Just purchased my first boat.  I have a cranking battery and 2 batteries for trolling motor, electronics, etc.  Should I get a 2 or 3 bank charger?  Any recommendations on what brand or features to look for?  Thanks for the help!

Ive always had one bank per battery in the boat. If I run on an electric only lake all day, my cranking battery will be low and that is definitely not the one you want going on you

3 one for each battery

Koofy, why is your cranking battery low after a day on an electric only lake? Is your tm connected to it?

Ive always had good luck with Dual Pro on board chargers.

Ive always had good luck with Dual Pro on board chargers.

Great quality charger and it's serviceable. Not a throw away like most of the others. They have a couple different models for boats. The Sportsman, which is 10 amps per bank, and the Pro, which is 15 amps per bank

Koofy, why is your cranking battery low after a day on an electric only lake? Is your tm connected to it?

No. My setup is two 27 series deep cycles strictly for the trolling motor and my Optima dual purpose for everything else. When I say it gets low, I do not mean low enough to the point where it wont start the motor, but still low enough where you want to charge it up so it doesnt kill itself. Several of the closest lakes I fish are electric only and in a 9 or 10 hr day with two fish finders, nav lights, compartment lights, livewells, and a Talon it can take a toll on it.

Gotcha. I was thinking it was about dead. Makes sense.

1 bank per battery. I have 4 batteries one cranking 3 trolling motor batteries. I have a 60amp 4 bank x 15amp  Dual Pro onboard charger.

 

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

A 3 bank is nice because you don't need 2 electrical lines running to the boat.  One plug and done.  I have an outlet in my boat, not a cord, so I just plug a cord right into the boat.  Simple and effective with no extension cords running around. 

 

FL

Get this in 3 banks and never look back, trust me I have tried other competitors and returned every one of them under warranty and bought these as replacements NO ISSUES!

 

http://www.dualpro.com/products/sportsman-series/

You're going to want a 3 bank charger. You electronics run off your starting batter and cranking the motor will slowly drain it down too so you're going to want to keep it charged as well.

I run a dual pro 3 bank 15 amp per bank and love it.

I only do a two bank for my deep cycles.  The starting/accessories battery rarely drains enough to warrant charging every time I go out.  Not a lot of starts and only one Humminbird.  Not a lot of drain.

I run a dual pro 3 bank 15 amp per bank and love it.

 

Same here.  Go 3 bank.

Same here.  Go 3 bank.

I did a lot of research and Dual Pro is the only one I found without any negative reviews. I ordered a 3 bank and couldn't be happier. It's a little more expensive, but worth it when it could cost you a trip or a day on the water or leave you stranded somewhere.

Went with a 3 bank Min Kota.  Has a 3 year warranty on it.  Oddly enough Walmart.com had the best price,