Fish finder battery for days

In the vein of making things more difficult than they need to be I figured that I would check with you guys on how you handle keeping your FF battery(ies) charged when away from power for multiple days.

I am planning several multi-day camping trips where we will be doing the basic tent camping thing - No rv lot, no shore power, none of the fanciness that comes with modern RV parks and campgrounds, and this is all lake side camping. I know from experience that my FF battery lasts about 7 hours before getting to a point too low for me to want to run it down (~10.5v.) It is very likely that my battery is on the older side (came with the kayak, unknown age for battery.) So it could probably stand to be replaced at some point in the relatively near future, but it still works well for day trips out.

Is it better/easier/cheaper to simply buy a second battery and count on two good days before needing to think about it? Or do I go the route of buying something much heavier like a lawn tractor battery and run it all 3 or 4 days and not worry about it? Or do I simply connect it to my vehicle and run it for several (unknown) hours to get it a decent charge? Or am I overthinking it and should just not worry about it and fish?

For reference I run a "Elite 4x Chirp" fish finder.

Thanks!

In the vein of making things more difficult than they need to be I figured that I would check with you guys on how you handle keeping your FF battery(ies) charged when away from power for multiple days.

I am planning several multi-day camping trips where we will be doing the basic tent camping thing - No rv lot, no shore power, none of the fanciness that comes with modern RV parks and campgrounds, and this is all lake side camping. I know from experience that my FF battery lasts about 7 hours before getting to a point too low for me to want to run it down (~10.5v.) It is very likely that my battery is on the older side (came with the kayak, unknown age for battery.) So it could probably stand to be replaced at some point in the relatively near future, but it still works well for day trips out.

Is it better/easier/cheaper to simply buy a second battery and count on two good days before needing to think about it? Or do I go the route of buying something much heavier like a lawn tractor battery and run it all 3 or 4 days and not worry about it? Or do I simply connect it to my vehicle and run it for several (unknown) hours to get it a decent charge? Or am I overthinking it and should just not worry about it and fish?

For reference I run a "Elite 4x Chirp" fish finder.

Thanks!

You can go round and round about batteries. I have two lithium batteries, one works great and the charging port is the same size as the cigarette lighter for my vhf, so I can just plug it in at the cigarette lighter overnight and be good. I however also have another lithium battery that is driving me insane because it keep powering off because my FF (hummingbird 587, color w/gps) isn't drawing enough current for some reason. I also learned that the AH rating is based on 3.7 volts and so I'm pretty sure am am actually olly getting a 5 AH battery and not an 18 AH equivalent like I thought. Long story short is I'm tired of dealing with the lithium batteries and am just going to go back to lead acid.

A 10 AH battery would probably get you close to two full days, maybe a little more. It also weighs about 1.5 lbs more than a 7 AH.  Just do a search on amazon for 12 volt 10 ah battery. Or 8AH, 9AH, etc.
http://www.amazon.com/ML10-12-Replacement-Battery-SLA1097-product/dp/B00K8HYJ9I?ie=UTF8&keywords=12%20volt%2010ah%20battery&qid=1463168703&ref_=sr_1_8&sr=8-8

http://www.amazon.com/Casil-CA12100-Schwinn-Scooter-Battery/dp/B013CX7Y8M?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

If you'll be near your vehicle, I use a power inverter - plugs into an automobile 12v outlet (cigarette lighter) that runs a Battery Tender Junior.  I think I paid $20 on Amazon but I can't find it there anymore.

I got it to keep a laptop charged but use it now to keep an SLA charged, and it hasn't drained the car battery yet.

Just a thought.

NOTE: I use a Mighty Max 9aH battery and just a heads-up: the terminals are not quite F1 size and every terminal connector I've tried fits loosely and can (will) slide off if you're not observant.  I have a second SLA battery that holds onto the terminal connectors that are loose on the Mighty Max.  Might want to go with a different brand.

Thanks Guys!! My current battery is a 9ah SLA battery, but as I had mentioned it could be quite old and I am not sure how well it was taken care of before me. It has the F2 terminals that I've attached waterproof two pole connectors to and I use the following charger/maintainer to charge it.

http://www.amazon.com/Decker-BM3B-Battery-Charger-Maintainer/dp/B0051D3MP6/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&srs=2529040011&ie=UTF8&qid=1463169935&sr=1-1&keywords=black+and+decker+battery+charger

I also have a few power inverters as well, but by my count it would take a minimum of 6 hours to charge it with my little 1.5amp charger, and that would be at full efficiency (not likely.)

Looks like amazon has a whole mess of inexpensive SLA options and with a few you can pick up a 2 pack for not a whole lot extra. That may be just the ticket since I will be fishing with some buddies that likely haven't thought ahead.

Yeah there are an overwhelming number of them. You could also get a deep cycle sla that may last a bit longer but they're so cheap im not sure it's worth it.

I also have a few power inverters as well, but by my count it would take a minimum of 6 hours to charge it with my little 1.5amp charger, and that would be at full efficiency (not likely.)

You plan to sleep sometime, don't you?   

