How to Remove and Charge a WaveRunner Battery [Video]

When the season is over, every WaveRunner has to be properly winterized. A thoughtful winterization should cover many important parts, and the battery is not an exception.

Whenever you want to prepare your ski for the winter or want to remove the WaveRunner’s battery for another reason, you may want to know where to find it and what the right steps are for removal.

It’s also good to know how to charge and maintain a battery properly, as doing it wrong can result in damage and can shorten the battery’s life radically.

For your convenience, we, at JetDrift, have gathered all of the information about WaveRunner battery removal and maintenance into this post!

Where is The Battery in a Yamaha WaveRunner?

Unlike in Sea-Doos where the battery can be located in different places, the Yamaha WaveRunner’s battery is located underneath the rear seat, in a plastic battery tray. Under the seat, you’ll usually find a storage tray that also needs to be removed to access the battery.

On newer WaveRunnners, even if the battery can be found under the rear seat, it’s still separated from the engine compartment at a certain level with a separator sheet.

It’s a great feature as the battery is protected from the water when you clean the WaveRunner’s engine after a ride.

Be aware; if you have a WaveRunner from the earlier years, you may find the battery in the engine compartment.

If you can’t locate the battery in your WaveRunner, always refer to the owner’s manual!

How to Remove a WaveRunner Battery

To remove a WaveRunner battery, you always have to start by removing the rear seat and the storage bin under it. Once you’ve located the battery, disconnect the negative (black) cable first, then disconnect the positive (red) cable and the breather hose. Finally, unhook the battery bands and remove the battery.

Steps to Remove a WaveRunner Battery

Before you start to remove the WaveRunner’s battery, always be sure to check the owner’s manual. The battery location, the tools you need and the process may vary from one model to the next.

But for your convenience, we just highlight the general steps on how to remove a WaveRunner battery.

1. As the first step, prepare every tool you will need (screwdriver, socket set).
2. Remove the rear seat and the storage bin underneath.
3. Remove the rubber caps from the terminals.
4. Always start with disconnecting the negative (black) cable!
5. Then disconnect the positive (red) cable. Always pay attention to the right order, as doing it wrong may damage the WaveRunner’s electronic parts!
6. Locate the breather hose and disconnect it as well. (Only regular flooded acid WaveRunner batteries feature a breather hose.)
7. The battery is secured in the battery tray with a pair of battery bands which also should be removed.
8. Once you’ve unhooked the bands, you can remove the battery from the hull.

How Do You Charge a Yamaha WaveRunner Battery?

If your battery is weak or even completely dead, it needs a careful charge.

To charge a WaveRunner battery properly and securely, you always have to remove it from the hull. Once it’s removed, the best practice is to store it in a dry and cool place. As the last step, you have to hook the charger first, then plug it in.

It’s always wise to clean and inspect the battery before charging. If the battery is swollen, you can see cracks on the plastic and it needs to be replaced immediately.

When you charge a WaveRunner battery, be sure to not exceed the 2 amps charging rate. It’s because these small batteries may be damaged from fast charging. As a rule of thumb, the best charge rate for WaveRunner batteries is 1 amp.

Are you wondering what are the best WaveRunner battery chargers?

To avoid overcharging, the best practice is to use a 1 amp (or max 2 amps) smart charger, which stops automatically once your battery is fully charged.

It’s recommended you check your battery’s condition weekly if you don’t ride your craft. This is because every battery is affected by self-discharging.

It means your WaveRunner’s battery loses its capacity if you don’t ride it frequently.  For more battery charging and maintenance tips don’t miss our detailed guide on the topic.

How Do You Store a WaveRunner Battery During the Winter?

Overlooked maintenance during the winter months can destroy your battery for the next season.

Because of this, it’s imperative to pay attention to your battery as part of the proper winterization of your WaveRunner.

To store a WaveRunner battery during winter, make sure to place it in a dry and cool place. Also make sure that the place is secured so pets and children can’t access the battery. The best practice is to attach a battery tender to it, or you have to charge at least monthly with a regular charger.

This is because due to self-discharging, your battery can go completely dead, or in the worst case scenario, it can be damaged.

Because of this, make sure to charge your battery at least once a month, or use a tender.

Even though there aren’t special WaveRunner battery tenders on the market, you can find many good general tenders which do a good job on any Waverunner batteries.

The Best Yamaha WaveRunner Batteries

In this part we’ve summarized in a nutshell what kind of batteries WaveRunners use in general and which are the best WaveRunner batteries on the market right now.

But if you are considering buying a new battery, always refer to the owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendations.

What Kind of Batteries do WaveRunners Use?

In general, Yamaha WaveRunners use YB16CL-B batteries. These are 12V batteries which provide 19 amps. Yamaha manufactures their WaveRunners with YUASA batteries, but when it comes to replacements, many owners consider other brands as well, like DEKA.

How Many Volts is a WaveRunner Battery?

Yamaha WaveRunners use 12V batteries – just like any other PWCs on the market.

What Are the Best WaveRunner Batteries?

The best WaveRunner batteries are the sealed AGM batteries. This is because these models are maintenance-free, spill-proof and last much longer compared to regular, flooded lead-acid batteries. In general, YUASA and DEKA sealed AGM batteries are considered the best WaveRunner batteries on the market.

How Long Does a WaveRunner Battery Last?

With the proper care and attention, a WaveRunner battery lasts around 4-5 years. The sealed AGM batteries don’t just last longer than the regular lead-acid batteries, but they are maintenance-free, which is why they are so popular among WaveRunner owners.

How Much is a WaveRunner Battery?

Yamaha WaveRunner batteries cost around $75-$150 depending on their make and type.

Although the standard lead-acid Waveunner batteries are slightly cheaper, it’s highly recommended you buy an AGM battery, as it will cost you less money and hassle in the long run.

Can You Jump Start a WaveRunner?

No! It’s not recommended you jump start a WaveRunner. It’s a lesser-known fact that jump starting can damage the WaveRunner’s and the car’s electronic parts.

For the same reason, it’s also not a good idea to jump start a WaveRunner with a portable jump starter.

Do WaveRunners have alternators?

Contrary to popular belief, Waverunners don’t have alternators, just stators. This means unlike alternators, a stator can’t fully charge your battery, it only maintains its current charge level.

That’s why you have to pay attention to your battery’s condition before you hit the water!

Conclusion

WaveRunner battery replacement and maintenance are not difficult tasks, but there are some important things to look out for.

On most WaveRunners, the battery is located underneath the rear seat, but on vintage models, the battery can be found in the engine compartment.

When removing the battery, pay attention to the exact order, as doing it wrong can damage the craft’s electronic parts.

If your battery needs to be replaced, it’s recommended you choose a sealed AGM battery made by YUASA or DEKA. In general, stock WaveRunners require YB16CL-B, 12V 19Ah batteries.

Speaking of WaveRunner battery charging, you may want to use a charge of rate no more than 2 amps. The best practice is to charge the battery with a smart charger to avoid overcharging your battery.

As far as winter storage, the best practice is to store the WaveRunner battery in a dry, secure and cool place.

If you don’t want to deal with it, just hook it up to a battery tender, otherwise you have to charge it at least once a month with a regular charger to avoid damage.

This was our short guide on how to remove and maintain a WaveRunner battery; we hope you found it useful!

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