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I'm about to purchase a new and my first Minn Kota.
I like the idea of the on-board battery charger - but for someone who uses their punt between once a fortnight and once a month would you recommend the portable or an on board charger?
And with an on board charger are you able to plug it in to the wall for those times where the boat has not been used for a lenghty period?
I'd recommend the on board charger. You leave it plugged in all the time, and the boat is ready to go whenever you are. You can do the same with the portable unit but the built in is neater.
I went through the same process when I got a Minn Kota on my tinny. I end up going with the 10amp portable as I was able to use it for other things, and at 10amps it charged the 120a/hr battery very quickly.
I can't speak highly enough of the Minn Kota motor (55lb bowmount with auto pilot) or the Minn Kota portable charger. Both never gave me any problems and were easy to use. Even though you can leave the charger plugged in and on float, I never did and would either charge the battery up when I got home or would charge it up the night before I went out. I didn't like the idea of leaving something plugged in and running without being watched (the idea of the house burning down, while remote, was always in the back of my mind).
Good luck with the purchase, whatever you choose I am sure it will serve you well and make your fishing much more enjoyable..... You'll never know how you fished without an electric once you get used to driving it.
While getting my boat built I've Fixed the charger under the cast deck and have a caravan power point on the cast deck wall. This is for dual batteries
If you do get the portable one make sure you get the 10amp. It is the first one with the 3 stage charging. This is going to make your deep cycle battery last almost twice as long.