On Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:56:16 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:10:29 -0400, JohnH
wrote:

After needing a jump start yesterday, I've decided to invest in one of
these:

http://tinyurl.com/lfnhqy

I'd appreciate any comments on the good, bad, or ugly. Thanks!

In my opinion you are better off getting to the root cause of why you
needed a jump start and fixing that. I'd been having the same issue
with our runabout recently and just discovered that one of the bilge
pump switches was sometimes sticking in the on position and running
down the batteries, easy fix once you find it.

Another possibility is that the batteries are getting old and tired
but there is no sense in replacing them if you have a leakage
situation because that will soon ruin new batteries also. The only
other answer is to leave a trickle charger on all the time, solar or
otherwise.

Yesterday I left the accessory switch with the radio and gps on while
we were at the beach, about four hours. I've put a battery cut off
switch in the boat, and that has prevented the 'accidental' rundown of
the battery while sitting in the marina. The boat started fine when we
left, but after sitting at the beach for four hours it would do only
the rrrr.....rrrr......rrrr....bit. One of the guys who'd been ogling
my daughter volunteered his jump starter, which got me going again. I
suppose I'll put the charger on the battery while it sits in the
driveway overnight before trips.
--
John H

"BEND OVER - The 'change' is coming!"