charging battery while its in the boat?

[JAL51974]

Is there a safe way to charge up my battery at home while its still on the boat? typically I remove it from the boat and charge in my garage, but a recent back injury makes this impractical with lifting and straining, etc.
Since I sometimes can't use the boat for 3 wks. at a time I like to make sure I have a full charge before towing to the lake.

I have a regular battery charger and a trickle charger to top off the battery at home.

Thanks.
Joe

 

[jtexas]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

It's how my batteries get charged. Carry the charger out to the boat, hook it up, plug it in. An on-board charger would be even more convenient, one with "maintain mode" you just plug it in & leave it.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

Thanks for the reply.
I thought I read someplace where its dangerous to do that though, spark possibility maybe?

 

[bjcsc]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

I have a dual on-board maintainer/charger that's plugged in all the time. Think about investing in one as they are ideally suited to your use (3wk gaps). The best part is the good ones shut off automatically when your batteries are charged. This is mine:

 

[jtexas]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

Thanks for the reply.
I thought I read someplace where its dangerous to do that though, spark possibility maybe?

Same reason you hook a jumper cable to your car's frame instead of the battery (-) post - batteries give off hydrogen gas while they charge and a spark might set it off. Your battery charger instructions probably suggest putting a spare cable on the negative post and hooking the charger (-) lead to that cause moving the clamp while the charger's plugged in might cause a spark - I believe that advice is mostly to protect the inept. I just hook the charger up before plugging it in, and unplug it before removing the clamps. And leave the compartment lid open unless its about to rain. I also avoid putting the charger in the same compartment with the batteries.

 

[drewpster]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

A couple of points just to be clear.
Use a charger that is designed to be hooked up and left. Not all chargers are made to leave on a battery indefinitely. I am a little wary of leaving even small trickle chargers on for extended periods.
Make sure that the gases produced while charging can vent. By that I mean the area must be able to exchange air. I use a chock under the hatch where my batteries are to hold the hatch open slightly just in case.

 

[mwmotorsports]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

I use a Walmart purchased battery maintainer for 3 years with no issues and my batteries are always full when I need to go. Just plug it in and forget it. It automatically charges and maintains full peak and stops charging when full. It was a whole 18 bucks for it and the brand is Black and Decker with a switch for 1 or 2 amp setting. Best investment I made for battery maintenance. I never have to hook up a high amp charger to my batteries. I have one maintainer for each battery in the boat(starter battery and deep cycle for trolling motor). Pull in the driveway and plug it in after a day on the lake. They are always ready next trip out.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

Thanks guys. I used the battery maintainer the other day and it works fine!

Joe

 

[licketdsplit756]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

this might be of interest to you.http://raystackle.com/mbm.html

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

... a switch for 1 or 2 amp setting. ... I never have to hook up a high amp charger to my batteries. I have one maintainer for each battery in the boat(starter battery and deep cycle for trolling motor). Pull in the driveway and plug it in after a day on the lake. They are always ready next trip out.

It would take 40 hours to recharge my trolling batteries and starting battery with 2 amps supply. My next trip is often the next morning! That wouldn't work for me...

 

[GramSandy]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat? portable no electricity needed to charge

Re: charging battery while its in the boat? portable no electricity needed to charge

Recently our daughter took our Stingray out and after getting it in the water found that the battery wasn't fully charged. They were about to haul it out (afraid that the alternator wasn't working) when a Good Samaritan pulled out a charger and charged it for them. It was not hooked up to electricity. This charger evidently stored power for use in situations where there was no electricity available. Does anyone know what this charger is called and where we can get one? We want to be able to charge a 12 volt marine battery in an emergency.

 

[jprice]

Re: charging battery while its in the boat?

GramSandy, I think this would work...
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...ct&cmCat=Related_IPL_015153&id=0022979016445a

But since it's just another battery, there's always the chance that this could be dead when you need it too.