Charging the battery is automatically done on boats equipped with engines that have alternators or generators, but this does not automatically relieve the boat owner of problems associated with battery charging. If, for example, the craft is not operated frequently, or if the time of operation is so brief that the battery does not receive a full charge, sulfating of the battery’s plates can take place and considerably reduce the lifespan of the battery. This type of undercharging can produce a hard, coarse, crystalline-type of sulfate on the plates that does not readily convert to normal, active material. It also can set up strains on the plates that can produce buckling when the battery receives a sudden or prolonged charging, as on a long trip, or by an alternator or generator regulating system out of adjustment. The buckled plates can pinch the separators causing perforations and an internal short circuit.
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