Do You Need To Mount Your Onboard Charger?

[zam]

I've been rigging my boat for a trolling motor, luckily I just barely fit two TM batteries in my center console compartment, I could fit a onboard charger in there but the instructions say to have it 8" away from everything, and it would only be 2" away from the batteries, with the gas tank right next to the batteries I don't think that would be a good idea, so I have two options, to either install the charger out in the open where it will be in the elements or just not bolt it inside the console and pull it out when ever I charge, I figure I would have to pull out the cord to plug it in so puling out the whole charger wouldn't be much more trouble, I don't see any reason why I would need to bolt it to anything unless Im missing something. what do you all think? any suggestions? thanks 

[slonezp]

My first suggestion would be to check if you can purchase extension leads for the charger. Some of the top brands offer extensions as an option. That way you could mount the charger elsewhere where you may have more room and just run the charging leads to the battery compartment.

[zam]

yeah I thought about getting an extension and running the charger in my bow compartment (that's the only other available compartment) but I don't think I could fit four more wires through the pipe since I ran the trolling motor wires through there. I may test it out to make sure though.. There is a spots outside of the center console, the chargers is supposed to be waterproof so I guess it wouldn't matter if it wasn't protected from the elements, the biggest problem with that would be the chargers plug, I can imagine the wire constantly getting in my way. I have to figure something out, I will be using the TM a lot

[slonezp]

You can recess the plug into the boat. What kind of boat do you have? I have a thru floor http://pcsdv.corecommerce.com/Accessories/Universal-AC-Plug-Holder.html pug holder on my current boat and this one on my last boat http://pcsdv.corecommerce.com/Accessories/Marine-On-Board-Charger-Inlet.html which was mounted to the inside of the gunwale. As far as being waterproof, I have a dual pro charger which is waterproof. I know this for a fact. I was in a hurry to get off the water one day as a storm rolled in. I forgot to pull the drain pug and by the time I got home the bilge was full and the charger was covered with water. It still works. If it were me, I would find somewhere to mount it in a compartment, or make an "addition" to a compartment and mount it to that. I wouldn't want it seeing water if I could avoid it. Also, leave it exposed and it could grow feet and walk away. With all the thieves targeting boats, better off not to tempt them.