minn kota 50lb thrust best charging method or extra battery or solar?

[cdnjan]

Recently purchased a 12' Sea Nymph with a New 50 lb thrust Minn Kota.

This is all brand new to me. I want to make sure the accessories purchase is the right one.

So do you recommend buying an extra battery or to get solar panels to do the charging on board?

Also what is recommended for overwintering to keep the battery in the best condition?

Currently have a deep cycle Werker battery
Thank You
Jan

 

[rndn]

Re: minn kota 50lb thrust best charging method or extra battery or solar?

Welcome to the forum!!
To get the best use out of the deep cycle battery you should always try to keep it fully charged. An automatic battery charger is best so you don't end up overcharging the battery. It is important to get it on the charger after use and not wait several days before you get it charged. For winter, it is best to bring the battery inside and put it on a battery maintainer.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: minn kota 50lb thrust best charging method or extra battery or solar?

Think about it. You motor at full power draws about 45 amps. A solar panel the size of your boat would take a week to charge that battery after just a couple of hours use so that solution is not even worth thinking about. Besides, it would be a target for thieves.

You need one deep cycle battery with the largest capacity you have room for. To charge that battery, you need either a portable "smart charger" that you carry down to the boat and plug in at the dock, or you can install an "on-board" charger that is sealed, stays on the boat, and again, is plugged in at the dock. If you have an outboard engine on this boat, it is obviously a small one and again would not have an alternator large enough to charge that battery. your only other option is to tote the battery to the cabin/house and charge it there with a smart charger.