Storage on land

[SkaterRace]

I have always had older boats that were small and never drew much power other than engine startup and nav lights - all the battery was needed for.

I brought home a 2019 Blackfin 212CC a week and a half ago. It has way more (maybe too many for now) electronics that draw power. I am having to shut the main power off before I leave the boat for a few days/week till I use it next. I am looking into how I can better power it maybe via some shore power or something so I can leave the main power on so that I do not have to remove the cover to get into the main power. I want to leave the power on while it sits there because the engine has a switch on the side that lets me move it up and down without being in the boat. I have to store it almost as down as I can safely put it so it fits in my storage spot I have until I can secure a marina slip.

I also am not sure if there is anything else I should be doing to ensure it stays safe while on land for storage over the summer. I already have a full cover, coupler lock (shitty and looking to replace), blocks for the wheels, someone to check it daily - he lives there and said would let me know if anything happened to it so I can rush over, and proper insurance incase of something bad happening.

 

[tpenfield]

Solar charge, maybe. Once you are in a slip, you should be able to use shore power to keep the batteries full.

I had a similar issue with my new-ish boat (2016) as it has 7 batteries and continuous draw for various things. My boat lives on a mooring, so no access to power while the boat is at rest. I added a 100 watt solar system . . all good.

 

[SkaterRace]

Solar charge, maybe. Once you are in a slip, you should be able to use shore power to keep the batteries full.

I had a similar issue with my new-ish boat (2016) as it has 7 batteries and continuous draw for various things. My boat lives on a mooring, so no access to power while the boat is at rest. I added a 100 watt solar system . . all good.

Solar is an interesting option, I will look into it, thanks!

For shore power, I have access to a normal outlet I could plug into while on land and could install something to allow me to connect into it or shore power - mine currently has no hook ups for anything.

 

[Horigan]

Just use a trickle charger.

 

[airshot]

What boat electronics need to stay on while sitting on a trailer doing nothing??? Not being offensive here, just curious...

 

[SkaterRace]

What boat electronics need to stay on while sitting on a trailer doing nothing??? Not being offensive here, just curious...

Literally nothing, I just want the power trim to work when on the trailer. Oh and the bildge pump since the plug is "sealed" in with some stuff from the dealer and they advised I always get that done every year. Asked around and it's common in my area for boats that stay in the water which mine will for a few weekends a year as I go camping on an island.

The electronics even when "off" will still draw a small amount of power and the VHF seems to be on any time the main power is on, I am in a chatty area so I am sure it uses a decent amount of power. I figure the power could drain if I left it for 2-3 weeks which while unlikely during the main season isn't uncommon before May 24 and after labour day.

 

[dingbat]

Literally nothing, I just want the power trim to work when on the trailer. Oh and the bildge pump since the plug is "sealed" in with some stuff from the dealer and they advised I always get that done every year.

Never heard of such a thing.
What kind of plug do you have that requires a “sealer” every year?

Besides, it’s that boat self bailing?
My plug is brass. Comes once a year at best. Apply a coat of marine grease for good luck and reinstall.

Never heard of, nor seen an electronic component such as a radio, chartplotter, etc. w/o an On-off switch.

 

[SkaterRace]

Never heard of such a thing.
What kind of plug do you have that requires a “sealer” every year?

Besides, doesn’t that boat have

My plug comes out once a year

I think it's just 3M 4200 or another sealant, not an actual requirement for it to work. It's just the normal square plug you screw in. I think the idea is harder to remove accidentally (I have heard of kids removing them at marinas down by the waterfront hangout spots) and also just generally harder for them to come out without intention. I never have before with any boat but I also trailered 100% of the time. Either way, the dealer did it, the mechanic I am going to go to says leave it and it's a good idea if I am staying in the water overnight even a few times a year and he does it to lots of boats for many reasons. So I can't see where I would remove it in the future every time so I'm just going to assume it is always in even when on a trailer. So that leaves the bilge pump needing power just in case a cover fails or something.

 

[dingbat]

I think it's just 3M 4200 or another sealant, not an actual requirement for it to work. It's just the normal square plug you screw in. I think the idea is harder to remove accidentally (I have heard of kids removing them at marinas down by the waterfront hangout spots) and also just generally harder for them to come out without intention. I never have before with any boat but I also trailered 100% of the time. Either way, the dealer did it, the mechanic I am going to go to says leave it and it's a good idea if I am staying in the water overnight even a few times a year and he does it to lots of boats for many reasons. So I can't see where I would remove it in the future every time so I'm just going to assume it is always in even when on a trailer. So that leaves the bilge pump needing power just in case a cover fails or something.

Not a self bailing cockpit?

 

[SkaterRace]

Not a self bailing cockpit?

I think it is for the most part, I did spray it down the other day and ended up with 1/4 -1/2 inch of water in the bilge though and I think that came from an in-deck hatch I washed out. Other than that it all flows overboard.

 

[airshot]

Neither the bilge pump nor the power trim should draw any power unless they are being used !! I have seperate switches for everything like SS radio, sterio, fish finder etc so all are dead until needed.

 

[SkaterRace]

Neither the bilge pump nor the power trim should draw any power unless they are being used !! I have seperate switches for everything like SS radio, sterio, fish finder etc so all are dead until needed.

Yes, the bilge pump and trim don't draw power unless used. However other stuff does. Both screens, VHF, and radar are wired directly into the fuse panel. They draw power unless the main is shut off. If I wanted switches I would need more switches so it's not even an option if I wanted to. That all said, I need to ensure I don't tow the boat to the launch and find dead batteries so plugging it in onshore is probably a reasonable way unless I go with the option of solar as mentioned above.

 

[flashback]

Solar or trickle charge sounds like your best bet..

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, I do not like the way that boat is wired. I would recommend that the accessories be wired thru switches on the dashboard. They do not need their own switches, as you will be using several of them at a time. Pick an appropriate rated switch or switches and wire them to it. Shut that switch(es) off, when you park the boat.

 

[SkaterRace]

Gee, I do not like the way that boat is wired. I would recommend that the accessories be wired thru switches on the dashboard. They do not need their own switches, as you will be using several of them at a time. Pick an appropriate rated switch or switches and wire them to it. Shut that switch(es) off, when you park the boat.

All accessory switches are taken for other stuff or not high enough rated so I could not. I might get it wired better this fall depending on cost but this time of year I would lose 4-8 weeks of boating just to have them solve it. So another solution is what I need.

 

[airshot]

All accessory switches are taken for other stuff or not high enough rated so I could not. I might get it wired better this fall depending on cost but this time of year I would lose 4-8 weeks of boating just to have them solve it. So another solution is what I need.

Keep those batteries on a charger !!!

 

[SkaterRace]

Keep those batteries on a charger !!!

I currently have the main cut off so it's fine but is a royal pain and I still don't trust it for some reason. I suspect they wired something else fucked too. Crazy thing is 19 hours on the boat and that bad of wiring. Dealer did it too so I will get it all resolved when I can if it doesn't cost too much. If it costs a ton I will deal with the annoyances for a few years till I upgrade and then that dealer isn't touching **** if I buy another one of this brand and go new -this was used but from original dealer

 

[airshot]

If the dealer did the wiring let them figure it out...shouldn' t cost you for their mistake!!

 

[flashback]

Another option would be to cull out the circuit for the trim switch and wire it directly and bypass the main..

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, trim switches are usually wired thru a dedicated fuse or direct. Trim is a often a live or death situation, IMO. You cannot have them blow a fuse in heavy seas, for no good reason. Of course, if they short out that cannot be avoided.