If you are a boat enthusiast like we are, you understand that having a device to keep your battery charged and ready for your vessel is absolutely necessary. There are many important reasons why you should definitely consider having the best battery tender for boat use with you at all times while on the water.
For starters, the last thing you want to begin your day with is a dead battery. Secondly, with a battery charger, you can keep your battery fully charged and ready to go for your next trip out on the water. Finally, it is simply a great measure for safety in the case that you would lose power.
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Top 5 Best Battery Tender For Boat For Sale
There are many factors to consider when looking for the right charger for your vessel. One thing to remember is that there are different chargers for different kinds of batteries. You need to know which battery you use and match up the charger accordingly. Some chargers can charge many types of batteries, but you need to make sure your charger is compatible with your battery. Make sure you have this correct, or you can actually damage or make your battery inoperable.
Here are our favorite top 5 best battery tenders for boats.
- ProMariner 43012 ProSport Battery Charger
- Battery Tender 2-Bank Charger
- NOCO GENIUS2D 2-Amp Direct-Mount Onboard Charger
- Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer
- NOCO GENIUS1 1-Amp Smart Charger
Best Battery Tender For Boats Reviews
Now let’s take a further look at our top selections for the best marine battery tender and a buyer’s guide to help you in determining which charger can do the job for you. This guide will delve into some topics which are relevant in understanding how these chargers work and how to identify which charger can work best for you. So that being said, let’s get started with our reviews!
*Our Top Choice*
1. ProMariner 43012 ProSport Battery Charger
 | ProMariner 43012 ProSport Battery Charger Review Pros: – 2-year warranty – Charger has 2 banks – Multiple battery compatibility Cons: – Could be a little smaller |
The ProMariner 43012 ProSport Battery Charger is our top choice for best battery tender for boats. This 2 bank charger is affordable and works effectively. This charger has multiple battery compatibility and per the manufacturer has a 24V output and 12 amp capacity.
This charger has smart features like charging that is on-demand. Battery status can be verified as well. Also, it has an energy-saving mode which is useful. You can charge or maintain your battery with this charger. It contains a plethora of safety features and is waterproof which is great.
The manufacturer provides a 2-year warranty, which is another plus. The only drawback we can see is that it could be a little smaller, but dollar for dollar this is a great charger!
The following video is a great summary of an installation of a battery and onboard battery charger and contains some great information.
Best 2-Bank Charger
2. Battery Tender 2-Bank Charger
 | Battery Tender 2-Bank Charger Review Pros: – 3 step charging program – Works to charge many types of batteries – Compact Cons: – None |
The Battery Tender 2-Bank Charger is our pick for best 2 bank charger. This charger has a 3 step charging program. This walks you through 3 steps of initializing, bulk charging, and float mode which in our view is very easy to use. This charger works with many types of batteries including sealed maintenance free and flooded batteries, as well as AGM batteries.
It has an integrated smart controller that utilizes infinite sequential monitoring for safety, as well as precise charging. This charger is compact as well and comes with a 2-year limited warranty per the manufacturer. We see no reason why you should not go out and purchase one today as we feel this is a great product!
3. NOCO GENIUS2D 2-Amp Direct-Mount Onboard Charger
 | NOCO GENIUS2D 2-Amp Direct-Mount Onboard Charger Review Pros: – Direct Mount – Battery maintainer – Precise Charging Cons: – Cables could be longer |
The NOCO GENIUS2D 2-Amp Direct-Mount Onboard Charger is another solid entry when it comes to battery chargers for your boat. It has a secure bracket that can easily be mounted directly close to the battery with little effort. This charger is automatic, meaning that all you need per the manufacturer is to hook it up per their instructions and it can safely charge any battery. It will also detect damaged batteries and repair them intuitively.
We love the ability of it to precisely charge as well with a clear and easy-to-read and understand the color-coded system. The only drawback we can see is that the cables could be a bit longer. Other than that, we think this is a fabulous charger at an affordable price and merits consideration.
1.25 Amp
4. Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer
 | Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer Review Pros: – 12 Volt DC at 1.25 amps output – 4 step charging – Smart Features Cons: – This product not available in California |
The Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer is one of our top picks for the best charger and battery maintainer for boats. It utilizes a 4 step charging system of initialization, bulk charge, absorption mode, and float/maintenance mode. It delivers 12V DC at 1.25 amps of output to do the job.
