Charging trolling motor batteries

[livinitlovinit]

I'm new at this game. I'd like to add a trolling motor to my Carolina Skiff 218 DLV. I know I'll need at least 24 volts. I keep the boat in dry storage and there is no option to plug into battery chargers. Short of removing the batteries each time to bring home and charge, what are my options? Thanks.

 

[JASinIL2006]

If there is no way to get power to batteries while the boat is stored, I don't see any option besides lugging batteries.

 

[livinitlovinit]

Since my initial post, I discovered onboard chargers. How do onboard chargers get power?

 

[ThomW]

I may be mistaken, but I believe that the onboard chargers take power from the motor--either an alternator or stater--depending on the motor-- and convert that AC power to DC power to charge the batteries while you would be under way and using the motor.

Again, this is only my assumption and I stand to be corrected.

 

[alldodge]

Since my initial post, I discovered onboard chargers. How do onboard chargers get power?

Solor powered

 

[JASinIL2006]

Most of the onboard chargers I've heard about (for example, see link below) use 110v AC to power the charger. It doesn't sound like you have access to that, unless there is some way to hook up solar panels.

Depending on what kind of motor you have, you might be able to use the current generated by the alternator to charge batteries, but I would think that would only be practical if you weren't discharging the trolling motor batteries very much.

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GEN5X2-Fully-Automatic-Temperature-Compensation/dp/B08G3STB1N/ref=asc_df_B08G3STB1N/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475771596172&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10274974423230147723&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022035&hvtargid=pla-1070162692981&psc=1

 

[Scott Danforth]

there are DC to DC converters. these can provide X amps at 24 volts from 2.25X amps at 12 volts. these basically turn 12 volts to AC, then AC back to DC all within its self. however these would require you to ride around in your boat for a really long time to charge the batteries. lets say you are fishing for 10 hours, expect to have to drive around for 4 hours or more to charge the batteries back up

Solar Panels were brought up. there are 24 volt 10 amp solar panels that you could have rigged up in your storage area that would charge the batteries. most dry storage units would not allow you to install and wire a solar panel to their facility

however the safest bet is to pull the batteries at the end of the night, bring them home and charge them

 

[Grub54891]

If there was a good way to charge them I think electric cars would use it instead of having to be plugged in.

 

[Silvertip]

$300 gets you an inverter generator. Charge the batteries at the storage facility when you get home (not before you leave). It is a bad idea to leave the batteries even partially discharged for long periods of storage. You can also charge the batteries from the tow vehicle on the trip home. May not fully top them off but better than leaving them deeply discharged.