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I've been looking at a couple of lake places for sale that are not lake front, but have lake access with a dock. There is no electricity down by the docks. I'm trying to figure out a way to charge the batteries to the trolling motor without dragging the batteries back and forth. Anybody have any experience with solar chargers? I just thought that they might be an option, but I don't really know.
Thanks in advance.
Your best bet is a long extension cord.
From what I've read here and other fishing web sites, you will need quite a few of the solar panels large enough to fully/proprly charge the batteries. Best bet might be to look into one of the honda generators, have heard one run, they are quiet, and powerful enough to charge up the batts, and fairly easy to transport/lightweight. Or a long extension cord. Or make friends with someone who has power at the docks, and offer some $$ for using their power.
One panel 12 x 36 inches is rated at 15 watts or 1 amp. Good for maintaining a battery but would take forever to recharge a deep cycle battery. But you could put several in parallel to increase amperage.
Thanks for the replies. Looks like solar panels are not an option.
You could get one of those devices that transfers the power from the engines alternator to your trolling batteries. A few different companies make them but Dual Pro is the first on that comes to mind. I don't know how many charging amps they put out. If you aren't going to run you outboard much they won't be of much help though.
I have 3 big panels that I charged 4 golf cart batteries with when I went to Arizona. If you live where you get lots of sun one big panel would charge your battery. If it's like it is in Michigan, you might better get a generator. You can get a Kippor a lot cheaper than a Honda, I have a 2000 that I have had good luck with and it's real quiet.
For the cost investment I'd run a hardwire to the dock. It'll save chargers and anything else that needs electricity. Use a heavy extension cord if the distance is 100' or less, just to much resistance any further. I know guys who have made "hardwire extension cords" in similar conditions. I'm not an electrician, but I do know extension cords cause plenty of charger failures. Wish I had your problem though, it's gotta be SWEET.
The places I'm looking at are too far from the lake front to run extension cords etc. And I doubt if the other property owner's would put up with cords running across their lots. I think I'll just buy a wagon and take the batteries out of the boat when needed and haul them up and down. I was hoping for a "lazy man's" solution.
Generator .
I used a small solar charger and it charged OK, but didn't have the auto off option and would boil the battery. I returned it in about a week.
Can you build a small shack next to the dock?
Put solar panels on the roof, then have two sets of batteries, swap them out per trip. The day your fishing the other batteries are getting charged and will be ready for the next day of fishing. Sure its a little investment up front, but in teh long run it'll save you the ahssle of traveling with batteries.
Then again, a Quad or golf cart would make hauling the batteries painless.