Solar chargers on trolling motor canoe?

[SCCO9803]

I'm planning a trip to the Little Fork River for five days in Aug. We have one canoe outfitted with a 2 1/2 horse gas motor and another with a electric trolling motor. I'm wondering how well/ beneficial it will be to purchase a solar charger adpater for the battery? Do they work well, how long does a regular deep cycle battery last in hrs under moderate ussage?

[JIM PAYNE]

Are you taking the car or truck with you and will the truck be close to the trolling motor? If so you would be much happier charging the battery from the car.

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[SCCO9803]

No, we'll be doing a forty mile stretch over 5 days. The battery run trolling motor will only be used as a back up. In the slow moving stretches we plan to pull both canoes with the gas motor. The electric motor will just be to assist the second canoe, if we need to go back to a fishing hole or something. This won't be our primary method of proppelment. We'll also have paddles for most of the trip.

[JIM PAYNE]

Sounds like a great time, There are some solar chargers that work well but they are for slow charging but if your are using the motor for simply back up and you have the solar charger on all the time you should be ok. Have a great trip.

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[Northlander]

The solar chargers work great but are a slow process. If you arent using the troller all the time its a great idea. Keep it charging all the time even at night. Get the biggest one you can afford. You can get a decent one for about $140 but the prices are coming down.