When our TruCharge 40 battery charger in the boat went out, we needed a way to keep our Trojan T-105 golf cart batteries charged until we could replace the battery charger. Of course these things NEVER happen on a convenient time or location, so we borrowed a friend’s West Marine Portable Battery Charger. We were so impressed by the little portable charger that we immediately ordered one for us.
Since that day we’ve found ourselves digging the portable 30Amp Battery Charger out over and over… Once we were able to charge a Belizean fishing boat’s battery (by plugging the charger directly into our Honda 2000 portable generator) … and receive a grateful reward of a giant dog snapper for dinner and beyond.
When our TruCharge 40 battery charger went out again last November, we were ready with the portable battery charger to keep us topped off until we could argue with Xantrax about a warranty replacement.
When we sold s/v Winterlude, we debated leaving the charger aboard for the new owner, but opted to take it home. Good thing! First thing that happened, we get the ski boat in the lift and ready for company to ski but the battery is dead. Luckily a few minutes later, the 30 amp West Marine Portable Battery charger went to the rescue and we enjoyed skiing all afternoon.
A few days later, a neighbor’s boat wouldn’t start … same battery charger to the rescue. When our golf cart wouldn’t start … when we needed to charge our camper batteries before taking them to install in the camper when we got it out of storage …. when my Z-3 roadster convertible battery needed reinstalled after being inside all winter.
Don’t get me wrong, we have a “real” battery charger too, but it’s bulky and heavy and this little battery charger provides a wonderful fast charge that gets whatever going.
So when you’re outfitting your boat, but SURE to include a portable battery charger. West Marine has changed the look since we bought ours, but the functionality is still the same.
Do you have a portable battery charger that you love? What brand? Please leave a comment and share! Cheers! Jan
Added to the list! But we are going to need a bigger boat to carry all your excellent ideas! 😉
Hi Keith & Nicki! This one we gladly created space for … and it’ll go with us both in the trailer and on to new adventures on the water. 2 months down, 10 to go until I’m allowed to think about a boat. 🙂
Ah yes, the battery charger would prove useful. Alas, I shall have to add it to the list.
Good to hear it still serves you well.
Cheers, Bill
Sorry Bill! 🙂 Cheers — Jan
Excellent article 🙂
I guess, these days one can’t have enough electric power onboard …
I have the Black and Decker VEC1093DBD Smart Battery 40/20/10/4 Amp Battery Charger .
I have had it for years, and when we sold our house and moved onto the boat, I brought it with us. Our Charles 40 amp main charger hasn’t ever quit, but I use the B&D to charge up the 4 115 amp hour AGM house batteries at night when we are running the generator for A/C. It puts 40 amps an hour back into the bank in no time, and we are ready for the next day on the hook with a full charge before the sun comes up on the solar panels.
I’ve gotten a lot of use out of a spare 12V battery I keep around – a lithium ion motorcycle starter battery. I’d be a little nervous about hooking it up to a flat house battery bank – it doesn’t have the “smart” part, just some big copper alligator clips or a 12V outlet adapter.