Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Good evening!!
Check that statement... When a battery is fully charged, it should keep it's charge for a very long time. So..hooking up a slow charger is not something that is needed. Through the winter months when the batteries are just sitting and not being used, it is usually recommended to unhook the battery. Many bring it inside, but in reality, it is not needed. If it is charged, it will not freeze. It is also recommended to put the battery on a charger about once a month while not in use to top it off since there will be a minimal loss in charge. Just put it on a normal charger (most are automatic shut off these days) and your all set. If you have an on-board charger, you can keep it plugged in and the onboard will maintain the battery through the time the boat is not in use without hurting the battery.
On top of that, a starting battery is designed to do a quick draw for starting your motor and a quick recharge by your alternator. Many alternators these days have more amperage capability than in years past, so it takes less time to charge the battery. Now...with colder temps, any battery will be less efficient, and thus may not last as long. Putting a slow charge (like a trickle charge) on a starting battery will work, but is usually not recommended.
Most boats are rigged with the main fuse/circuit breaker panel getting it's electric power from the starting battery. Most electronics, lights, etc do not draw much electricity when used in individual cases, so in most cases it is not an issue. But...consider how much we add to our boats, and the newer designs of many boats, colder temps, lots of electronics, running lights, marine band radio, stereo, etc. a battery can be drawn down pretty quick and getting caught with a dead battery can happen in fairly short span of time.
Having a 3 bank charger on-board is definitely a good item to have. You can plug in and all of your batteries will be fully charged, and kept "topped off" for the next time out, and in most cases, this will be adequate for a day of fishing without fear of running the starting battery down, given it is in good shape and not ready for replacement.
Recommendation: If you are in the situation of needing to purchase a new starting battery, I would suggest getting a dual purpose battery (like the Stowaway) that has the capabilities of being drawn down slowly or used as a starting battery. It will charge like a starting battery, but has a much longer draw-down time than a typical starting battery. Plus, it can take the slow draw down of the on board "stuff" we all use without hurting the battery over time.
Also...getting a set of 10 foot jumper cables to keep in the boat is a good idea as well. If your main battery runs down, you can jump-start by hooking up to a trolling motor battery. Not the easiest on the trolling battery due to it's design, but it works in a pinch. Even if your trolling batteries are hooked up in series for the larger trolling motors, the jumper for the 24 volts is usually in the trolling motor plug, so hooking up to one battery will be safe.
Steve
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