Remote fishing areas- battery questions

[Scoot]

I know this has been discussed before, but I can't find it when I do a search- I'm sure I'm not using the right search terms.

I'd like to know what products are available to charge my trolling motor batteries from my big motor on my boat (I have a 150 VMax). Also, how well do they work? I've been told that if I put one of the products on I can use my trolling motor forever because every time I drive a few miles it charges my batteries while in transit. However, I've also been told that it'll only make my batteries last about 30% longer, which is a lot different than running them indefinitely (as long as I chase around with the big motor now and then). I understand the basic issue of not doing a lot of charging with a small alternator/rectifier, but how much good do these products do? Are they worth it?

I need to figure out something for our camping trips to remote areas. I'm not wild about dragging along an alternator and I don't want to pack three sets of batteries.

Please advise...

[VMS]

when our crew goes on the remote trips, we all don't even bring our bow mount motors. We make sure we have a kicker on the back and use that instead. The reasons for this are two-fold: First is for the reason you mentioned..not wanting to bring along extra batteries and second...it is a way off the lake in case your big motor goes down.

From what I understand about the charging systems that allow you to charge after your starting battery is full capacity is that they don't do a whole lot. They help to extend your time on the water, but unless you are doing a bunch of trolling with your big motor, or running long distances between spots and only fishing for a short period of time, you will draw your batteries down. I'd say that if you are looking to use your bow mount, get a good small quiet generator and charge for a couple hours each evening.

Steve

[BobT]

It's not likely that you are going to find anything that will recharge your deep cycle battery in just a few minutes of cruising the water. You run your electric trolling motor for an hour and you can expect it will take a few hours to recharge that deep cycle even with a benchtop battery charger.

Bob

[iffwalleyes]

Scoot Stay n charge has a system that they claim will do this it is the All Charge retails on their HSOforum to $219.99 plus shipping here is the discription of what it does

The new AllCharge charging system

The All Charge system is designed to enhance any charging system that you are already using.

By installing the All Charge system you will be able to top off your trolling batteries every time you crank the outboard motor and move to your next fishing location.

The unit can also be used to charge up to four batteries from a single Ac charger. By using the All Charge with a single bank AC charger you can charge the starting battery and up to three trolling batteries at the same time.

The new All Charge is designed to automatically know how many batteries it will be charging as well as if the batteries are wired correct and that the batteries are chargeable.

No idea how it works but I know the guys at stay n charge are really good at answering questions.

[Scoot]

Thanks guys. Who has this product? How do you like it? How well does it work?

Looking for info from people who own this product or have first-hand information.

[Whoaru99]

I don't have one, but how well it works is fairly straight forward math. Just substitute your actual numbers for these in the example.

Say you have a 100A/Hr battery and the trolling motor draws 20A/Hr and you run the motor for 3 hours. You have taken roughly 60A/Hr from the battery so this is how much the charger must put back to restore the battery to full charge.

So, if the charger puts out 10A (and your engine alternator can also keep up that much to the charger) it would take approximately 6 hours of engine run time to fully recharge the battery.

[ccarlson]

I haven't used the product mentioned but I will say I have the same motor you have (which has very little amp output compared to the newer big motors) and I find that having a kicker is the most valuable equipment I have when on remote camping trips. My 150 barely keeps my starting motor up to snuff when running several locators, GPS's, bilge pumps, aerators etc. for 4 to 5 day stretches. Remember too that the more you use your big motor to charge the batteries, the more gas you will use. Gas and ice are the two most fundamental items of necessity when on trips such as this.

I do several long trips a year up to Rainy lake and I only use my 24v vantage or bowmount on really calm days or calm times of the day. Otherwise the kicker is backtrolling or forward depending on the type of fishing.

I would save the $250 for something that MIGHT work and invest it into a used 4 stroke kicker which you can easily find for $1,000. Once you have the kicker you will love it. I also added a trollmaster (remote speed control) and a connecting rod to the main motor to mine which makes it even more useful and comfortable for fishing.

One more advantage of a kicker I thought of is that if the wind is blowing and fish are biting out in the wind, with a kicker you can sit on a spot all day and use hardly any gas. With an electric, you will burn your batteries up in no time and trying the use the big motor is not nearly as good.

Go with the kicker IMO.

ccarlson

[ChuckN]

Couldn't have said it better myself...

You will have to log several hours on the main motor to charge the deep cycle batteries with any system, unless you have one heck of an alternator on that motor (not likely). My main motor sometimes barely charges the starting batterty some days.

[Scoot]

Thanks again for the replies, fellas. Unfortunately, I don't think the kicker motor is the answer. Actually, I already have one. I also already have a trollmaster on it too. However, most of the fishing I do on these trips is casting for muskies and smallies. It doesn't work worth a darn to try run a kicker motor (whether it is by steering wheel or not) and try to cast for muskies or smallies.

However, I'm hearing what you're saying. It sounds like I should try thinking of other options.

Thanks much for the info.

[lots of luck]

Shoot me an email jroberts(at)htpo.com.

I have an idea for you.

[ccarlson]

I assumed you meant for walleye. I see what you mean about the smallmouth type fishing with a kicker. Not that easy to do.

ccarlson

[fisherdog19]

Scoot, if you remember, that year I went up to LOW with you I had that type of system on my boat. With the time you spend getting to and from your spot, and running between fishing hole, it should help. I had an onboard charger with it built in, but you can purchase it as a stand alone unit as well. It works by charging your trolling motor batteries when it reads that your cranking battery is fully charged from the alternator in your motor. When it reads the full charge, it transfers the charge from your alternator to your trolling motor batteries, and charges them. Whatever the amp output of your engines alternator is, will be the amps the trolling motor batteries will get. Give me a call, and I'll point you in the right direction on where to pick one up, and who makes them.

[Scoot]

Peter, thanks for the reply. I do remember the product. I just don't recall how well it worked. My real question here is how well they work. After seeing the responses and talking with a few people, I'm getting a feel for the answer to my question. Thanks.

[Swimmer]

Scoot, I agree a kicker would be the most reliable way to guarantee mobility. I had good luck with a solar charger mounted on the back of the passenger seat. I would swivel the seat with it in down position to angle it towards the sun (would re-swivel it several times an outing). I know people who did not have a good experience with solar chargers though. During a week long camping trip, every day was sunny! or partly sunny, my 12V system (MK 55# Power Drive), the battery managed to just barely keep up and the battery was about a third charged at the end of the week. I forced myself to use the trolling motor judiciously though...maybe 1-2 hours/day on Low/Med with the Main Motor lifted during extended use of the trolling motor. If I have the cover off during the work week the trolling motor battery will get topped off before the next weekend. It's been about ten years and the solar charger is still putting out juice, though at a lesser pace, this despite months out in the elements and WIntering outside. Probably time to spend another $70 for a new one and to cut/place clear plastic into my boat cover over the charger so that I can keep it covered while charging. The newer chargers probably put out a little more too...maybe buy two this time.?