A marine battery charger is a very easy way to charge your boat up after a long day of fishing out on the open water. Some of the best marine battery chargers are designed to make charging your boat safer, faster and are made to help to maintain charge up until the next time you’re out on the water.
This is a pretty important thing if you fish every weekend for 8 to 12 months of the year.
There are a lot of different types of marine batteries, the newest being made of Lithium Ion, but there are also some older marine batteries on the market such as flooded lead acid, gel and sealed AGM. Every type of technology has its own perfect charging profile and all will respond to ambient temperatures in its own way.
Of course, the best marine battery chargers will use digital technology in order to get the longest life span and best performance out of your marine batteries, which certainly aren’t cheap!
In a hurry? This is our Winner!
Minn Kota Digital On-Board Battery Chargers
- Multi-stage charging and automatic temperature compensation
- Saltwater tested and fully corrosion-resistant
- Digitally controlled microprocessor design protects your batteries
Best Marine Battery Charger – Comparison Table
| Image | Product | Technical Spec. | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Our Top Pick
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Minn Kota Johnson Outdoors MinnKota MK 330D |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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ProMariner ProTournament 360 Elite Series 36 Amp Dual Bank |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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Minn Kota 1832300 MK 230 PC Precision On-Board Marine Battery Charger |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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ChargePro 10A 2 Bank 12V/24V Waterproof Battery Charger |
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Check Price On Amazon |
Best Marine Battery Charger – Reviews
1. Our Top Pick: Minn Kota MK 330D
Minn Kota Digital Chargers provide a range of affordable and reliable onboard marine battery chargers, one of which is sure to suit you. There is a size available for pretty much anyone. You could get a single bank 6 amp to a four bank 40 amp. The charger features digital linear charging profiles that are the ideal technology to condition, charge, maintain and protect your boat batteries. The 3 bank/10 amp MK 330D version is one of the most popular chargers made for fishing boats and it’s certainly worth
Minn Kota Digital Charger Sizes and Feautres
You can use the digital marine chargers with, and they are most suited to, traditional flooded Lead Acid Batteries and AGM batteries. There usually is not a selector for this kind of battery but the technology inside of the black box utilizes digital control in order to provide multi stage charging.
Digital Control
It uses a microprocessor in order to measure, check and monitor the batteries to provide the optimal amount of charge that is needed.
Auto Multi Stage Charging
The digital controls in the battery will check how low the battery is on charge and will instantaneously put them into the right stage of the charging profile. There are three stages, which are bulk charge, trickle charge and maintenance after the charging is finished.
Auto Temperature Compensation
The output of the charger will instantly adjust based on the temperature outside. This means that if you live in a warm climate, the battery won’t get overheated and won’t overcharge, which is ideal because overheating can seriously damage your batteries.
LED Status Light
A LED light bar positioned on each bank will quickly show you the status of the charge.
Shockproof and Waterproof
The Digital chargers are made with epoxy inside of them to ensure that they are totally waterproof and they can withstand the shock of impacts from the waves.
3 Year Replacement Warranty
You can get the Minn Kota Digital onboard chargers in 6 different sizes, ranging from a single bank up to a 4 bank. You will also have the choice with the 2 and 3 bank to select a standard or fast recovery time. The fast recovery chargers are the 10 amp per bank ones (4-6 hours) and anything other than this is rated for 10 to 12 hour recharges.
| Charger | Banks | Amps | Dimensions | Weight | Recovery time |
| MK 106D | 1 | 6 | 12.75x8x7 | 4.5 lbs | 10-12 hrs |
| MK 210D | 2 | 10 | 11.5×7.5×4 | 11.0 lbs | 10-12 hrs |
| MK 220D | 2 | 20 | 13.5×7.5×4 | 15.0 lbs | 4-6 hrs |
| MK 315D | 3 | 15 | 12.5x7x4 | 14.0 lbs | 10-12 hrs |
| MK 330D | 3 | 30 | 16.5×7.5×4 | 20.0 lbs | 4-6 hrs |
| MK 440D | 4 | 40 | 11.75×6.75×8 | 22.5 lbs | 4-6 hrs |
Make sure that you measure how much space you have available in your boat’s battery compartment and make comparisons with the chart above. The mounting footprints of the digital charger are on the larger side, so if you have a tighter space then it’s worth looking at some of the other chargers covered below.
2. ProMariner Pro Tournament Elite
If you are looking for a high performance marine battery charger that is designed for tournament anglers and guides, then you will be well suited to the ProMariner Pro Tournament Elite chargers. Anglers that have demands for fast a reliable charging on a daily basis will be pleased to know that the battery charger can be used with all lead acid, AGM and HP AGM batteries such as Optima Blue Top and Odyssey.
Pro Tournament Elite Sizes and Features
Distributed Charging
This uses all of the amps available of the charger in order to get faster recovery in comparison to fixed bank outputs.
Status Dashboard
The charger has an LED lights display that shows the system status, and checks for any faults. You also get a Push to Test button that will provide the remaining battery power status.
3 Battery Type Profiles
You are able to select the kind of battery (Lead Acid/ AGM, HP AGM1, HP AGM2) by merely swapping out the programming plug positioned on the back of the unit.
