When it comes to your boat, we all know it pays to play it safe. Ensuring that everyone onboard is wearing a lifejacket, that you’re carrying. But did you know there’s an even more vital safety check you should be performing before your boat even hits the water?
On the road, roughly 40 – 60% of all automotive roadside assistance callouts are battery related – and a jumpstart or a battery replacement will get you back on your way quickly and easily. But the battery in your boat can experience the exact same failure – and the consequences can be far more dire. Being stuck tens or hundreds of kilometers offshore with an engine that won’t start is a potentially life-threatening situation for even the best prepared boaties.
This is why Century Batteries has been a proud supporter of Coastguard New Zealand since 2004, to ensure they can continue doing what they do best – being ready to help those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In the year 2022 alone, Coastguard NZ performed 3,298 search and rescue missions – helping to bring a total of 7,939 people back to safety – and at least 25 of these people are alive today because Coastguard was there to help. But there’s more that can be done.
Before you head out on the water take the time to give your boat a quick check-up – especially if it hasn’t been used for a few months. Replacing the fuel filter and putting fresh fuel in the tank is a great start. But the health of the boat’s starting battery is perhaps the most important – yet often overlooked – piece of maintenance you should be undertaking.
Using a battery charger like the Century CC1206 is a great way to ensure your battery is fully charged prior to heading out, or a trip to your local Century Batteries retailer for a free battery test is a great option for batteries which are more than a few years old.
Choosing a quality starting battery designed specifically for marine usage is perhaps the best thing you can do to safeguard your journey. Century’s range of Marine Pro batteries are available in a range of different sizes to suit any vessel and are equipped to handle the rigours of wave pounding, engine vibration and trailer transport while delivering reliable starting power and performance.
Over 100 Coastguard vessels rely on Century Batteries to power their search and rescue missions – providing assistance to boaties in distress and saving lives at sea. So perhaps this is the best time to ask yourself – what’s powering your boat?
For more information on Century’s range of Marine Pro batteries and battery chargers, visit www.centurybatteries.co.nz or call 0800 93 93 93 to locate your nearest reseller.
