Good Onboard Chargers

[MrGiggles]

Does such a thing exist?

Most of the XPS chargers from BPS have pretty lousy reviews. Same for the Dualpro chargers from Academy.

I run two batteries, but only one needs regular charging. I fish often enough that the starting battery seems to stay charged from the outboard. I have been using a Dewalt 4 amp charger/maintainer, but it seems to be dead after 6 months. Since then I've just been using a Schumaker trickle charger, but it takes forever to charge a group 29 battery at only 750ma.

[fishinwrench]

I see all types and brands fail at about the same rate.

I have a feeling that leaving them plugged in constantly to "maintain" your batteries is a mistake and does more harm than good....but I have no science to back that up.   

Pay no attention to the reviews on things like batterys and battery chargers. I see people almost daily that swear their batteries are practically new and in perfect condition when they are obviously not.   Just had a guy leave here a couple hours ago that was all pissed off because the battery he bought "LAST YEAR" was bad.  The battery had a sticker on it that said 4/14. 🙄

 

[liphunter]

MrGiggles, I don't know a good one from a bad one. But I had ordered a Pro Mariner Sport dual bank charger a while back. After 8 months it kind of went crazy and quit charging. I called Pro Mariner. First of all a person answered the phone. Which threw me off for a few seconds. It was still under warranty so I was waiting for the reason why they wouldn't honor it. That didn't happen. They were professional, Polite, and to the point. We tried a couple of simple things and decided it was shot for what ever reason. They sent me a new one. Which I got in a couple of days. Didn't even want the bad one sent back. I couldn't believe the level of customer care. It was like living in the sixties. I would buy another one for no other reason than there customer support.

[176champion]

My son had a minn Kota charger seemed to be good, my 176 has a dual pro in it and i think its 10 years old, my 190 i just bought has a pro marine  in it don't know much about it. Once my batteries are charged up i unplug the charger.

[Dutch]

I have had my best luck with Dual Pro.

[Smalls21]

I have had really good luck with Minn Kota chargers

[Seth]

I’m on year six with my Minnkota 210. I plug my batteries in as soon as I get home and unplug them the next day after they are juiced up. My last set of Everstart 29dc’s from Walmart lasted nearly 5 years. They still worked, but I noticed they weren’t quite as strong at the end of the day.

[dan hufferd]

I have this one. Although it is a minimal charge, it does charge from the outboard. I don't know if it really helps or hurts. I guess I just feel like I am being more efficient. I can't tell you if it is worth the extra cabbage.