I dunno if it's solely an overcharge thing or what but I asked an Interstate rep at the time and that's what he said (I used to sell optima batteries for race cars and Interstate owns Optima). I was farting around in the battery box and heard the battery making a hissing noise which I assumed was a short so I pulled it out to test it. Once I got to the garage it blew once I put it on the ground. Apparently that hissing noise was the gas leaking out of the battery!

So if you hear your battery hissing get the heck out of dodge lol.

It was an Excide if I remember correctly and it didn't blow up as bad as yours just kind of split at the seams.

Give the battery manufacturer a call and see what they say.

http://m1339.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Jmsteele6/image_zps82bb0d7b.jpg.html?o=0
I had a buddy with some type of battery wiring issue a couple weeks ago, his boat burnt to the ground.

Hope he had good insurance looks like a total loss

I had two blow up on me

One in my old bass buster when I went to hook up the terminals And one in my old 2000 f-250. I turned the key and thought a car bomb went off

Wow! And, I hope it doesn't. Hope all is okay.

Thanks for all the replies It does seem that interstate bateries are a common thread here I will asure you no more in my boat. I have notified proggresive insurance by Email Washed the acid out I will contact the battery manufacture today and will keep you guys posted

Please do!! I have just put in Three NEW interstate batteries in my rig! Just got the darn thing and sure don't want to lose it...
thanks for the heads up....Baking Soda definitely goes IN THE BOAT!
r/
Fred

just an fyi, johnson controls owns optima brand.
http://www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/content/gb/en/products/power_solutions/Brands/OPTIMA.html

Interstate was Johnson Controls too so our supplier for Interstate was also our Optima supplier. At least that's the way it was when I was still in racing business.

I know it has been awhile. But interstate battery representative got back with me last week. He explained that different manufactures battery on the same circuit was most likely the cause. HE explained that the batteries charge and discharge at different rates and supply different amperages. They did offer a great deal on some replacement batteries which I intend to take them up on 3 new 31 series 31AGM batteries

I have had this happen to me at least three times but in my vehicles, not my boat. All were different brands of batteries and none were Interstates. From what I have read about this, it happens more often on an older battery when the plates warp and make contact or get close together. Batteries do produce hydrogen gas and sometimes under a heavy load there can be an internal spark resulting in the big bang. The times these batteries blew up on me was right when I turned the key to start the vehicle after it had been sitting for a while.

This really makes a MESS and everything needs to be nuteralized and rinsed with water to prevent corrosion issues later on. Best of luck!!

I have dealt with HVAC requirements for this issue on a large scale battery backup system for computers at work.

Lead acid type batteries produce hydrogen when being charged, especially in an over charge situation, by electrolysis in water. Hydrogen is explosive in concentrations of 4-96%. In small containers such as a boat battery compartment it does not take long to reach the lower level explosive limits. Once the explosive limits are reached any small spark or charge could ignite the hydrogen/oxygen mixture causing and explosion.

Also most batteries have a vent to vent off gasses produced by charging but sometimes they fail and it causes pressure to build up inside the battery causing swelling or case ruptures.

Be careful out there.