Charge on the go system recommendation

[convergent]

I have a 1996 ProCraft Fish&Ski w/200HP Mercury, that has 3 batteries - 1 running and 2 trolling. I used to have it stored at my house and have an onboard charger that kept everything charged and ready to go. Thanks to crazy HOA rules, I now keep it at a storage facility; so can't keep it plugged in. I'd like to get an "on the go" charger that will use the stator from the outboard to keep all three batteries charged. I've seen a few of them but they don't seem to be as mainstream as the plug in chargers. I have a jump box that will get me started if for some reason the main battery is low; and then when driving around I want all 3 batteries topped off. Any recommendations on a good system?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Not sure the stator has enough to be able to charge 3 batteries. Its intended only to maintain the starting battery.

Trying to charge a discharged battery usually burns out the rectifier and many times the charge coil too

 

[Silvertip]

To use the engine as a charging system for three batteries would require running wide open for hours at a time to replace the juice the troller used in a couple of hours. It is simply not practical. Nor is solar since you need a pretty large panel and it would certainly be a target for thieves. You are in a situation that has no simple solution other than making a cart to lug the batteries from the boat to the car, to your home, to the charger, then back again for the next trip. Painful -- yes. But you will also have your batteries and the thieves won't.

 

[ajgraz]

Are there storage facilities that do have access to AC power?

 

[convergent]

Thanks for the tips. I called around today and got lucky. I found a covered boat storage bay with power that is about 20 minutes from my house so moving it there tomorrow. I was paying $60/month for an uncovered spot in a gravel storage lot about 5 minutes from my house. This is $135/month but it will be good to have it covered and not have to fuss with the batteries any longer.

 

[Scott Danforth]

at $135/month, I would build an extra garage

 

[fishin98]

MinnKota makes what your looking for...Yes they do work.
http://mk.factoryoutletstore.com/de...DC.html?category_id=20875&catalogitemid=35308

 

[convergent]

at $135/month, I would build an extra garage

Not sure that I could build a garage for that. In our neighborhood it would need to match the house construction and would be about $25k. I also have a steep driveway which is a real pain to back into. I'm just comparing the difference between what I was paying vs. new one. The new place is further from my house, but is central to three lakes. I tended to go to the same lake closest to my house and will likely mix it up more with it stored there. I'll try it a while and see how it works out.

 

[convergent]

MinnKota makes what your looking for...Yes they do work.
http://mk.factoryoutletstore.com/de...DC.html?category_id=20875&catalogitemid=35308

Any experience using this with a stator on an outboard? The description says alternator. One concern is whether it would burn out the stator. I do about equal pleasure boating vs fishing so it would probably keep them topped off... but don't want an expensive stator repair.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Not sure that I could build a garage for that. In our neighborhood it would need to match the house construction and would be about $25k. I also have a steep driveway which is a real pain to back into. I'm just comparing the difference between what I was paying vs. new one. The new place is further from my house, but is central to three lakes. I tended to go to the same lake closest to my house and will likely mix it up more with it stored there. I'll try it a while and see how it works out.

Add $25k as a home improvement to your mortgage and your under $135/month

 

[fishin98]

Any experience using this with a stator on an outboard? The description says alternator. One concern is whether it would burn out the stator. I do about equal pleasure boating vs fishing so it would probably keep them topped off... but don't want an expensive stator repair.

I have had this unit except being a single bank 2 prior boats with no issues what so ever. I have a friend who is running a 2 bank unit on his pontoon boat running a 60 Yamaha 4 str. My next boat will have one.http://mk.factoryoutletstore.com/details/43822/1-DC.html?category_id=20875&catalogitemid=35303

 

[convergent]

Add $25k as a home improvement to your mortgage and your under $135/month

I don't have a mortgage! And leaving the $25K invested returns more than $135/month!

Seriously, I could build a garage, and had actually planned to do so when we bought this house. But, our driveway is narrow and is on a hill. I have to go way into my neighbor's yard across the street (who has sprinklers where I'm doing it) to make the corner, I end up with wheels way off the ground on the trailer, and still end up going into our yard as well to get it into the driveway. The only way to avoid it would be to back all the way down our street (no place to turn around further down the street) so I'm coming into the driveway from the other direction; and its still a steep hill. Then I'd just hit part of our yard but could otherwise make the corner without hitting the neighbor's yard. Its just not a great situation for a trailer.

The problem is solved for now, but certainly will keep considering the garage thing. I need to look into whether I could put a garage at the other end of our lot with a second driveway where its flat, change our current driveway to make it a lot wider or add a circular portion or something, or some other way to deal with it.

Thanks for all the great info!

 

[convergent]

I have had this unit except being a single bank 2 prior boats with no issues what so ever. I have a friend who is running a 2 bank unit on his pontoon boat running a 60 Yamaha 4 str. My next boat will have one.http://mk.factoryoutletstore.com/details/43822/1-DC.html?category_id=20875&catalogitemid=35303

Good to know... I may still try one of these.

 

[Silvertip]

You can only get 30 amps (10/bank) IF you have 30 amps surplus to put INTO the charger. And then the system works ONLY when the engine is running. If you deeply discharge the two troller batteries they will not be topped off in a 1/2 hour even an hour or two run back to the dock. So now your batteries sit partially charged until next time. This scenario is not conducive to long battery life. Better than nothing, but not fix. In addition to the charger system, you might consider adding the ability to charge the batteries from the tow vehicle while going to and from the water.