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When it comes to bass boats, there are a few options for battery chargers. Onboard chargers are always hooked up and ready to charge your batteries, while portable chargers can be used to jump-charge a boat's starting battery. However, portable chargers can be inconvenient to hook up and switch from battery to battery, and they are also at risk of being stolen if left unattended in a public place. Onboard chargers tend to be more expensive, but they easily pay for themselves in convenience. It's also worth noting that linear chargers, while widely available, are falling out of favour with boaters as they can negatively affect battery life and performance by cycling the batteries rather than maintaining the charge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Onboard, portable, linear |
| Pros | Onboard chargers are convenient and can be used to jump-start a boat's starting battery. Portable chargers are also useful for jump-starting. Linear chargers are simple, have a heat-reducing design and are water-resistant. |
| Cons | Portable chargers are inconvenient to hook up and switch from battery to battery. They are also at risk of being stolen. Linear chargers are falling out of favour because they negatively affect battery life and performance. |
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What You'll Learn
- Portable chargers can be used to jump-start a boat's battery, but they are inconvenient to hook up and are at risk of being stolen
- Onboard chargers are always hooked up and only require plugging in to charge batteries
- Linear chargers are falling out of favour with boaters because they negatively affect battery life and performance
- Linear chargers are simple, have a heat-reducing design, and are water-resistant
- Waterproof chargers are ideal for bass boats with multi-voltage applications
Portable chargers can be used to jump-start a boat's battery, but they are inconvenient to hook up and are at risk of being stolen
Portable chargers are a good option for jump-starting a boat's battery, but they have their disadvantages. The primary disadvantage is that they can be inconvenient to hook up and switch from battery to battery in the confines of a boat's battery compartment. They are also subject to being stolen if left unattended in a public place.
Onboard chargers are always hooked up and only require a plug-in to charge your batteries. They tend to be more expensive than portables, but they easily pay for themselves in convenience.
When choosing a battery charger, it is important to consider the type of boat and the conditions in which it will be used. Waterproof chargers, for example, are ideal for bass boats and other open boats that require a charger capable of surviving wet conditions. Linear chargers, on the other hand, are water-resistant but not waterproof and should be installed in a watertight area of the boat. It is also worth noting that linear chargers are falling into disfavor with many boaters because they tend to negatively affect battery life and performance by "cycling" batteries rather than "maintaining" the charge.
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Onboard chargers are always hooked up and only require plugging in to charge batteries
Another advantage of onboard chargers is that they do not need to be switched from battery to battery, which can be inconvenient in the confines of a boat's battery compartment. Portable chargers are also subject to being stolen if they are used in public places.
Onboard chargers are also more effective at maintaining battery life and performance. Linear chargers, for example, tend to negatively affect battery life because they shut off when the battery is fully charged and don't begin charging again until the battery drops below 90% capacity. This method of "cycling" batteries as opposed to "maintaining" the charge reduces battery life. Linear chargers are also often set at voltages too high for maintaining batteries, which can result in overcharging and harm to the battery.
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Linear chargers are falling out of favour with boaters because they negatively affect battery life and performance
Although linear chargers remain widely available, they are falling out of favour with boaters, especially those with bass boats and larger crafts, because they negatively affect battery life and performance. Linear chargers are designed to shut off when the battery is fully charged and only start charging again when the battery drops below 90% capacity. This method of "cycling" batteries, as opposed to "maintaining the charge, tends to reduce battery life. In addition, linear models are often set at voltages that are too high for maintaining batteries, which can result in overcharging. This can boil the electrolytes dry in wet-cell and AGM batteries and harm gel batteries as well.
Bass boat owners may be better served by purchasing an on-board battery charger, such as those from Bass Pro Shops, NOCO, Marinco, Minn Kota or ProMariner lines. On-board chargers are always hooked up and only require a plug-in to charge batteries. They are more expensive than portables, but they easily pay for themselves in convenience. Portable chargers can be inconvenient to hook up and switch from battery to battery in the confines of a boat's battery compartment. They are also subject to being stolen if left unattended in a public place.
Waterproof chargers are now found on all types of boats, despite originally being designed for bass boats and other open boats. They are ideal for multi-voltage applications such as bass boats that typically have a 12V starting battery and a 24-, 36- or 48-volt trolling motor powered by 12-volt batteries wired in series.
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Linear chargers are simple, have a heat-reducing design, and are water-resistant
Linear chargers are widely available and are popular with boaters due to their simplicity and heat-reducing, vented design. They are slightly bulkier than other chargers but do not let out as much heat as multistage chargers. Linear chargers are typically water-resistant, not waterproof, and should be installed in a watertight area of a boat. They are also less expensive than on-board chargers. However, they are falling into disfavor because they tend to negatively affect battery life and performance. This is because the unit shuts off when the battery is fully charged and doesn't begin charging again until the battery drops below 90% capacity. This "cycling" of batteries as opposed to "maintaining" the charge tends to reduce battery life. Additionally, linear models are often set at voltages too high for maintaining batteries, which can result in overcharging and harm to the battery.
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Waterproof chargers are ideal for bass boats with multi-voltage applications
Onboard chargers are always hooked up and ready to charge your batteries. When you return home from a boating trip, you simply plug the charger into a 120-volt outlet and let the charger maintain your batteries without the hassle of personal monitoring. Onboard chargers tend to be more expensive than portables, but they easily pay for themselves in convenience.
Portable chargers can be used to jump-charge a boat's starting battery, but they can be inconvenient to hook up and switch from battery to battery in the confines of a boat's battery compartment. Because they are portable, they are also subject to being stolen if you must use them in a public place.
Linear chargers are widely available, but they are falling into disfavor with many boaters because they tend to negatively affect battery life and performance. This is because the unit shuts off when the battery is fully charged and doesn't begin charging again until the battery drops below 90% capacity. "Cycling" batteries this way as opposed to "maintaining" the charge tends to reduce battery life. Additionally, linear models are often set at voltages too high for maintaining batteries, which can result in overcharging and harm to the battery. Linear chargers are typically water-resistant, not waterproof, and should be installed in a watertight area of a boat.
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Frequently asked questions
Linear chargers are water-resistant, not waterproof, and should be installed in a watertight area of a boat. They are also slightly bulkier than multistage chargers. However, they are simple and have a heat-reducing, vented design.
Portable chargers can be inconvenient to hook up and switch from battery to battery in the confines of a boat's battery compartment. They are also subject to being stolen if you must use them in a public place.
When you return home from a boating trip, you simply plug the charger into a 120-volt outlet and let the charger maintain your batteries without the hassle of personal monitoring.