A newer SLA could do the trick if you doubt the age/reliability of your current battery.  The new 9Ah SLA I'm using runs an Elite-4 CHIRP with GPS running for about 18 hours between charges.  I think pmmpete gets about the same run time with his Elite-4 if I remember correctly.

I also have a few power inverters as well, but by my count it would take a minimum of 6 hours to charge it with my little 1.5amp charger, and that would be at full efficiency (not likely.)

You plan to sleep sometime, don't you?   

A newer SLA could do the trick if you doubt the age/reliability of your current battery.  The new 9Ah SLA I'm using runs an Elite-4 CHIRP with GPS running for about 18 hours between charges.  I think pmmpete gets about the same run time with his Elite-4 if I remember correctly.

I do.... unless of course if the bite is hot!   My current vehicle doesn't have a "hot" cigarette lighter unless the accessory is on with the key, I could easily add a plug to the battery directly though (with inline fuse of course) or patch it into the fuse box.

That's good to know - I would think my model without GPS should last just as long or longer so my battery must just be at half life level. I'll probably just pick up a pair of 9 or 10ah batteries just to keep around. Then I wouldn't have to worry about it over 4 days of fishing.

If you'll be near your vehicle, I use a power inverter - plugs into an automobile 12v outlet (cigarette lighter) that runs a Battery Tender Junior.  I think I paid $20 on Amazon but I can't find it there anymore.

I got it to keep a laptop charged but use it now to keep an SLA charged, and it hasn't drained the car battery yet.

I did that last year, but I think my inverter instructions said not to run it for more than an hour without the truck running. Not wanting to have a dead truck, I ran the engine for 10 minutes every hour. It didn't work well because when awake, I wanted to fish, when in camp, I wanted to sleep. Do you leave it on for a long time? My inverter has a little fan in it, but I'll have to check the draw. Other than that multiple batteries is the direction I am heading for the same type of outing.

If you'll be near your vehicle, I use a power inverter - plugs into an automobile 12v outlet (cigarette lighter) that runs a Battery Tender Junior.  I think I paid $20 on Amazon but I can't find it there anymore.

I got it to keep a laptop charged but use it now to keep an SLA charged, and it hasn't drained the car battery yet.

I did that last year, but I think my inverter instructions said not to run it for more than an hour without the truck running. Not wanting to have a dead truck, I ran the engine for 10 minutes every hour. It didn't work well because when awake, I wanted to fish, when in camp, I wanted to sleep. Do you leave it on for a long time? My inverter has a little fan in it, but I'll have to check the draw. Other than that multiple batteries is the direction I am heading for the same type of outing.

As long as you're not running a tv off the thing you should be fine. A FF battery draws very little juice.

If you'll be near your vehicle, I use a power inverter - plugs into an automobile 12v outlet (cigarette lighter) that runs a Battery Tender Junior.  I think I paid $20 on Amazon but I can't find it there anymore.

I got it to keep a laptop charged but use it now to keep an SLA charged, and it hasn't drained the car battery yet.

I did that last year, but I think my inverter instructions said not to run it for more than an hour without the truck running. Not wanting to have a dead truck, I ran the engine for 10 minutes every hour. It didn't work well because when awake, I wanted to fish, when in camp, I wanted to sleep. Do you leave it on for a long time? My inverter has a little fan in it, but I'll have to check the draw. Other than that multiple batteries is the direction I am heading for the same type of outing.

As long as you're not running a tv off the thing you should be fine. A FF battery draws very little juice.

Ditto.   I camped for a week of fishing w/o electric outlets.  Used an inverter that's so old I can't read the labels on it any longer, with the small maintenance charger I usually use at home.  Plugged in at the end of the day and by the evening the battery was topped off.

Someone need to incorporate a small alternator into there mirage drive that way you could be running and charging it while in motion
First we need a sucker.... Uuhh I mean guinea pig iI'm no test subject ya that's it.... I'm thinking the hot and ground leads fun run under the seat and up the back rest to a jumper wire going all the way around the hull before going into the through the hull grommet. And to get better conductivity the wired should be bare in a few select areas somewhere a in the seat area.  do I got any volunteers   

I use a radio shack SLA and can get 2-3 days of 4-6 hrs on the water no bench tests with bells and whistles I just charge it every other trip and if I space it I'm usually good the third trip.

On Insayn's advice, I bought one of these. http://www.amazon.com/PowerStar-Sealed-Cycle-Battery-Warranty/dp/B00FA33GR6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00 I used it yesterday and it worked quite well.  Better than my 10000 maH Ankers.I have the Elite 5 DSI with GPS. Dumb purchase on my part. I should have went with the 4, but the deal was too good.  I got over 5 hours on it no problem and it was still in the high 11 volt range. I don't know if it was completely charged when I started. My Anker's would barely get 4 hours. Now I have to decide on a charger. I like the smaller Battery Tender JR for portability, but I am tempted to get a Schumacher SSC-1000A due to it having a desulphation mode.

Does one need to put these SLA batteries in a waterproof box still ??

Does one need to put these SLA batteries in a waterproof box still ??

No but it helps keep the leads from corroding.   

Does one need to put these SLA batteries in a waterproof box still ??

I did, but I like things complicated.  I believe INSAYN drops it in a dry bag.  He's wiser than me.