Battery for Downriggers?

[jimh]

Should I allocate a battery for the electric downriggers or is the draw so light that it isn't a problem in a day worth of fishing. I obviously want to be able to start my main engine when needed. In case it matters, I'm buying a Scotty.

I will be trolling using my kicker which doesn't charge my batteries.

What do you do and what should I do?

[Troller]

Their are a lot of factors that will determine your battery use.

1. How good of condition your battery is in.
2. What electronics are you going to be running
3. How many times you will be running them up and down.
4.The weight of the ball you choose.
5. The motor on your downrigger.

The Scottys draw the least amount of current that is good news. What you need to do is figure out what all will be running and what they draw . Convert all that info into amp hours then look at the amp hour rating of your battery. I dont remember off the top of my head the formula for converting currrent draw (amperage) to amp hours but will try to look it up when I get home. I have a paper on it in my fishing junk collection. It is never a bad idea to have a backup battery no matter what unless you dont mind motoring back in on a kicker. I maybe 15 miles from the launch or further so I wouldnt chance it. But my kicker also has a altenator that charges at 10 amps .

Every boat should have a dual battery setup with an isolator switch.

[jimh]

I have a dual battery system with an isolator switch. So you are recommending that I switch to just one while using the downriggers?

My thought is that I could then switch to both to start the main engine. Then, my "downrigger" batttery would be charging as I motor back in. Is this sufficient for charging?

Or should I add a third battery?

I don't see the need for a third battery for the downrigers. Do the switch like you posted and you'll always have a charged battery for starting.