I need help buying a on-board marine charger.  I have to buy it at cabelas because I have a gift card for 200 and would like to buy a charger for my boat.  I know nothing about them and would like to know how they work and if anyone could recommend one preferrably one cabelas sells. 

Thanks,

Jenga

Hi Jenga,

How many batteries do you need to charge? That will help with the selection.

Here you go. These are great chargers for the money, and are on sale now. I have the ProSportII20+. It does a fine job. Just plug it in and forget it. It keeps a maintenance charge till you're ready the next time. 8-)

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21276-cat600056_TGP&id=0043939018868a&navCount=2&podId=0043939&parentId=cat600056&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat600056&hasJS=true

I just picked up a Dual Pro SE 10 amps per bank, 3 bank on-board charger from Cabela's that looks great. Haven't had a chance to use it too much yet but it certainly brought them back quick quick first time around. They offer a 3 year warranty.

I have 3 bats.

Thanks,

Jenga

I have been running a Dual Pro for 9 years.  If mine ever goes out, I'll but another one.

Get a bank for every battery in the boat.  Get a 10-15 amp per bank charger.

I have been running a Dual Pro for 9 years. If mine ever goes out, I'll but another one.

Get a bank for every battery in the boat. Get a 10-15 amp per bank charger.

Ditto... When I ordered my '99 Ranger from the factory it came with a Ranger branded 3-bank Dual-Pro very similar (just as beefy, but older tech) to the one I just bought at Cabela's... It has run flawlessly for 11 years now... So when it came time to slap a charger in this project boat I'm working on it didn't take me long to decide on another Dual-Pro...

I had ordered a built in charger that was going to be placed in a great spot, out of the way under the gunwale. Then i realised the garage where i keep the boat doesn't have electricity. I had to cancel the work on the built in and order a portable charger.

Nope 2 bats for Trolling motor and 1 for outboard

+1 for the Dual Pro ...... I have a 4 bank in my Ranger and has worked great

Bobbyc

I'm trying to understand why you need a portable charger. You still need power. Are you thinking portable generator?

What we are talking about isn't portable chargers. They are battery chargers that are permanently mounted in the boat. It makes it really convenient when you want to charge the trolling motor batteries after using them all day. Instead of getting out a portable charger and charging each trolling motor individually, you can simply plug an extension cord into the on-board charger and charge up all of the batteries at once. Hopefully this will help clear up the confusion.

Im not confused I know what an on board marine charger is but don't know which one I should buy.  I have 3 batteries 2 for trolling and one for outboard.  I also don't exactly know how they work other than you charge all 3 at a time.  How does it keep them charged when Im on the water.

Thanks,

Jenga

It doesn't charge the batteries while on the water. Depending on the boat your motor has an alternator to keep the starting battery charged. The trolling motor batteries will drain as they are being used. I have a Minn Kota 2 bank which is connected to the trolling motor batteries, 5 years no issues. Next time I will get a 3 bank. I have on occassion left an accessory on and didn't find out til I got to the ramp to find out the starting battery is dead. Now I throw a trickle charger on the night before as a precaution. Also the higher the amp rating the charger is rated the quicker the batteries will charge. 

There are on-board chargers on the market that will also direct current from your engine to the trolling motor batteries but these are not in common use.

When people talk about on-board chargers in a freshwater water fishing forum, 99.9% of the time they are talking about chargers you plug into an extension cord.

And since bassboats have so many electronics running off the cranking battery, many folks choose to get an on-board charger with a bank for the cranking battery as well.

36v systems are becoming popular these days (3 tm batteries, plus one cranking battery). This setup would require a 4 bank on-board charger - and an outlet to plug it into.

I had a 24/36v switchable tm system once on a motor guide beast and honestly seldom used the 36v. I find 24v systems are fine for me these days - but of course the only time I spend 12hrs a day on the water these days I'm just chillin on a bigger boat.