Solar Powered Trickle Chargers

[fishbum]

They're about the size of credit card. My neighbor has them on his boat, he says that it helps more to keep your batteries from developing a memory or some sort of benefits to make the battery last longer. He's got them mounted in the back of his boat near the transom. I really don't see how they could really work all that well, especially with his boat being covered up all the time...I mean 8 or 10 hours on the water can't be enough daylight to really charge his batteries that much - now if it was a whole week, that might be different...

Jesse Duncan has them and has not had to charge his battery all summer. He uses them on his Pontoon boat for party trips. The battery has lasted a couple of years like this. Keeps the battery charging any time it is not being used and prevents it from getting a hard no charge point.. or as some call it memory.

[Chubminnow]

I'm pretty sure the one's I saw at Bass Pro were larger than a credit card...they were probably more like 4" x 6" or somewhere's in that category. I think I need to study up on these rascals...any amount of "free" juice is better than no juice.

[MLTSPCS]

Got one from BPS for about $35. It's about 5"x16". Seems to prolong the life of the tm batteries. It is supposed to have a built-in switch to keep from over-charging the battery. This one doesn't deliver a lot of amps, but it seems to be enough to make it last a little longer. I know the tm or crankin' batts don't take as long to charge up once we get in from a long day fishing since we started using it. Read the package for the unit you buy. Some are already waterproof while others need a little silicone around the edges and connectors to be made that way. Sometimes if we know we'll be using the boat fairly regularly and there's no rain in the forecast we'll leave the boat uncovered in the drive with this charger hooked to one of the batteries and a standard charger hooked to the other. Keeps 'em ready to go. We bought an on-board 2-bank but have yet to find the time and motivation to hook it up. If we're off and the weather aint too bad we just as soon be at the lake instead of installing a dang charger. I guess I'll have to do it one day in the garage when elwood is out chasing them smallies. I don't fish when I can't feel my line because of the cold. Not as dedicated as osme of you folks here on the board.