Outboard charging system

[JBM]

I just found out that the Nissan 6 I was about to order doesn't come with a charger/rectifier. Where all we have is a GPS, a few lights and a bilge pump that never runs, perhaps we don't need the charger? The deep cycle marine battery should hold it's charge for a couple of weeks with that light draw, I would think.

Thoughts?

[Bill]

For day sailing, most of us just charge the battery at the dock. Probably good for a week or so, unless you do a lot of night sailing or TV watching. :)

You might want to search "outboard" and/or "charging"as there was some discussion in the past. (click on search button at top of page)

[tcoolidge]

You might try checking the Tohatsu site. They make the Nissan, Tohatsu and Mercury 6hp 4 strokes and when I bought mine a couple of years ago they made an accessory low voltage charger that could be added on pretty easily.


Tom

[Theis]

I'll bet they have an accessory charger. The Yamaha didn't have a charger either, but you could get one from Yamaha (the dealer didn't know that - because they generally know little about the products they sell - particularly inexpensive outboards). Pretty simple arrangement. All that is involved appears to be a full wave rectifier in the magneto circuit. There is no alternator as you would think. And the little thing puts out six amps at almost any speed.

A word of caution, if that is what you get. NEVER run the engine without the charger being connected to a battery or a load connected in the circuit, or you will fry the charger (the voltage will go sky high I assume.) Specifically, do not put an on/off switch between the motor and the battery.

[JBM]

Thank you all. I think this year we might go charger-free and order the part for next season. There is power at the dock and we can tie up overnight when we need to.

Overton's sells a solar trickle charger that might be worth a try.

Cabelas sells the NIssan 6 at a very reasonable 1187.00 but were unable to supply the rectifier kit. What the local dealer was selling sounded more like a full scale altenator.

I dreamt about sailing last night.

[Scott Galloway]

JBM,

I bought my Nissan 6 hp four stroke motor from a different supplier. They offered to sell me, but did not offer to install a rectifier. I don't have my manual with me, because it is on my boat, but as I recall the rectifier is in the Nissan Operation Manual as an option. My local marine yard wanted $80 per hour to install the rectifier, and I decided to forgo it, when I purchased the motor.

I have an AA battery powered VHF, GPS and emergency nav lights onboard in addition to my house 12 volt powered radio, lights etc. I also have a wonderful lantern that doubles as a cabin light and an anchor light, and burns liquid candle wax and runs for hours on very little fuel. I plan to eventually install a solar battery charging system to extend my cruising distance by recharging both my house battery and my AA batteries. For single day and/or night sailing and weekend crusies, I fare well as things are.

One question you should think about is: how long are you really going to run that outboard? My boat comes with sails for a reason. I use my motor to get into and out of the harbor and under the bridge that separates my slip from the sea and not much otherwise. So the benefit of having a rectifier is questionable. I certainly don't want to burn gasoline on a multi-day trip just to charge the battery with a small portable tank. I might feel differently with an inboard on prolonged crusies, or in an area where I was forced to motor for extended periods.

[Theis]

On the Great Lakes, the rule of thumb when cruising is that you will be under motor power 50% of the time (and this does not includ horsing around the harbor). I have found that to be a good guideline - keeping in mind that you have two days of good sailing, and then two days of motoring - it is not 50% of every day.

[Tony G]

What Theis said is true of the Minor Lakes of Minnesota too. But instead of motoring to a distant bay or corner of the lake most captains just stay in the slip and get drunk! I'll always opt for the far side of the lake, even if I have to charge my batteries all the way there.
Dreaming of trade winds, Tony G

[tcoolidge]

Was just browsing through my Defender catalogue and saw that they sell the rectifier kit for the Nissan 6hp. Kind of pricey ($129) but they do exist. Not sure they are necessary, unless you are going to be out for a long time. They electrical draw on an Ariel is pretty minimal, unless you like running a lot of gadgets. I've lived on battery power for a week without any problem but I don't use a lot of electronics and live far enough north that in summer it stays light 16-18 hours a day.

Tom