Nothing worse than having plans to use my boat, only to find I left
the fish finder on or the kids left the stereo on. BATTERY DEAD, PLANS
CANCELED, ME CRABBY!

Does anyone have a shutoff switch on their boat battery to avoid this?
If so, what type?

Thanks, Marko

On 8 Oct 2004 13:40:10 -0700, (Marko) wrote:

Nothing worse than having plans to use my boat, only to find I left
the fish finder on or the kids left the stereo on. BATTERY DEAD, PLANS
CANCELED, ME CRABBY!

Does anyone have a shutoff switch on their boat battery to avoid this?
If so, what type?

I use a 20 amp single pole circuit breaker on my starting/electronics
battery on the Ranger and a 50 amp on the trolling motor.

Simple, easy and very effective.

Later,

Tom

"Beware the one legged man in a butt
kicking contest - he is there for a
reason."

Wun Hung Lo - date unknown

Also Sprach JohnH :
On 8 Oct 2004 13:40:10 -0700, (Marko) wrote:

Nothing worse than having plans to use my boat, only to find I left
the fish finder on or the kids left the stereo on. BATTERY DEAD, PLANS
CANCELED, ME CRABBY!

Does anyone have a shutoff switch on their boat battery to avoid this?
If so, what type?

Thanks, Marko

Check out the mini- off- on switch.

http://www.boatus-store.com/webapp/w...207&storeNum=9

I think the "Marine Priority Start" switch on that page is more in-line
with what he is trying to accomplish. Manual switches only are good if
you remember to use them.

Dan

--
Yeah, I saw a yard gnome once. It didn't scare me.

-- Space Ghost

It's still something you have to remember. Get a good battery charger. I
alwasys check the boat before leaving the house. If it has not run in more
than a couple weeks I start it on the muffs after I get it out of the
garage. It's a hassle to get all the way to the ramp and then find a
problem.

"Marko" wrote in message
om...
Nothing worse than having plans to use my boat, only to find I left
the fish finder on or the kids left the stereo on. BATTERY DEAD, PLANS
CANCELED, ME CRABBY!

Does anyone have a shutoff switch on their boat battery to avoid this?
If so, what type?

Thanks, Marko

"Marko" wrote in message
om...
Nothing worse than having plans to use my boat, only to find I left
the fish finder on or the kids left the stereo on. BATTERY DEAD, PLANS
CANCELED, ME CRABBY!

Does anyone have a shutoff switch on their boat battery to avoid this?


Yeah, all my boats have had a battery switch.

It will only protect you if you turn it off, however. If you didn't
remember to shut off the fishfinder and stereo, what makes you think you
will remember to shut off the battery switch?

Rod

The Marine Priority Switch is what you need.
Marshall Banana's the only person who understood your question. Adding
another switch that you need to remember to turn off is not the answer. The
Marine Priority Switch is automatic.


"Marshall Banana" wrote in message
...
Also Sprach JohnH :
On 8 Oct 2004 13:40:10 -0700, (Marko) wrote:

Nothing worse than having plans to use my boat, only to find I left
the fish finder on or the kids left the stereo on. BATTERY DEAD, PLANS
CANCELED, ME CRABBY!

Does anyone have a shutoff switch on their boat battery to avoid this?
If so, what type?

Thanks, Marko

Check out the mini- off- on switch.


http://www.boatus-store.com/webapp/w...207&storeNum=9

I think the "Marine Priority Start" switch on that page is more in-line
with what he is trying to accomplish. Manual switches only are good if
you remember to use them.

Dan

--
Yeah, I saw a yard gnome once. It didn't scare me.

-- Space Ghost

On Fri, 8 Oct 2004 20:10:28 -0700, "William G. Andersen"
wrote:

The Marine Priority Switch is what you need.
Marshall Banana's the only person who understood your question. Adding
another switch that you need to remember to turn off is not the answer. The
Marine Priority Switch is automatic.

No at all my friend - I understood his question perfectly.

And I'd rather pay $15-20 for a mechanical circuit breaker than $140
bucks for a descrete device that may, or may not, work as advertised.

And in all the years that I've used this solution, which are not
inconsiderable, I have never forgotten to turn the freakin' batteries
off. :)

All the best,

Tom
--------------

"What the hell's the deal with this newsgroup...
is there a computer terminal in the day room of
some looney bin somewhere?"

Bilgeman - circa 2004

(Marko) wrote in
om:

Nothing worse than having plans to use my boat, only to find I left
the fish finder on or the kids left the stereo on. BATTERY DEAD, PLANS
CANCELED, ME CRABBY!

Does anyone have a shutoff switch on their boat battery to avoid this?
If so, what type?

Thanks, Marko

I've got the $25 Blue Seas switch. Mounted it flush. Looks great works
great. And the lever comes out like a key so you can have another layer of
anti-theft protection if you want. Although of course I might forget (and
have forgotten on occasion) to turn off the battery switch, its less likely
becasue I've made it part of my retrieve procedure (outdrive up, switch
off). I have to do this everytime, unlike other devices which I may or may
not have turned on, so it's easier to remember.

Also, there is no way to accidently flip it on or mistake whether its on or
off, unlike the rocker switches on my dash, which can be flipped on with a
knee and whose status of on or off aren't always readily apparent without
close inspection. Another side benefit is that a shutoff switch prevents
any parasitic drain whatsoever. I know I should periodically charge in the
off season, but I usually don't and it always starts up in the spring, even
after 4-6 months of non-use.

One last recommendation: Whatever way you go, get one of those portable
emergency starting batteries and keep it charged. Put it on the boat. It
doesn't need to be easily accessible, but when you need it, you'll be glad
it's there. Mine's under the bow seat as far forward as possible, since I
wanted the weight forward. One day at the lake I ran my battery down trying
to start because I had a fuel pump wire problem which took me a while to
find. By the time I corrected the problem, there was no more crank left in
the battery. Pulled out the portable system and found out there's a lot of
power in the little box. Turned right over and started right up. My old
boat had two batteries. My current boat only has one and I wanted a backup.
The portable is cheaper, easier (no installation or wiring, location
doesn't matter) lighter and more versitile (I can use it on the beach for
an pump, light etc.). Don't leave home without it!

(Marko) wrote in message . com...
Nothing worse than having plans to use my boat, only to find I left
the fish finder on or the kids left the stereo on. BATTERY DEAD, PLANS
CANCELED, ME CRABBY!

Does anyone have a shutoff switch on their boat battery to avoid this?
If so, what type?

Thanks, Marko

Thats not a good enough reason to cancel a boat trip!

You could jump start the boat (make sure not shut off the engine until
the battery is charged enough) or bring a spare battery along

Matt

(Marko) wrote in message . com...
Nothing worse than having plans to use my boat, only to find I left
the fish finder on or the kids left the stereo on. BATTERY DEAD, PLANS
CANCELED, ME CRABBY!

Does anyone have a shutoff switch on their boat battery to avoid this?
If so, what type?

Thanks, Marko

Thats not a good enough reason to cancel a boat trip!

You could jump start the boat (make sure not shut off the engine until
the battery is charged enough) or bring a spare battery along

Matt