Creative ways to charge your boat without shore power

[TnRiver46]

It’s always good to have generator at home in storm country as well, two birds with one stone 

[gim]

9 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

It’s always good to have generator at home in storm country as well, two birds with one stone 

 

Beat me to it.  They obviously have more than one purpose.

[TnRiver46]

Alright what about those monster power boxes people take off grid? 
 

https://www.anker.com/products/a1761?variant=42755705208982&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pmax&utm_campaign=us_anker_pps_consideration_pmax_A1761_purchase_ost&utm_content=pc-pps&utm_term={20590338643}_{}_{}&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2eKtBhDcARIsAEGTG42o0O_wqxdLJLpbH60MW_V9gqlSSUI-cQTVjvDFn1PDUAfwYq16zsoaAsh9EALw_wcB

[padlin]

5 hours ago, stk44 said:

Does this make a difference if I have a 3 bank charger? I believe it’s a 30 amp charger and have a 24 v system for my trolling motor. 

It only matters if you want to know how long it’ll take to charge to 100%. Can you tell when the batteries reach 100% now? If so, just time it after an average day from when you plug it in till they are full. Running off a generator should be the same as far as I know but then I don’t know about 24v systems.

 

fwiw, I had a neighboring camper shutoff my Honda 2k one time when we took the dog for a walk, they are comparatively quiet, but not really quiet. I started running mine in the truck bed with the cap closed up.
 

[WRB]

17 hours ago, stk44 said:

Do you think this would be enough to fully charge my batteries after a practice day before a tournament? 

Yes 

[stk44]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Alright what about those monster power boxes people take off grid? 
 

https://www.anker.com/products/a1761?variant=42755705208982&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pmax&utm_campaign=us_anker_pps_consideration_pmax_A1761_purchase_ost&utm_content=pc-pps&utm_term={20590338643}_{}_{}&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2eKtBhDcARIsAEGTG42o0O_wqxdLJLpbH60MW_V9gqlSSUI-cQTVjvDFn1PDUAfwYq16zsoaAsh9EALw_wcB

Sheesh. I guess that would work, too. And it would be quiet. Could potentially lock it in the bed of my truck and feed an extension cord through the cover.

3 hours ago, padlin said:

It only matters if you want to know how long it’ll take to charge to 100%. Can you tell when the batteries reach 100% now? If so, just time it after an average day from when you plug it in till they are full. Running off a generator should be the same as far as I know but then I don’t know about 24v systems.

 

fwiw, I had a neighboring camper shutoff my Honda 2k one time when we took the dog for a walk, they are comparatively quiet, but not really quiet. I started running mine in the truck bed with the cap closed up.
 

Hmmm. Mine would be in an overflow area so not in an immediate camping area, but I suppose on a quiet day it could be annoying. 

[Zcoker]

Well, I can only speak for the creative ways. I still need the shore power. And this is how I charged my kayak battery one trip. I landed my yak after fishing all night, got on the dirt road and found this little farmhouse shack-style restaurant in the woods. Took me a looonnggg time to eat my cheeseburger lol. Lasted me another night. 

 

 

[stk44]

31 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

Well, I can only speak for the creative ways. I still need the shore power. And this is how I charged my kayak battery one trip. I landed my yak after fishing all night, got on the dirt road and found this little farmhouse shack-style restaurant in the woods. Took me a looonnggg time to eat my cheeseburger lol. Lasted me another night. 

 

 

That’s awesome! 

[Tennessee Boy]

On 1/30/2024 at 1:08 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Alright what about those monster power boxes people take off grid? 
 

https://www.anker.com/products/a1761?variant=42755705208982&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pmax&utm_campaign=us_anker_pps_consideration_pmax_A1761_purchase_ost&utm_content=pc-pps&utm_term={20590338643}_{}_{}&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2eKtBhDcARIsAEGTG42o0O_wqxdLJLpbH60MW_V9gqlSSUI-cQTVjvDFn1PDUAfwYq16zsoaAsh9EALw_wcB

It stores 1056 watt hours which would be enough to theoretically put a 44 amp hours charge on each of the two trolling motor batteries.   I say theoretically because there is some inefficiency in the charger.  So depending on how depleted the batteries are, it might bring them up to 100 percent and would definitely make a difference but it is limited.

[stk44]

9 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

It stores 1056 watt hours which would be enough to theoretically put a 44 amp hours charge on each of the two trolling motor batteries.   I say theoretically because there is some inefficiency in the charger.  So depending on how depleted the batteries are, it might bring them up to 100 percent and would definitely make a difference but it is limited.

