On-board battery charger

[waternutt]

I think I have read all the threads on here regarding batteries and battery chargers, and I think I am just as confused, if not more, than when I started. So bear with me...I would appreciate any advice you all may have.

I have 2016 Chaparral 243 VR. It has the upgraded Wetsounds audio from the factory, and the stock two battery setup with the batteries on opposite sides of the boat. Other than that, no other upgrades. The battery switch is a 3-position switch that is OFF/1/1+2.

I trailer my boat and keep it on a storage lot. I do have access to electric, but it is a shared connection so I will not be able to keep it plugged in all the time. I anticipate perhaps plugging in on occasion and especially a day or two before I plan to use the boat.

I would like to get an on-board charger to help maintain my batteries. I did forget to turn off my batteries once when in storage and ran down my #1 battery. I think I need a dual bank smart charger, but not sure how it would need to be hooked up due to AVRs, etc.

So, what do I need and how do I hook it up?

 

[seanmclean]

I have this one, its pretty nice. It detects and charges batteries independently, so don't think it would have an impact on the AVR.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F5EBR1C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[bthessel]

I have that same charger, mounted it in the boat and it has worked great for the last 2 years. When I am hooking the boat up my daughter knows to jump up there, unplug the charger, flip the switch to 1 and we are ready to go. When we get in at night she grabs the cord and when I have the boat backed in she flips the switch to off and plugs it in.

 

[waternutt]

So just hook one set of leads to each battery, put the battery switch in the OFF position, and plug it in?

Would the 8 amp version be sufficient or would you recommend the 12 amp?

 

[seanmclean]

So just hook one set of leads to each battery, put the battery switch in the OFF position, and plug it in?

Would the 8 amp version be sufficient or would you recommend the 12 amp?

Yep. I went with the 12 amp version just so both batteries would always be fresh the next day in case we ran them down low. 8 would probably do for your case, but the cost difference was fairly minimal.

 

[justason]

I have the same charger. to add for extra credit: I installed this thru the hull...., measure 4 times..then measure once more

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ANV81S/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_19?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[Eric Ballard]

Get a surge protector to expand the number of outlets on your shared power and leave the battery charger/maintainer plugged in all the time.

 

[seanmclean]

I have the same charger. to add for extra credit: I installed this thru the hull...., measure 4 times..then measure once more

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ANV81S/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_19?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Ha, I have that same one in my Amazon cart now. I'm dreading cutting a hole in the boat. I've done other thru-hulls before, but all in areas it won't be highly visible.

 

[2nazt]

Little hijack, if you use the NOCO GCP-1 upgrade the screws as the ones that come with it aren’t stainless and will rust out. A little FYI.

 

[GTBRMC]

I have this one, its pretty nice. It detects and charges batteries independently, so don't think it would have an impact on the AVR.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F5EBR1C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I installed and was very happy with this exact charger: https://jetboaters.net/threads/the-official-what-did-you-do-to-your-jet-boat-today-thread.2661/page-25#post-118913

 

[BigAbe75]

Little hijack, if you use the NOCO GCP-1 upgrade the screws as the ones that come with it aren’t stainless and will rust out. A little FYI.

Crap, now you tell me. Lol I didn't even think of that when I put mine in. Hopefully, I squirted enough silicon in there they'll last a few years.

 

[2nazt]

You’re not saltwater so you should be good @BigAbe75

 

[seanmclean]

Little hijack, if you use the NOCO GCP-1 upgrade the screws as the ones that come with it aren’t stainless and will rust out. A little FYI.

Good tip, thanks. Wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

 

[BigAbe75]

You’re not saltwater so you should be good @BigAbe75

Ah, true. Sometimes I wish I was, though!

Friend at work is heading to Sanibel tomorrow. She rented a house for a week on AirBNB, I think. She was excited to tell me that the house includes a jetboat for an additional fee. Pic looked like an AR210 maybe. I guess I'd be leary of renting a boat (or renting out my boat to strangers) like that. But her trip sounds awesome.

 

[Ronnie]

I put my though hull in a cup holder on the swim deck prior to that I ran it through the vents behind the swim deck’s seat backs. Whatever charger maintainer you get you will probably have to extend one set the leads. If your storage is outside you may want to get a small solar panel to top off the batteries if you can’t use the shorepower as much as you need or want to.

 

[justason]

Ha, I have that same one in my Amazon cart now. I'm dreading cutting a hole in the boat. I've done other thru-hulls before, but all in areas it won't be highly visible.

locate the spot, drill a 1/32" drill thru, leave the bit in the hole, validate it on the other side for location.....mask the area with masking/painters tape. drill away. easy peasy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MN8RUU/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_23?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

this one here you can use your own wire/length, instead of a fixed length and connection the other one has. I'm using this on my other boat

 

[seanmclean]

Just ordered the pass-thru - might as well get it over with!

 

[Betik]

I would like to get an on-board charger to help maintain my batteries. I did forget to turn off my batteries once when in storage and ran down my #1 battery. I think I need a dual bank smart charger, but not sure how it would need to be hooked up due to AVRs, etc.

So, what do I need and how do I hook it up?

I have this one installed behind the table base on the port side( no need to drill holes) & it is hooked up directly to the battery poles.

 

[waternutt]

Well as it turns out, I do not have access to power at my storage lot. Anyone have any experience with solar?

I could install the onboard charger still, but it would involve bringing the boat to the house to plug it in overnight. I don't think I would want to do that too frequently.

 

[jetboater4life]

I need to go solar next summer too....listening.