24volt bow-mount troller. Best way to charge the batteries?

[ClearCreekRdr]

I am looking into installing a Bow mount trolling motor on my Sea Ray 21' Deep Hull runabout. Since my boat is 3200 pounds dry, I am looking at a 24volt 80 pounds of thrust troller.

I understand the going setup is to install a charger onto the boat that when I get home I plug into my house power.

I guess my question is what do I do when I am traveling? About 4-5 weekends per year I take a trip to California Sierra lakes. I rent a boat slip from the local marinas for the weekend. I am hoping to fish with my trolling motor throughout a weekend. Only problem is, I don't believe the marina slips have power that I can plug my boat into.

How would I charge my trolling batteries when on a trip?

Thank You

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: 24volt bow-mount troller. Best way to charge the batteries?

There should be shore power at the marina. then just plug it in like you do at home.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24volt bow-mount troller. Best way to charge the batteries?

If there is no shore power available where you dock the boat you join many others with the same issue. The only solution is a small portable generator, or pull the batteries and charge them at the cabin. Forget solar panels and charging them from the engine charging system as this is simply not an efficient way to do it.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 24volt bow-mount troller. Best way to charge the batteries?

I don't think I've ever seen shore power at small lake "fishing type" marina's out west here (check and see) so you are stick charging off your boat or removing the batteries and charging on shore. I've charged batteries at the marina shop/shack before, but it was a pain as I had to bring a charger and remove the batteries. Also charged them at the hotel/campsite, but still a pain as the batteries had to be removed. On those small lakes it's not realistic that your alternator is going to be able to charge the batteries since you won't be running the main engine very long. My old boat had a 100 amp alternator and it wouldn't keep up with the batteries since I was only running the main 30-60 minutes/day. On bigger lakes where I was running the main a few hours/day it would keep the batteries topped enough to where they didn't completely deplete over a few days.

I made up a charging harness that connects to my tow vehicle's 7 way trailer receptacle for when I'm lake hopping. It taps onto the vehicle's 20(?) amp circuit of the trailer plug and allows the boat batteries to charge while driving down the road, boat battery is connected to the wire with alligator clips. It's made from a 7way adapter plug, 4 flat vehicle harness, 20' of wire and a set of alligator clips. I usually run the normal 7way-4flat connector, but when I'm lake hopping I use the charging harness. It's not a perfect setup and I wouldn't use it on a well discharged battery (too much current too fast or it could pop the vehicle fuse) but does the trick to top off the batteries. I doubt this is going to solve your problem since it sounds like you are going to be at the same lake for a few days.

A generator like ST suggested would be the simplest solution,,, but you would need to be at the boat to check the generator (don't think I would leave one running unsupervised on my boat...) Or, you could run the genny while you are fishing,,, but I wouldn't like the noise and I doubt the fish would either. I don't know if this is a perfect solution as others will find the noise intrusive, the last thing I want to hear while I'm camping/fishing is a generator running for hours on end...

 

[sdoomaha]

Re: 24volt bow-mount troller. Best way to charge the batteries?

Not ideal...but pull your boat out every other night and charge them at the camp site/cabin. I have a 24 volt Terrova 80 lb thrust and can fish 2-3 days between charges utilizing the trolling motor the majority of the day.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: 24volt bow-mount troller. Best way to charge the batteries?

http://www.iboats.com/Charge_on_the...5379313--**********.002294609--view_id.341722

The Trolling Bank VSR (TBVSR) allows charging of 24 V DC trolling motor battery banks from 12 V DC systems. When the engine is started and the start battery reaches 13.7 V DC, the TBVSR cuts in, charging Trolling battery (A) for one minute, then Trolling battery (B) for one minute. This continues as long as the engine is running and the voltage is over 12.8 V DC. When the boat has reached the fishing spot and the engine is switched off the battery voltage will drop below 12.8 V DC, at this time the TBVSR cuts out and stays disengaged.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24volt bow-mount troller. Best way to charge the batteries?

Any type of switching device serves no useful purpose for deeply discharged batteries since you must run the engine for hours to do any good. It's tough enough to keep one 12V deep cycle topped off from the engine much less three batteries.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 24volt bow-mount troller. Best way to charge the batteries?

Off the battery/charging subject (sdoomaha alluded to this), if you get an "electronic" trolling motor your batteries will last 2-3 times longer. I used a Motor Guide Varimax and it defiantly used less power for the same amount of thrust, this might help solve your battery issue.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24volt bow-mount troller. Best way to charge the batteries?

The run time arguement for a standard vs digital (electronic if you will) motor only holds true if you run at speeds far less than the fastest speed. It doesn't matter what type of motor you have -- at the fastest setting a 60# non-digital motor will draw the same power as a 60# digital. Only at lesser speeds do the digital motors provide a distinct advantage.