducers - clean transducers before launching
• NMEA 2000 - Make sure all the devices are talking to each other

Lighting and Accessories

• Navigation lights - Test for correct operation
• Blowers - ensure correct operation of engine room blower

Shore Power

• Check shore power cord and shore power intake for burnt ends
• Test galvanic isolator
• Test GFI receptacles on board
• Test operation of battery charger