[Rhodes22-list] Dockside power and marine charger

[Bill Effros]

Following up on Bill's comments, I also have a battery monitor, and I 
feel that is one of the most important pieces of electrical equipment on 
my boat for the same reasons cited by Bill below.

I have shore power (which I have never used) Solar (which constantly 
"tops off" my batteries, and which I would recommend if you are on a 
mooring) and an electric start motor (which almost always means you also 
have an alternator).

I am on a mooring and store my boat in a boat yard all winter.  It is 
never near shore power, so a battery charger won't work for me.  My 
system is completely self sufficient, and my batteries remain in good 
condition for twice their rated life.  I have never run out of 
electricity. 

Being on a mooring is no different from constantly cruising, as far as 
the boat is concerned.  I come and go, and I bring supplies back and 
forth, but the boat is always out there. 

I leave my batteries on board year round, and I never disconnect 
anything.  When I'm working on the boat during the fall and winter, and 
it's sitting on the trailer, I crank up my boat stereo, recharge my cell 
phone and marine radio from the boat's electrical system, and plug all 
my 12V appliances into the boat's electrical system.

I like the cheap old wet cell batteries because they are the most 
tolerant of overcharging.  My batteries are currently at 13.90 v, and 
will go over 14 v at rest during the summer.  This has not hurt them a 
bit. When they go below 13 v at rest I replace them.

I have 2 batteries on board, but I probably only need 1.  The second 
falls into the cheap insurance category.

Bill Effros

William E. Wickman wrote:

>Tom,
>Congratulations.  You will  not be disappointed.  Your need for shore power
>and charger really depends on your specific circumstance and budget.  If
>you are going to keep your boat in a slip that has power, and you will be
>running a/c devices in your boat, then having a shore power option would be
>nice to have.  These items are really a matter of convenience.  Many Rhodes
>owners simply run an extension cord to a portable battery charger.  If you
>are like most sailors, I think you will find that you will use your deep
>cycle batteries only occasionally.  But everyone is different.  I have two
>deep cycle batteries and recently got back from a 4 day trip and was amazed
>at how little of the batteries capacity I used.  How did I know?  I
>installed a Xantrex Battery Monitor (new version of the Link 10).  It is
>not cheap, but it really allows you to manage your power consumption and,
>most of all it gives you peace of mind that you are not going to run out of
>juice if you leave your cabin lights on for another hour.  It really boils
>down to the cafeteria syndrome.  Each option is really nice to have, but
>they all really add up and by the time you get to the cashier your $7 lunch
>turns into a $20 banquet.
>
>Regarding bottom paint, if you trailer your boat at all, I know a number of
>folks around here (Ft. Loudon Lake in Knoxville, TN) have used VC17.  It
>will not rub off on your trailer bunks.
>
>Bill W.
>
>
>
>|---------+---------------------------------->
>|         |           "tbrown202"            |
>|         |           <tbrown202 at sc.rr.com>  |
>|         |           Sent by:               |
>|         |           rhodes22-list-bounces at r|
>|         |           hodes22.org            |
>|         |                                  |
>|         |                                  |
>|         |           05/22/2005 12:09 PM    |
>|         |           Please respond to The  |
>|         |           Rhodes 22 mail list    |
>|         |                                  |
>|---------+---------------------------------->
>  >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
>  |                                                                                                                              |
>  |       To:       <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>                                                                                 |
>  |       cc:                                                                                                                    |
>  |       Subject:  [Rhodes22-list] Dockside power and marine charger                                                            |
>  >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
>
>
>
>
>I have contracted to purchase a recycled Rhodes 22 with delivery in August
>2005.  The boat will have the "Ultimte Power Package" with solar battery
>charger.  The boat will primarily be used on a freshwater lake (Murray in
>Columbia, SC).  Would appreciate opinion as to whether either or both shore
>power and marine charger options to be advisable (cost of $450 each).
>
>    Also would appreciate opinions as to other owner's experiences
>regarding bottom paint for fresh water use, i.e. type paint, brands,
>frequency of repainting, etc.
>
>            Tom Brown
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>  
>