One of the best electrical items is that 12 Volt DC outlet. For those boats without a built in automatic battery charger they can save time if you do what Randy does. Just remember to turn the 12 V switch to 'on'. The Honda 5 HP does have an optional charger (just over 3 amps per hour) and the kit is about $155. The weight of the 5 Honda is 61 pounds, not bad, not good. The lower the weight the better on the stern. I heard that someone (can't remember who) had a Honda 8 HP on their M_17. That motor weighs in at 117 pounds. (the same weight at the Honda 9.9, that gets its extra HP from a higher RPM, same pistons and bore, just more Revs) I don't know if I can lift a 117 pound motor onto the outboard bracket. :-) On the larger Honda's (8 and 9.9) they do have a neat charging system. Normally 6 amps and can be 12 amps if they have the electric start system. Maybe a Honda 5 with the optional 3 amp charger and some solar panels while at anchor for those long inland passage cruises. Bob RandyG wrote:
Bud,
We use a standard plug-in type battery charger. It's a multi purpose charger that works with both car batteries and deep cycle, nothing fancy. We keep our M-15 in the garage and the charger on the work bench. When getting ready for a cruise I connect the charger to one end of my pig-tail cable and the other end I plug into the 12 vdc aux outlet in cockpit. The onboard battery then charges through the 12 vdc aux. connector.
I mostly use the M-15 battery for the anchor light and occasional use of the VHF. I also use a small 150 watt inverter to charge my cell phone, digital camera, and PDA. The inverter plugs into the 12vdc aux outlet in the cockpit. Everything else on the boat; FRS radio, Walkman, flash light, GPS, they all run on "AA" batteries. The most power hungry of these is the GPS but it will run for several days on a set of "AA" 's. Its a Garmin GPS 12. I buy one of those 32 pack of "AA's" from Costco at the beginning of the season and have batteries to spare. One thing I have been careful to do when bringing other electronics on board is to buy devices that use "AA's", that way I only have to stock one battery size.
The battery full charged will handle a long weekend of use and anchoring. For longer cruising I use a kerosene anchor light that hangs from the boom, it will run all night on a single fill and is amazing at staying lit even in a strong blow! The anchor light and transmitting on the VHF are what put the greatest drain on the main battery.
My wife and I are in the market for a good clean M-17. On a 17 I think the best setup would be to have a alternator/charger built into the outboard. In a pinch you could run the outboard to charge the battery. On the longer trips like the San Juan & Gulf Islands we tend to motor about 50% of the time, that would keep the battery full charged. The only obsiticle I see with this solution is how best to make the electrical connection between the outboard alternator and your onboard battery. The connector would need to be highly weather & salt water resistant if at the motor. Or maybe a short pig-tail from the motor to a less weather resistant connector in the cockpit locker.
Randy Graves M-15 #407
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From: montgomery_boats-bounces+randyg=cite.nic.edu@mailman.xmission.com on behalf of Bud Sent: Sat 1/8/2005 2:57 AM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: M15 Electical system...Thanks RandyG
Just wanted to say thanks Randy for the informative photos regarding the wiring of your M15. Its really a nice set up. Very neat. I may do the same thing. Can you tell me how you charge your battery? Small portable solar system?
Fair winds Bud M15 #500
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