Ryan P.
- show quoted text -
"I'm the one asking the stupid questions, I'm sure. *I'm the novice
here, compared to most of you folks.

Okay, I should use the proper terms, I suppose. *Its a 1985 Mercury 75.
* I do have electric start, but my understanding is that on older
engines, a stator/vr is only to trickle charge the starting battery, and
only does that at high RPMs? "

Four years ago I had an open tiller boat with a 30hp Johnson. The motor had an electric start but no charging system.
No radio but it had a MinnKota trolling motor. The idea was to charge the battery with a small charger at the end of each boating day. I think it would have been just as easy to take the boat out of the water and trailer to motel for charging than dig the heavy battery out and do same. BTW..I'd forget about the radio...I could start the 30 with a pull cord but your 70 might be a different matter.

On 3/15/2016 5:38 PM, True North wrote:
Ryan P.
- show quoted text -
"I'm the one asking the stupid questions, I'm sure. I'm the novice
here, compared to most of you folks.

Okay, I should use the proper terms, I suppose. Its a 1985 Mercury 75.
I do have electric start, but my understanding is that on older
engines, a stator/vr is only to trickle charge the starting battery, and
only does that at high RPMs? "

Four years ago I had an open tiller boat with a 30hp Johnson. The motor had an electric start but no charging system.
No radio but it had a MinnKota trolling motor. The idea was to charge the battery with a small charger at the end of each boating day. I think it would have been just as easy to take the boat out of the water and trailer to motel for charging than dig the heavy battery out and do same. BTW..I'd forget about the radio...I could start the 30 with a pull cord but your 70 might be a different matter.

That's why I have a second "house" battery. That way, I know I won't be
stranded on the lake unless something REALLY goes bad.

fire man wrote:
"Ryan P." Wrote in message:
With spring almost here, it won't be long until the boat comes out of
its cocoon for its April shake down cruise.

The subject of taking the boat along with us to a family vacation out
in the Wisconsin Dells area came up, and that got me to thinking about
the battery situation.

Its just a small bowrider, so either I'll pull it out each night and
park it by the house, or I'd rent a slip for $15 a night and leave it in
the water for the three days we'd be up there.

Without an alternator, though, I'm worried about leaving it at a slip.
I have an accessory battery, so I'm not worried about getting
stranded, but running lights and a stereo take up juice.

Has anybody here ever used solar charging stations? I see them on
Amazon for between $40 and $200, at least for power levels I might
require. I want something that's easy to stow, so a 5w or 8w flex panel
(roughly 1' x 1') is probably the largest I could go.

I know those are more maintenance charge levels, but I'm thinking that
might be enough to compensate for the 4-5 hours of use the stereo would
get, assuming it has a good portion of the morning in full sun to charge.

Thoughts?


Can you do without the stereo?

Most slips have power available. Especially where bass boats would slip.
Just take along a battery charger or buy a smart charger. Or pull the
battery and take to house and charge. More juice and cheaper than solar.

On 3/15/2016 11:56 AM, Califbill wrote:
fire man wrote:
"Ryan P." Wrote in message:
With spring almost here, it won't be long until the boat comes out of
its cocoon for its April shake down cruise.

The subject of taking the boat along with us to a family vacation out
in the Wisconsin Dells area came up, and that got me to thinking about
the battery situation.

Its just a small bowrider, so either I'll pull it out each night and
park it by the house, or I'd rent a slip for $15 a night and leave it in
the water for the three days we'd be up there.

Without an alternator, though, I'm worried about leaving it at a slip.
I have an accessory battery, so I'm not worried about getting
stranded, but running lights and a stereo take up juice.

Has anybody here ever used solar charging stations? I see them on
Amazon for between $40 and $200, at least for power levels I might
require. I want something that's easy to stow, so a 5w or 8w flex panel
(roughly 1' x 1') is probably the largest I could go.

I know those are more maintenance charge levels, but I'm thinking that
might be enough to compensate for the 4-5 hours of use the stereo would
get, assuming it has a good portion of the morning in full sun to charge.

Thoughts?


Can you do without the stereo?

Most slips have power available. Especially where bass boats would slip.
Just take along a battery charger or buy a smart charger. Or pull the
battery and take to house and charge. More juice and cheaper than solar.

I'll have to check with the marina. A small smart charger would be
better than solar, absolutely. I just don't remember seeing outlets on
all slips.

I don't really wanna pull the battery... The marina is literally
across the street from the rental house. That's a long walk carrying a
lead box.

Ryan P.
- show quoted text -
*" I'll have to check with the marina. *A small smart charger would be
better than solar, absolutely. *I just don't remember seeing outlets on
all slips.