Thanks. I think I’ll talk to the campground and see if they can make an accommodation first. Seems like every all the other options have a time and place, but will still be a pain in the butt compared to plugging in to shore power. 

[Zum]

Buy a bigger aH battery lithium, depending on how your fishing doubt you would kill it in a weekend bass fishing. 

[Bankc]

Creative ways to charge a boat battery without shore power... let's see...

 

I guess, when you need to use your trolling motor, just lift your regular boat motor out, remove the prop, drop the motor back down into the water (so it doesn't overheat) and the hook up the starter battery wires to your trolling motor battery.  Then run your regular boat motor at top speed to get the alternator to recharge your trolling motor battery while you use it.  You might want to bring some ear plugs for that.  

 

Or maybe install a stationary bike to your deck and hook it up so it turns a belt that directly turns your trolling motor prop, forgoing the motor part.  You know, like a pedal kayak, only larger.  

 

Or, if you have a plutonium hookup, you could install an SMR (Small Modular Reactor) to your boat.  But I'd have a professional do the install for you, because you don't want to be that guy who ruins the whole lake or city for the next 100,000 years because you decided to cheap out and do a DIY job.  Nobody likes that guy.  

[TnRiver46]

You know you’re a red neck when you’ve done one of the things @Bankc just listed……… and I have……..

 

unhooked everything and put jumper cables from the crank batt to the deep cycle and drove around for a while 

 

not recommended 😂 

[stk44]

20 hours ago, Bankc said:

Creative ways to charge a boat battery without shore power... let's see...

 

I guess, when you need to use your trolling motor, just lift your regular boat motor out, remove the prop, drop the motor back down into the water (so it doesn't overheat) and the hook up the starter battery wires to your trolling motor battery.  Then run your regular boat motor at top speed to get the alternator to recharge your trolling motor battery while you use it.  You might want to bring some ear plugs for that.  

 

Or maybe install a stationary bike to your deck and hook it up so it turns a belt that directly turns your trolling motor prop, forgoing the motor part.  You know, like a pedal kayak, only larger.  

 

Or, if you have a plutonium hookup, you could install an SMR (Small Modular Reactor) to your boat.  But I'd have a professional do the install for you, because you don't want to be that guy who ruins the whole lake or city for the next 100,000 years because you decided to cheap out and do a DIY job.  Nobody likes that guy.  

I guess by the title of my post you technically hit the nail on the head 

[DogBone_384]

[airshot]

In all honesty, wouldn't it be easier to find another place to store your boat ??   When we had our motorhome we never had an issue when we ask to spend a night at a gas station or carryout store so we could plug in to recharge our batteries, we usually offered 5 or 10 dollars to cover the electricity, but most often they never took it. 

[stk44]

40 minutes ago, airshot said:

In all honesty, wouldn't it be easier to find another place to store your boat ??   When we had our motorhome we never had an issue when we ask to spend a night at a gas station or carryout store so we could plug in to recharge our batteries, we usually offered 5 or 10 dollars to cover the electricity, but most often they never took it. 

Not really. I have two little kids and we stay at my in-laws campground so they can help us watch the kids( and dogs) while at camp.  The less support we get, the less fishing I will do, unfortunately. 

[HenryPF]

TnRiver has a good answer.

 

No noise, no fumes, no gas, no nothing? Weighs about the same as the generator (depending on the size you get?)

 

Buy a portable power station - which is just another lithium battery bank that you plug your onboard boat charger into.

 

Math time: if you have a 10x3 charger, they usually pull about 150wh per bank. Take the capacity of the power station - let's say 2000watts and divide by wh and you get how many hours your charger will work before the power station runs to zero.

 

Fishing in the morning? Pull the station outta the boat and re-charge at camp.

 

Something like this:

 

[stk44]

9 hours ago, HenryPF said:

TnRiver has a good answer.

 

No noise, no fumes, no gas, no nothing? Weighs about the same as the generator (depending on the size you get?)

 

Buy a portable power station - which is just another lithium battery bank that you plug your onboard boat charger into.

 

Math time: if you have a 10x3 charger, they usually pull about 150wh per bank. Take the capacity of the power station - let's say 2000watts and divide by wh and you get how many hours your charger will work before the power station runs to zero.

 

Fishing in the morning? Pull the station outta the boat and re-charge at camp.

