Battery Pack/Jump Starter Help

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Originally Posted by SEA DANCER

I recommend an isolation switch at the battery. if you are draining the battery while it is on the trailer that will solve that problem. If you only have the problem after it has besetting for a few days I don't think it would be the alternator but I could be wrong. My boat has a run/auto switch for the bilge pump. I never turn it to auto unless it is in an open slip and expecting heavy rain. I learned that lesson the hard way..

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Same same here. That is the symptom though. You really need to track down the problem.

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Originally Posted by Tarheelwx

I'm hoping some of you guys can provide some guidance on a battery pack/jump starter. Recently, I've run into some sort of electrical problem that's draining my cranking battery. I have a 115hp Optimax.

The problem is quite intermittent and I never know when I might have a problem. Fortunately it has sprung up when I'm pretty close to home or the ramp. While I'll be working to figure out what my problem is, I thought it would be a good idea to add one of those small battery packs/jump starters on the boat. Do any of you guys have experience with a certain size/brand that you might recommend I purchase or maybe steer clear of?

My plan would be to keep this thing on the boat permanently and only have to charge once or twice a year (to make sure it is always ready to go) or maybe after it has been used. I'm guessing there are some lithium versions that would be the way to go.

Thanks for any input.

TW

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I bought a jump start for each of my kids and grandkids(Christmas presents). The one I have cost around $100 and is very compact. It has started any number of cars that were stranded. It's first test was on an old 80s model Buick V8. I figured if it would start that it would crank most anything.
It's a Red Fuel model SL1 off Amazon.
It goes in the boat when I launch.

Okay. I figured out where all of the hoses are going and the purpose for each hole in the boat. I did put water in the bilge area overnight Saturday night to see if anything was leaking, and there wasn't a drop anywhere. I also did a pretty thorough hull inspection, and it looks top notch. I pulled the boat into the driveway Sunday and started pouring water into the bilge area. The pump would come on and run and pump most all of the water out, but then would keep running with obvious air in the lines. Sometimes it would eventually cut off, and sometimes I could stick my hand down in the bilge area and knock some stuff around and it would eventually cut off. It was really difficult to tell if the switch was hung up or if maybe there was still water in the bilge but it was having trouble clearing most of it out. I saw a video online where a Johnson pumps rep talked about putting a check valve in the line to keep water that's in the line from draining back through the pump and into the bilge area. Do any of your guys have a check valve on your outgoing line to keep any water that doesn't completely exit the line from draining back into the bilge area? I do have probably 18-24" of extra hose that I could eliminate from the discharge line. If I did that as well as added the check valve, then that should dramatically reduce the amount of water that could find its way back into the bilge area. What do you guys think of that?
TW

Those portable battery jump start packs have saved my tush a time or two in the past, but mostly on my vehicle. One thing that you do have to remember though ... it's a battery, and therefore subject to running down over time (even when not used), so recharging it regularly is as important as recharging your boat batteries. :ThumbsUp