best marine battery charger?

[mrpike1973]

hi the charger i have now doesnt tell me if i'm under or over charged. found one at the blue box store. schuemaker marine charger for $50 has display etc anyone know of one not interested in a on board charger thanks

[delcecchi]

hi the charger i have now doesnt tell me if i'm under or over charged. found one at the blue box store. schuemaker marine charger for $50 has display etc anyone know of one not interested in a on board charger thanks

Why not an onboard charger? I love mine.

[FshBloodRiverMud]

Buy cheap smart chargers.

Anything that won't overcharge your batteries.

It doesn't take more than a few seconds to hook up a battery... But it costs hundreds to buy on board chargers.

I have 4 chargers for a fraction of what it would cost to have inboards... I also don't need to occupy space in the boat for a charger.

[Esox_Magnum]

On boards the only way to go. I have a single and dual bank in my boat. Cost was under 200. Plug it in when done fishing unplug when you go nextime.

[FshBloodRiverMud]

Strongly disagree, to each their own.

Not every boat is setup with a dry location for an on board. These threads are typical though. OP says no on board.... And y'all give him no advice. Classic.

I fish quite frequently. I have 4 batteries in my boat. On board is not the only way. However you can feel great about yours.

[FshBloodRiverMud]

I can run mine over and buy more for $200.

Batteries charge all the same genius.

[jmg]

Seems like a heated issue, Mr. Pike. On board chargers are nice, BUT if you don't want one, I have had good luck with Schumacher and Diehard automatic brands. How many batteries do you have in your 14ft. fishing boat, 1 or 2 at the most, right? So a portable, automatic charger wouldn't be too bad. MinnKota has a portable 2 bank charger that puts out 5 amps/bank for about $100.00, but then you are getting up towards an onboard price for a one bank. Guess you have to decide how much work it is to hook them up and unhook them. I haven't found it to be that big of a deal, but if I had 3 deep cycles and a starting battery, I'd not hesitate a moment to get the onboard unit. Good luck in your decision.

[delcecchi]

Also, a guy needs a place to store multiple portable chargers which is awkward on multi day trips.

[Dragonsm]

With battery chargers, my family and I have always had best luck with Shumacher products.

My neighbor recently picked up a Shumacher smart charger/maintainer at northern tool with the mailer coupons for I believe around 50 dollars after his other charger gave up the ghost. Nice little compact unit and he didn't want to spend the time or money to wire up his older boat with an onboard charger. Pretty much dummy proof unit that will automatically switch from charge to maintain so he doesn't have to worry about overcharging.

Steve

[hayseed]

I have a two bank Minnkota on board that has work great for six years. I also have one of the newer Schumacher chargers which has worked great for three years. I have three chargers which have burned up over the last ten years including Schumacher's and Sears. I've also had pretty good luck with Harbor Freight trickle charges. Good and bad in all colors, so I wouldn't recommend one over the other. Just make sure it has overcharge protection.

Bottom line: Find one you can get by with and use it until it's gone.

My 2 cents.

[RuKiddingMe]

I would rather spend less for a portable smart charger (plus it allows for other uses) rather then replace my dead on board charger. The reason I cannot do so is because how I have my batteries (24v) configured in the bow of the boat makes it a serious PITA to get the portables attached to the posts - where as an onboard charger I only have to grab the plug and plug it in. Some decisions need to be made by situation and the cheapest route almost never fits a situation - of course.

[Esox_Magnum]

I can run mine over and buy more for $200.

Batteries charge all the same genius.

You do know most onboard chargers are waterproof right? So with 4 batteries do you have 4 chargers to hook up oor just one and keep moving it from battery to battery? I run an onboard so I can plug in 1 cord at 10pm when I get home and know all 3 are fully charged at 6 am the next morning when I unplug the cord and drive away....

[FshBloodRiverMud]

I hook up 3 chargers.

2 batts in series and 2 in parallel.

< 5 minutes.

I have that kind of available time.

[FshBloodRiverMud]

I designed my boat for easy batt access.

Last year before I upgraded to a 24v trolling motor system I had 3 batts in parallel.

[Esox_Magnum]

Many of us don't have easy access to our batteries. My cranking is under the sink and during muskie season the rear casting deck is in so one has to crawl under that and lift a flap to even see the battery. Other 2 are in the center of the boat and easy to get to but why climb in to hook up 2 chargers when I can plug in 1 cord from outside the boat in 2 seconds and not have to worry about the charger being out of the weather since my boat has to sit outside... We all have a preference I chose quick and easy....

[FshBloodRiverMud]

Mine is stored outside too. I have tons of room in my multiple storage compartments for several chargers to stay nice and dry.

I would have an on board if it was actually a pain to hook them up. But, its quick and easy for me too.

[Esox_Magnum]

Hook up 2 wires once to each battery... I fail to see the difficulty. I haven't even seen my 1 bank for 3 years lol

[FshBloodRiverMud]

Your right. Onboard is the only way to go.

[Fred_Bear]

hi the charger i have now doesnt tell me if i'm under or over charged. found one at the blue box store. schuemaker marine charger for $50 has display etc anyone know of one not interested in a on board charger thanks

Schumacher has lots of different models... pick the one that fits what you want.

Definitely get one that is a smart/automatic charger, hook it up and the charger will cycle how many amps based on how much charge the battery needs. The biggest thing is it will automatically shut off/maintain when the battery is fully charged.

I got a Schumacher 2/6/12 amp at Fleet Farm a few years ago. Cheap, small, and has served me well. I use that for the trolling motor battery and a battery tender jr. for the starting battery.

[Fred_Bear]

Your right. Onboard is the only way to go.

I disagree

[mrpike1973]

i bought a shumacher 2/6/10 charger it works great. i like the automatic shut off. i ran the trolling battery almost all day and it was charged over night. thanks

[gunner55]

We have a 2 bank Minnkota 10amp on board charger that charges our TM batteries on the go.It charges the front batteries only after the starting battery is fully charged.I rarely have to use a portable charger as by the time I get back to the dock the maximizer on our bowmount says they are fully charged.I have double checked by hooking up the portable,it's a Schumacher & usually tells me they are 85% charged.The 1.5-2 mile run out to the lake the next time takes care of that.

[jmg]

Glad to hear you settled for the Schumacher, Mr. Pike, since I will be buying one, probably this weekend. My Diehard automatic met its death yesterday when it accidentally fell off of a high shelf. Tried it on 3 different batteries after the fall and it is VERY erratic. Don't want to risk a garage fire or it taking out my deep cycle battery. Nothing lasts forever. Enjoy all your new "investments" over the weekend.

[magicstix]

I feel if you have a 24v system then the on board is great.

I used to charge each battery with Smartchargers for a few years, wasn't going to buy a onboard. Until I got the 24V trolling motor, I started rethinking the onboard charger. Finally found a really sweet deal on a 3 bank and bit the bullet. I love it, probably some of the best money spent for maintaining batteries and will buy another in a heartbeat.

An onboard is not for everyone but I sure like mine.