 

Something like this:

 

So assuming 150wh per bank are we talking ~4.5hours of charge time? ((2000 watts/ (150wh * 3 banks)) 

[Tennessee Boy]

2 hours ago, stk44 said:

So assuming 150wh per bank are we talking ~4.5hours of charge time? ((2000 watts/ (150wh * 3 banks))

No,  150wh is only about 12 amp hours of charge.  Most lithium batteries will list the capacity in watt hours in the specification.  For example,  the Ionic 12v 100 ah battery list the capacity at 1280 watt hours.  Two of these batteries is 2560 watts hours of capacity.  This is the power you will have to replace if they are fully depleted plus any power wasted by the charger.  The largest Big Blue Power Station has a capacity of 1843 watt hours and cost $1600.  You’re probably not going to fully deplete your batteries so it would probably do the job.  You can recharge the Power Station in less than 2 hours so you could make it work to deliver all the power you could need overnight with two charges.   
 

If I wanted to power my charger with battery I would just buy a big lithium battery and an inverter.  You should be able to get a 300 amp hour lifepo4 battery and a 1000 watt inverter for under $1000.  This would deliver 3800 watt hours for a lot less money.

 

Note:  The watt rating is the power required by a device.  For example a 100 watt light bulb will pull 100 watts.  Watt hours is the total power consumed over time.  For example a 100 watt light bulb that is on for 2 hours will consume 200 watt hours.  The Big Blue Power Station will deliver 2000 watts but has a capacity of 1843 watt hours.  So it would power 20 100 watt light bulbs (2000 watts) but only for about 55 minutes.

[GaryH]

I never thought to ask. What are you towing your boat with? If you’re pulling it with a newer pickup you should have a 120v outlet in the bed and or inside. I know my truck have one inside and in the bed that delivers 400 watts. Not the perfect solution but all you’ll need is an extension cord from your bed to the boat charger. I’m no electrician but I’m sure someone on here would know if it would work. 

[stk44]

3 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

No,  150wh is only about 12 amp hours of charge.  Most lithium batteries will list the capacity in watt hours in the specification.  For example,  the Ionic 12v 100 ah battery list the capacity at 1280 watt hours.  Two of these batteries is 2560 watts hours of capacity.  This is the power you will have to replace if they are fully depleted plus any power wasted by the charger.  The largest Big Blue Power Station has a capacity of 1843 watt hours and cost $1600.  You’re probably not going to fully deplete your batteries so it would probably do the job.  You can recharge the Power Station in less than 2 hours so you could make it work to deliver all the power you could need overnight with two charges.   
 

If I wanted to power my charger with battery I would just buy a big lithium battery and an inverter.  You should be able to get a 300 amp hour lifepo4 battery and a 1000 watt inverter for under $1000.  This would deliver 3800 watt hours for a lot less money.

 

Note:  The watt rating is the power required by a device.  For example a 100 watt light bulb will pull 100 watts.  Watt hours is the total power consumed over time.  For example a 100 watt light bulb that is on for 2 hours will consume 200 watt hours.  The Big Blue Power Station will deliver 2000 watts but has a capacity of 1843 watt hours.  So it would power 20 100 watt light bulbs (2000 watts) but only for about 55 minutes.

Thanks for the info here and helping me get my terminology down. This makes perfect sense.
 

I was going to wait to get my moneys worth out of the lead acids, but would it make more sense to get two lithium’s for my trolling motor and call it a day? The AGM starting battery could at least charge on the run which I could eventually replace with lithium in time.

[airshot]

16 hours ago, stk44 said:

Not really. I have two little kids and we stay at my in-laws campground so they can help us watch the kids( and dogs) while at camp.  The less support we get, the less fishing I will do, unfortunately. 

You can't get some help from your inlaws ??  I would think if they own the camp, they could help you out...even if it was just a really long extension cord !!

[stk44]

1 hour ago, GaryH said:

I never thought to ask. What are you towing your boat with? If you’re pulling it with a newer pickup you should have a 120v outlet in the bed and or inside. I know my truck have one inside and in the bed that delivers 400 watts. Not the perfect solution but all you’ll need is an extension cord from your bed to the boat charger. I’m no electrician but I’m sure someone on here would know if it would work. 

2011 F150– sadly no 120 outlet. 

1 minute ago, airshot said:

You can't get some help from your inlaws ??  I would think if they own the camp, they could help you out...even if it was just a really long extension cord !!

They are members of the campground I’m an associate member. They do not own the campground. 

[airshot]

Well that stinks....