www.iFourWinns.com

question about boat camping. I have a sundowner 235 (1987) with dual batteries (new 120 ah each) New to having a boat you can camp in. I'll probably be spending a lot of time "on the hook" (proper term?) Do you think the batteries are big enough, should I switch to led lighting for the interior and anchor lights? I also have a fridge but I probably won't use it since I herd that they take a lot of battery power I'm also thinking of taking a car battery along just in case I need extera cranking amps Is that overkill?

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sundowner 235

Depends on how much power you end up using With a 2 battery system you really only have 1 battery for your house needs. You want to keep the other battery untouched and available for starting. I had 2 group 31 batteries and couldn't get through a weekend or running the fridge, radio, lights, and watching a couple movies. I replaced 1 of the 31s with 2 6volts in series and have power to spare.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

I have 2 group 27 deep cycle interstates, not sure of AH rating, but 750 CCA. Anyway, I can not make it a weekend with our power needs.
But instead of adding more batteries, I prefer to use a small very quiet Honda EU2000i to supply 110v A/C power to charge batteries, run fridge, TV, A/C, ect.....
I have been switching over to LED lighting. But I don't expect this to make a huge difference in battery capacity for us, whatever we save with lighting will be used thru the AMP/stereo.

the only one that can answer your question is going to be you, you need to go test your power consumption requirements and ALWAYS have a battery isolated for starting the motor even when the house battery is dead. Then go from there, do you really need another battery or small gen set to charge batteries and supply 110 volt a/c when needed????

If you do have a lot of power needs, adding a starting battery or a small gen set may do it for your weekend needs. Both Honda and Yamaha make a little 1000 watt unit that is very nice and will charge batteries or run lights, small microwave, coffee maker, your fridge..........

Here is where I bought mine from a number of years back.
http://www.mayberrys.com/indexnew.htm

We use our gen set on the boat, 5th wheel camp trailer, around the house when there is a power outage.



As you can see, gen set and gas can on beach, we do carry and have run the gen set on the swim deck. Works for us, I realize this set up is not for everyone.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

thanks for the input. I was thinking of a just bringing my lap top in place of a tv. can't watch tv but still can watch movies and can charge the lap top when at the dock. not sure if I'll have room for a gen.

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sundowner 235

We have used laptops for years. A small power inverter will keep the lap top going. But only while you got battery reserves.

Camp a few weekend and see what you really need. Then go battery or gen set shopping.

You must see just how small and quiet these new inverter generators really are.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

The fridge is, BY FAR, the largest consumer of battery reserves. You really, really don't want to be using it any more often than necessary. We put anything we'll be using regularly in a cooler (beer, drinks, condiments, etc). The fridge doesn't get opened unless the genset is operating.

As for laptops, there are power supplies that use DC power directly. When you use an inverter you're losing a fair bit of power for the inversion process. Get a DC power supply for your laptop. Most vendors had an option for them. Ebay is your friend here, I picked up one for my toshiba and another for my wife's sony. Kensington also sells a universal one. It's much smaller than the typical adapter, because it doesn't have an AC inverter in it.

The iGo series of power supplies even has a splitter cable that will let you attach plugs for most cellphones (they've got dozens of adapter choices). I picked up their 12v cigarette lighter adapter along with a Y-splitter and plugs for our cell phones. My cell phone uses a mini-USB, as did my wife's Blackberry. Her cell phone is a samsung. Her new blackberry uses the new micro-USB. I found a mini-to-micro USB adapter (again, ebay) for that.

Most laptops use a lot more power than a DC television. That and a bulkhead-mounted TV is a lot less hassle to watch than a laptop balanced on your lap. I've tried both ways and a TV is less hassle.

I'm not a big fan of using a portable genset on the boat. Too many ways for things to go wrong. But there are folks go that route and most live to tell the tale. My advice to anyone that sleeps on the boat is to ALWAYS have a carbon monoxide sensor (at least one) on board. CO kills too many people each year, don't add to the statistics.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Regardless of the topic....

Damn Powell~ I am so jealous every time I see one of your camping spots.
It makes my places look so boring! Lets see some more pics from your locations!!!!!

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Boating is not an expense, it's a lifestyle!!

Alright Ken, here's ours, but it looks like you are in a great location yourself!

Anchored at the apropriately named Camp Island on Trout Lake:

A view from the island, anchored on the sand bar


From the water


The ever so popular shot "along the gunwhale"


Back on the water, headed home


Sorry, can't add much to the battery or generator discussion as we camp on shore for the night in a tent, using propane stove & a good ole' fashion campfire. The booster pack is on the boat though, just in case.!

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

wkearney99,

You are right that a portable gen set is not for everyone. A little common sense must be used.
Our next boat will have an onboard for the convenience of one.
We do have 2 CO detectors in the cabin. When we do run the gen set on the swim deck, we only have the anchor/line off the bow is into the wind, and wind is always blowing exhaust away from boat. There is very little exhaust coming from a 70cc motor compared to the big V8 that powers the boat. Emissions are emissions no matter what motor they come from.

This thread was about options for camping on a boat that does not have the option of a built in get set. Which, even if there was room for one, they are so damn expensive to add ($8-10k), might as well save money for a down payment on the next boat.

For quick over night/weekend trips. Adding a battery is most likely the best option. Then go from there.




ken258

Thanks!
You have some nice camp spots as well, I would love to camp in some of those places!!
Really like the sunset photo.
You can see many of my boat photos, click link in my sig to goto webshots photo albums

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

I guess batteries are the way to go for me. the only problem is that they say that a discharged battery could take 6-8 hours to recharge off the altenator. I probably woudn't run the boat for that long every day.

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sundowner 235

On my sail-boat, I didn't have either shore power, or on-board gen. I had a 1.5A solar cell (cost about $75 at the time). This was actually enough "umph" to run my bare-bones stereo without even the batt hooked up! With two batts, I just set the cell up on the deck, and had it hooked up to the stby batt. This isn't what I had, but found it on a search for the same...
http://www.mrsolar.com/page/MSOS/CTGY/rv

Just a thought. They aint cheap these days, but may have enough to replenish your power when not on-board.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.