My dropped battery incident (posted under general forum) got me thinking about what other people do with there trolling motor batteries.

My marina/slip does not have power, so after each time out fishing, I pull my trolling motor battery and take it home for charging. I was wondering what everyone else does?

Does anyone charge their trolling batteries with solar chargers, dual bank switch off the alternator, do you just lug your battery back and forth like me, or are you fortunate enough to have slip power?

Just curious,

Thanks,

George

Sorry, I do not have a trolling motor or batteries for them aboard my boat.

Bummer they don't have juice at dock! Is this marina known for slipping fishing boats? Even the short term courtesy dock at marina we went to last weekend had electric outlets for fisherman to get a quick battery recharge.

Unless fairly large, solar device might maintain a TM battery but I'd doubt it would recharge from fully drained. I think removed and carrying in is about only choice. Maybe a little cart to roll them with once removed would make toting them easier?

I use shore power and a bttery charger for the TM battery on the admiral's pedal boat.

I use an ACR on the dual battery setup in my runabout, but the second battery, while a decent size dual purpose battery, is only a house battery for stereo, etc. I do have a 20A Guest Intelligent Charging System dual 'on board' battery charger for the runabout too, but have only used it for maintaining batteries in the off season so far - real nice charger though. One day, I'll mount it on the runabout.

On a previous boat that was wet slipped, I tried a solar charger to keep the single on board battery topped up to keep up with drain from an auto bilge pump (some rain would leak through the canvas). The solar charger didn't do such a great job, although that was some time ago and a fairly small solar charger, I understand that they've made advances recently.

Maybe a hand cart would save some of the carrying, and would be the best bet for your situation.

Are there any systems to charge them while under way in a small BR (like mine)? I use an electric trolling motor to run the small inflatable dingy when I went to Catalina last summer, but had to charge it in the condo that we stayed in. Next time I go I'm going to beach camp and will need a way to keep it charged up.

The trolling motor on the "dingy":


I have a small AGM battery to power it and it would be nice to be able to charge it from the boat's charging system and have it be able to be quickly disconnected from the boat and put in the raft.