It has multiple smart features including a quick disconnect harness, spark-proof, reversed hook-up protection, and connect it and forget it. These all provide for ease of use. This charger is fully automatic and includes a fused ring terminal harness and fused alligator clips as well. The only drawback is that this product is not available in California due to specific regulations there. We feel that this is a very good product and should be considered.
Cheapest
5. NOCO GENIUS1 1-Amp Smart Charger
 | NOCO GENIUS1 1-Amp Smart Charger Review Pros: – Small and compact – Charges dead batteries – Thermal Compensation Cons: – Could be more powerful |
The NOCO GENIUS1 1-Amp Smart Charger is our top pick for cheapest battery charger for boats. This unit is small and compact and is a good value for the money. The manufacturer claims this is 35% smaller and 35% more powerful than the NOCO G750.
It has auto-detect and auto repair functions to charge dead batteries and restore life into them. This charger also has a great thermal compensation feature which allows for precise charging in both hot and cold climates. The only negative in our view is that it could be more powerful, but for the price, this unit can get the job done effectively.
Best Battery Tender For Boats Buyer’s Guide
Now that you know which is the best battery maintainer for boats, it’s important to understand which features we looked at for making our determination. These are the things that you should look for when comparing marine battery chargers & maintainers.
Marine Battery Voltage
The first thing you need to look at when charging is to determine the voltage of your battery. Most current marine batteries are 12 volts, but your system voltage may not be the same. If you have a 24-volt system and your charge is only 12 volts, then you have a major issue.
One solution for this is to purchase a charger that can charge at different voltages. Many chargers today can charge multiple types and sizes of batteries. But please verify these details before you make your purchase and this will save you work and money down the line.
Automatic Charging
One term to understand is automatic charging. Some manufacturers refer to this as smart charging.
You must definitely consider smart charging as important when looking for the best battery tender for boat use. Unique processors are within these chargers that function to tell what type of battery needs charging, and examine the condition of the battery, and can therefore shift the qualifications to charge the battery safely.
There is a technology which involves multi-stage charging in order to charge a battery fully, but not overcharging it. This technology is also effective for charge maintenance, as well as trickle charging. There are now even chargers that can change the rate of charge based on hot or cold temperature conditions. Some manufacturers refer to this as thermal compensation. You can also monitor the status of charging with LED indicators on many chargers as well.
Number Of Banks
If you want to charge more than one battery at the same time, a multiple battery bank charger will be required. The number of batteries that the charger can charge at the same time is equal to the number of banks. For example, a 6 bank charger can charge 6 batteries at the same time.
This type of charger is perfect for people who have multiple batteries on their vessel that need charging.
Logically if you have 2 batteries, you should consider a 2 bank charger. If you need more banks, it may make more sense to look at a multi-bank charger with those capabilities. Instead of buying more than one charger, you can take a look at the option of a multi-bank charger and see if that will work for you.
Portable Or Onboard
Whether or not you need a portable or onboard charger, can be contingent on many things. First, is the size of your boat. For larger boats, permanent onboard battery chargers could be a good idea, as many have more than one battery. Having an onboard charger will allow you to charge from the convenience of having one permanently affixed to your boat.
For smaller boats that may need less power, a portable charger may work. This also allows you the flexibility of using the portable charger to charge other items that you may own as well.
Amps & Charging Time
One factor that you need to consider when looking for a charger is the length of time to recuperate or charge your battery. Chargers that charge quickly are usually considered to be advantageous. The charging speed of a charger can be calculated by looking at the number of amp-hours.
The power distribution of the charger is another consideration. Do not only look at the number of amps, look at the number of amps per bank in a multi-bank charger. This will give you a true picture of the performance of the charger.
As with anything, the amount of money you spend is directly correlational to the performance of the charger. If you want fast charging capabilities, you will need to spend the money. For a quick recuperation of your battery, typically this type of charger will cost you more than a slow charging charger.
Make note of the above items and you will have an idea of which charger can be most effective for you!
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a good idea of the types of chargers in the marketplace and what they can do for you in terms of performance. We took a look at some of our best battery tender for boat use and why they may work for you and your vessel. Then we examined in more detail some of these features in our buyer’s guide to give you an idea of what features to look for before making your purchase.
Our passion is marine sports and all things on the water. Having a high-performance, dependable battery charger in our view is a must to be prepared for situations you will encounter when on your vessel. If you have this charger with you, you can spend more time having fun and less time worrying about your work and other issues in your life.
Last update on 2022-05-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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