* I don't really wanna pull the battery... *The marina is literally
across the street from the rental house. *That's a long walk carrying a
lead box. *"


You'd need the proper cord to use shore power at a marina. Even then, it might be dangerous to plug in a normal household items like a portable battery charger. I have a light folding aluminum hand truck rated for 138 kilogram use when I don't want to have, awkward heavy items around...usually from the SUV to a store or home. That would be great for hauling a battery any distance for charging.

True North wrote:
Ryan P.
- show quoted text -
" I'll have to check with the marina. A small smart charger would be
better than solar, absolutely. I just don't remember seeing outlets on
all slips.

I don't really wanna pull the battery... The marina is literally
across the street from the rental house. That's a long walk carrying a
lead box. "


You'd need the proper cord to use shore power at a marina. Even then, it might be dangerous to plug in a normal household items like a portable battery charger. I have a light folding aluminum hand truck rated for 138 kilogram use when I don't want to have, awkward heavy items around...usually from the SUV to a store or home. That would be great for hauling a battery any distance for charging.


True shore power doesn't use a cord that would work with a common
battery charger. In this case it is likely that they have standard
outlets for ordinary extension cords. That was bass fishermen use to
charge their deep cycle trolling motors overnight.

On Tue, 15 Mar 2016 20:12:47 -0400, Alex wrote:

True North wrote:
Ryan P.
- show quoted text -
" I'll have to check with the marina. A small smart charger would be
better than solar, absolutely. I just don't remember seeing outlets on
all slips.

I don't really wanna pull the battery... The marina is literally
across the street from the rental house. That's a long walk carrying a
lead box. "


You'd need the proper cord to use shore power at a marina. Even then, it might be dangerous to plug in a normal household items like a portable battery charger. I have a light folding aluminum hand truck rated for 138 kilogram use when I don't want to have, awkward heavy items around...usually from the SUV to a store or home. That would be great for hauling a battery any distance for charging.


True shore power doesn't use a cord that would work with a common
battery charger. In this case it is likely that they have standard
outlets for ordinary extension cords. That was bass fishermen use to
charge their deep cycle trolling motors overnight.

Most shore power posts will have a regular 5-15 on them along with the
240v-50a and/or 120v-30a.
I doubt you are getting a powered slip for $15 tho.
Wayne may stop by, he is the marina guy. I just know what I see

Ryan P. wrote:
On 3/15/2016 11:56 AM, Califbill wrote:
fire man wrote:
"Ryan P." Wrote in message:
With spring almost here, it won't be long until the boat comes out of
its cocoon for its April shake down cruise.

The subject of taking the boat along with us to a family vacation out
in the Wisconsin Dells area came up, and that got me to thinking about
the battery situation.

Its just a small bowrider, so either I'll pull it out each night and
park it by the house, or I'd rent a slip for $15 a night and leave it in
the water for the three days we'd be up there.

Without an alternator, though, I'm worried about leaving it at a slip.
I have an accessory battery, so I'm not worried about getting
stranded, but running lights and a stereo take up juice.

Has anybody here ever used solar charging stations? I see them on
Amazon for between $40 and $200, at least for power levels I might
require. I want something that's easy to stow, so a 5w or 8w flex panel
(roughly 1' x 1') is probably the largest I could go.

I know those are more maintenance charge levels, but I'm thinking that
might be enough to compensate for the 4-5 hours of use the stereo would
get, assuming it has a good portion of the morning in full sun to charge.

Thoughts?


Can you do without the stereo?

Most slips have power available. Especially where bass boats would slip.
Just take along a battery charger or buy a smart charger. Or pull the
battery and take to house and charge. More juice and cheaper than solar.

I'll have to check with the marina. A small smart charger would be
better than solar, absolutely. I just don't remember seeing outlets on
all slips.

I don't really wanna pull the battery... The marina is literally
across the street from the rental house. That's a long walk carrying a
lead box.



Small handtruck

On 3/15/2016 10:56 AM, fire man wrote:
"Ryan P." Wrote in message:
With spring almost here, it won't be long until the boat comes out of
its cocoon for its April shake down cruise.

The subject of taking the boat along with us to a family vacation out
in the Wisconsin Dells area came up, and that got me to thinking about
the battery situation.

Its just a small bowrider, so either I'll pull it out each night and
park it by the house, or I'd rent a slip for $15 a night and leave it in
the water for the three days we'd be up there.

Without an alternator, though, I'm worried about leaving it at a slip.
I have an accessory battery, so I'm not worried about getting
stranded, but running lights and a stereo take up juice.

Has anybody here ever used solar charging stations? I see them on
Amazon for between $40 and $200, at least for power levels I might
require. I want something that's easy to stow, so a 5w or 8w flex panel
(roughly 1' x 1') is probably the largest I could go.

I know those are more maintenance charge levels, but I'm thinking that
might be enough to compensate for the 4-5 hours of use the stereo would
get, assuming it has a good portion of the morning in full sun to charge.

Thoughts?


Can you do without the stereo?


Of course, I *CAN* do without the stereo...