Just finished up doing basic maintenance on the boat. Three thirsty 8D
batteries.
If I keep this boat I am going to look into a big ass "smart charger" to
replace the three channel ferroresonant type that came with the boat. If
you don't keep a careful eye on them in hot weather it will slowly boil the
batteries away. That happened once in Florida and I can tell you that
replacing three of those mothers from the confines of the engine room is not
fun. I don't completely understand why .... the voltage is just under 14
volts, the current from the charger is minimal to all three batteries and
the batteries don't really get any heavy use while sitting at the slip on
shore power. I think this type of charger just hits them hard whenever the
voltage drops and they call for a charge or after a power failure.

I've got two smaller type 904Ds for the thrusters that are charged by a two
channel "smart" charger that I installed in Florida. They are in great
shape, fully charged and have very rarely needed water.

Pulled the strainer for the AC water pump. It's amazing there was any water
flow at all. It must bypass if it is dirty because it was clogged solid with
"green" stuff.
Took it out, soaked it in a bucket of water and Simple Green. Like new
again.

Other than needing another good washing, everything else looks good. New
refrig is working great.

Eisboch

My new boat has one of those new minnkota 3 bank smart chargers so far it
seems to work pretty good, although I still have only had the new boat out
2X since I've been off work with this slipped disc problem.

Fredo
"Eisboch" wrote in message
...
Just finished up doing basic maintenance on the boat. Three thirsty 8D
batteries.
If I keep this boat I am going to look into a big ass "smart charger" to
replace the three channel ferroresonant type that came with the boat. If
you don't keep a careful eye on them in hot weather it will slowly boil
the batteries away. That happened once in Florida and I can tell you that
replacing three of those mothers from the confines of the engine room is
not fun. I don't completely understand why .... the voltage is just under
14 volts, the current from the charger is minimal to all three batteries
and the batteries don't really get any heavy use while sitting at the slip
on shore power. I think this type of charger just hits them hard whenever
the voltage drops and they call for a charge or after a power failure.

I've got two smaller type 904Ds for the thrusters that are charged by a
two channel "smart" charger that I installed in Florida. They are in
great shape, fully charged and have very rarely needed water.

Pulled the strainer for the AC water pump. It's amazing there was any
water flow at all. It must bypass if it is dirty because it was clogged
solid with "green" stuff.
Took it out, soaked it in a bucket of water and Simple Green. Like new
again.

Other than needing another good washing, everything else looks good. New
refrig is working great.

Eisboch