[Tanley]

Quick forum search came up empty. Curious if anyone's tried one of these on their boat fitted with a smaller diesel, say 10-15hp? Specs claim it can jump a 3L or smaller diesel engine.

Product

 

[Stu Jackson]

Why bother lugging something else around? Design & install a reliable electrical system, house bank and reserve, and leave the extra stuff at the dock.

 

[Tanley]

Why bother lugging something else around? Design & install a reliable electrical system, house bank and reserve, and leave the extra stuff at the dock.

Come on! Have a little imagination - it's a boat, things go wrong all the time, even when you've prepared properly. Ever carry a rigging knife on you when you sail? Besides, it's the size of a thin paper back book - for that kind of insurance (and if it works) I'll make room by taking out one of the 10 hand towels my wife keeps in the head and tuck it away there.

Even if we didn't need it, might be nice to lend a hand to someone who didn't design & install a reliable electrical system, house bank and reserve, and left the extra stuff at the dock.

 

[TakeFive]

Come on! Have a little imagination - it's a boat, things go wrong all the time, even when you've prepared properly. Ever carry a rigging knife on you when you sail? Besides, it's the size of a thin paper back book - for that kind of insurance (and if it works) I'll make room by taking out one of the 10 hand towels my wife keeps in the head and tuck it away there.

Even if we didn't need it, might be nice to lend a hand to someone who didn't design & install a reliable electrical system, house bank and reserve, and left the extra stuff at the dock.

If you want it that much, just buy it. Don't belabor the issue by asking for advice that you won't follow. Just post a follow-up to let us know if it works as advertised.

FWIW, I have a more traditional automotive jump starter like this:

It's based on more traditional SLA battery technology. With proper topping off, it's lasted me almost 10 years (before I had my boat) and still works great. I keep it around the house, but take it on the boat if I'm cruising for a few days. For me it's no big deal if my battery goes dead - I just pull the cord on my outboard. But the jump starter gives more reliable startups on my CPAP than my boat batteries. I think the SLA battery delivers the high startup amperage without losing voltage like flooded batteries. So I always take it along for overnights.

I also always take it for my motorboat, where a dead starter battery is much more debilitating. It has saved me a couple times on that boat.

My model was discontinued. This one is currently available, though it lacks the built-in compressor (which is totally worthless anyway):

Amazon.com: Vector VEC010S 300 Amp Jumpstarter: [email protected]@[email protected]@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/[email protected]@[email protected]@51o3DKl6CiL

 

[Stu Jackson]

Take Five makes a good point: he uses it for backup for a medical issue machine.

For standard boat electrical systems, I'd still rather have a solid basic system, including a healthy house bank and a separate reserve bank with proper switching.

If there are extenuating circumstances to even consider this thing, it would be helpful to know.

If not, a second battery would be more cost effective and most likely work a lot better.

 

[miatapaul]

If it uses Lithium cells it might not be very good, as they do not like heat. Boats, especially some of the lockers with little ventilation get quite hot. I worry about laptop batteries as they can get warm in the cabin, and once they start they burn and burn fast and hot. That is why Dell had to recall thousands of them for getting hot and catching fire in air conditioned offices. I have used a cheap jump pack for cars for years, it finally gave up the ghost after several years and hundreds of uses. I think I paid $30 for it.

 

[Capt Len]

That looks like the cat sass. I have to pack a bipap and reliable power can be hard to find while camping in Thailand. The phone and laptop also become more mobile.Answers like 110/220 charge,what input from solar panel needed to recharge, amp hrs for a night of heavy breathing?? Resistance to overheating? Freedom awaits.

 

[guyfromiowa]

I have a Cobra Jumpack

https://www.cobra.com/products/portable-power/cobra-jumpack

Works nicely. I find that I have better results if I connect the leads to the dead battery and wait a few minutes before cranking the starter. Also, the USB port charges my devices pretty quickly.

Guy

 

[BarryL]

Hey,

That looks cool.

In 2004, when I bought my first 'big' boat (28' Newport) with inboard diesel, ac/dc electrical systems, etc, I was worried about dead batteries. So I bought one of the basic jump packs. In 2006 I moved it onto my O'day 35. Last fall, in October 2013, I moved it onto my C&C. I brought it home over the winter and noticed it no longer held a charge. I planned on buying a new one, but then I realized that in the 10 years I owned it, I never used it. So I decided against replacing it. I may regret it, I may never need it. I think that with a well designed electrical system I will never need it.

Barry