one battery bank and a jump box

[hertfordnc]

The new issue of Good Old Boat has a article about battery banks. The author favors one big bank made up of golf cart batteries. With his system if you accidently drain your bank and need to start your engine you recharge the bank with small honda generator.

I liked his logic but I don't want a gas powered generator on my boat so I thought a jump box for an emergency engine start would be a better way to go. It can charge on 12V but it can't drain by itself and it would certainly have enough teeth to start my little engine.

Does this make sense?

[k1vsk]

Just read the same article.
the problem with doing what you describe is your current alternator won't likely recharge a large bank in a reasonable amount of time. The started box would aloow you to start the engine but then you'd need to run the engine for hours before any significant power was replaced in the battery bank.
Using a small genset allows you to take advantage of the larger recharge capability of your on-board charger without having to run the engine at no load which isn't good for it.
I understand the concern over a gas powered genset such as the Honda but most of us already keep gas onboard for the dinghy motor without any apparent concern and storing the Honda in a safe place is pretty simple to imagine. They are really quiet too.

[hertfordnc]

OK, but for me the goal is simplicity. i think I'd rather run the diesel even if it means having to motor in circles rather than having a generator on board.

The big bank of GC batteries should last longer than I would probably go without running the motor for somehting. In any case, given that I can not hand start my engine a jump box might be a simple emergency starter.