Aluminum Battery tray corrosion

I am having a bad issue with corrosion (battery acid?) on my trolling motor aluminum battery trays, but is not happening on the starting battery tray. I know a little battery acid may come out during charging and once the finish came off the tray base, exposing the raw aluminum, it has continued to get worse. The tray base was originally painted black and when this started flaking off it has become a constant maintenance issue to clean.I am thinking about removing the trays, giving them a good cleaning, then re-coating them with some Flexseal / rubber coating.Has anyone had this issue and what did you do?Will the rubber coating help minimize or fix the problem?Thanks,

This topic has 9 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 5 months ago by NFCSOB.

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November 13, 2017 at 2:56 pm #455050

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

This could possibly be an issue of over-charging the batteries. The aluminum trays are powder coated, so using a rubber based coating may help. Depending on the amount of acid making it to the tray, the rubber could fail also.BCB

November 14, 2017 at 12:46 am #455051

NFCSOB
Participant

I don’t see how they are being over charged. I usually only plug in the charger the night before I go fishing and after I get back, unplugging as soon as I see all lights green or first thing the next morning.

November 14, 2017 at 1:52 am #455052

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Unless you remove the acid completely from the tray its likely going to continue. You will need to get to bare metal and then some prior to painting or coating.

November 14, 2017 at 2:49 am #455053

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Alright, lets visit this one a minute. Open the rear hatch whenever batteries are charging as hydrogen gasses will gather in the sump and eventually cause a corrosive environment in the bilge sump. If your original owner and have done this then it could just be age on the powder coating. We have seen the trays do this on the powder coating, though more frequently in those that are not being vented. We are interested in the age of the boat and if you are the original owner. Also if the batteries are overcharged, and lead acid style, then the gassing of Hydrogen and Sulfuric Acid expelled from a battery is pretty caustic. We dont doubt that the aluminum will show oxidization where a chip in the coating happened in that case. BCB

November 14, 2017 at 2:50 am #455054

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Also, baking soda is the neutralizer.

November 14, 2017 at 1:22 pm #455055

NFCSOB
Participant

I am the original owner of the 2013 P2, although I bought the boat in 2015. I believe I was told it was one of the boats at the 2013 Dealers meeting and was at the Dealer in Pittsburg, Tx (purchased thru Bowden Marine).I always have the rear hatch open, even when I’m not charging by wrapping a short bungy cord around the rear seat post which has the lid almost vertical.If I were overcharging the batteries, then shouldn’t I have the same problem on the starting battery?Now there may have been a chip in the powder coating that got it started and if I didn’t clean and neutralize the acid with baking soda every time, then I can understand.I am going to try the rubber coating after a thorough cleaning and neutralizing the acid and see how that works. Just need to keep a closer than normal eye on it.Any additional suggestions are appreciated.Thx

November 14, 2017 at 10:47 pm #455056

DaLa
Participant

What battery charger do you have in the boat? The charger could still be overcharging if it is not functioning properly. Even with the short duration(s) you are charging the batteries.

November 15, 2017 at 1:44 am #455057

NFCSOB
Participant

It’s a NOCO Genius, 3 bank charger. I never had any issues with it charging the batteries.How would I check to see if it is charging correctly (not familiar with any electrical troubleshooting other than very, very basic).

November 17, 2017 at 3:55 pm #455058

NFCSOB
Participant

BCB,Is the bottom aluminum battery tray siliconed in place or anything along with the screws?I have removed the screws, but it still seems stuck and don’t want to pry it off without knowing what Is all there.Thx
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