Batteries in General

[Steve A.]

I assume a new Hunter H260 comes with one marine deep-cycle battery that is 'adequate' for short periods of time. If you added lots of electronics or used the lights much, you woumayld need to charge the battery every day.Does the H260 come with a charging line that plugs into the outboard? Have other owners felt it was necessary to add a second (or third) battery or upgrade to gel? How does everyone else keep thier batteries charged when they are cruising? (wind, solar, run the motor).

 

[Darren9582]

Depends...

..on your choice of outboard and its capabilities. If you get an outboard with an alternator, the dealer at commisioning should wire it appropriately.I purchased a dual pupose battery to replace my original starter battery. Since then, I have added a second battery to the same bank with a switch so that I don't have to remember to keep my portable "jumpstart" emergency battery / light / 12 volt contraption charged.I just recently added a solar panel and regulator as well as I was spending a lot of time on the boat without running the engine.

 

[Steve A.]

Mounting of your Solar Panel

How did you mount your solar panel? Is it a portable that you layon the deck, mount on a pole or arch? The one I have for my boat is about 18" square and puts out 350mA (max) which isn't much if you are using lots of Amp-Hrs. What do you use?

 

[Darren9582]

Temporarily on top of bimini right now.

It is temporarily lashed to the top of my bimini right now. I am in the process of tracking down some tubing to mount it more permanently on the bimini frame.I purchased the WestMarine 15 Watt panel and the regulator that they sell as well.

 

[Ashley]

Darren

I have been thinking of something similar. I have a 32W flexible solar panel that is usually strapped to the bimini. This requires leaving the bimini up at all times. I have been thinking of making a frame to attach to the bimini support and stern rails. Let us know what you come up with.

 

[Darren9582]

My plan...

...is to mount the Solar panel to two tubes (same material as bimini frame), then notch the bimni cloth and sew some stiches into it to prevent it from tearing, and the clamp the two new tubular pieces to the bimini somehow. My boat is always in a slip, so I don't mind the bimini always having to be up.

 

[Steve A.]

Pole that rotates

I was thinking about installing a vertical pole that has a ball joint with the panel attached. This arrangement allows you to rotate the panel to the most effecient orientation to gather sunlight. I also thought I would attach a pully system near the top that I would use to haul the dingy outboard up to the mount on the port stern rail (since that is the side the dingy is would be tied up to and is near the boarding ladder). I suppose you could even add a small mount for a GPS antenna. I need to think about the best way to run the wires -- I suppose you could run them down through the middle of the pole and in through the transom? What do you think?