Five Stage Charging
The five stage charge profiles will properly recover the batteries for the best life, while simultaneously maintaining your batteries during times when they aren’t being used as often. The last stage is particularly useful, and this is a once a month reconditioning charge.
Forced Induction Cooling
These chargers utilize a forced induction cool fan, and these ensure that the unit doesn’t overheat and it also increases the speed of the charge.
Shock Resistant and Waterproof
The Pro Tournament Elite marine battery chargers are waterproof in accordance to IP67.
| Charger | Banks | Amps | Dimensions | Weight |
| Elite 240 Dual | 2 | 24 | 13x7x2.75 | 6.75 lbs |
| Elite 260 Dual | 2 | 36 | 13.5×9.4×4.0 | 13.1 lbs |
| Elite 240 Triple | 3 | 24 | 13.2×7.2×2.8 | 8.0 lbs |
| Elite 360 Triple | 3 | 36 | 13.5×9.4×4.0 | 13.5 lbs |
| Elite 360 Quad | 4 | 36 | 13.5×9.4×4.0 | 14.5 lbs |
3. Minn Kota Precision Chargers
So we’ve mentioned the Minn Kota Precision Chargers a few times in this article, but why? Well, to put it simply, these are the ultimate marine battery chargers. This lineup of battery chargers comes fully equipped with some of the best charging technology, such as digital controls, low power line compensation, selective battery type and battery equalization. If you simply must have the best for your boat, then you’re going to want to opt for the 3 and 4 bank Precision chargers.
Minn Kota Precision Charger Sizes and Features
User Controlled Battery Type
Every bank can be selected in accordance with your particular battery types. You are able to charge 3 AGM deep cell trolling motor batteries and also a HP AGM cranking battery all at once.
Auto Temp Compensation
Through monitoring and compensating in accordance to the outdoors ambient temperature, the changes of the battery overcharging due to heat is massively reduced.
Outlet Voltage Compensation
This Precision charger is able to automatically adjust for outlets that don’t generate the normal 120V that they are supposed to be generating. Unfortunate electrical work does not need to slow down your recharging speed.
Lead Acid Battery Equalization
This cleaning cycle is activated with standard flooded Lead Acid Batteries. It gets rid of deposits on the places and increases the overall longevity and performance.
Digital Multi Stage Charge Profiles
The Microprocessor is designed to control the voltage and amps that are delivered to your batteries, in addition to the proper charge profile for the battery type you select.
Shock Resistant and Waterproof
Even though the Precision chargers are not epoxy filled bricks, they are still waterproof and shock resistant.
3 Year Minn Kota Replacement Warranty
| Charger | Banks | Amps | Dimensions | Weight |
| MK 106PC | 1 | 6 | | |
| MK 110PC | 1 | 10 | | |
| MK 212PC | 2 | 12 | | |
| MK 220PC | 2 | 20 | 9.25×8.25×3 | 5.0 lbs |
| MK 230PC 2 | 2 | 30 | 9.5x10x3.75 | 8.75 lbs |
| MK 318PC | 3 | 18 | | |
| MK 330PC | 3 | 30 | 9.25×8.25×3 | 8.0 lbs |
| MK 345PC | 3 | 45 | 13x10x3.75 | 12.5 lbs |
| MK 440PC | 4 | 40 | 9.25×10.5×3 | 10.0 lbs |
| MK 460PC | 4 | 60 | 16x10x3.75 | 15.75 lbs |
For fishing enthusiasts who need their gear to provide them with top quality performance, you will be hard pressed to find many options that are better than the Minn Kota Precision. These have very compact footprints designed for boat compartments that are already quiet cramped, and they only weigh a fraction of other black box chargers. While they are a little expensive in comparison to a lot of other options, you do get a great amount of technology and battery optimization that certainly makes it worth it.
4. Marinco ChargePro
Perhaps the most impressive thing about this tent is that it’s actually designed for the cyclist. The bicycle is basically part of the tent, as it’s a tunnel tent that essentially attaches itself to the handlebars. It’s designed to be used with 26, 27.5, 29 mountain bike wheels or 700c road bike front wheels though, so if none of this criteria fits your bike this may not be the best choice for you.
The tent is made with a urethane coating that’s water resistant and made primarily of 45D ripstop nylon. The rainfly is then constructed of 70D ripstop nylon that gives you that extra bit of peace of mind should the weather become bad. It has three mesh panels that are designed to keep the tent well ventilated and allow you to view outside on a starry night. The tent packs down into a small size and the sack actually straps to the handlebars for easy movement. It’s incredibly lightweight so you don’t need to worry about excessive weight
Furthermore, this tent is easy to set up and put away, and is listed at a decent price so this is a good option for a cyclist looking for a new tent.
Best Marine Battery Charger – Buyers Guide
How to Choose a Marine Battery Charger for Your Boat
It might seem like an overwhelming decision to choose an onboard charger, but this does not have to be the case. You can narrow down your options bu answering these few easy questions.
How many banks do You Need?
If you have enough banks you can hook each 12V battery on your boat up to the charger. For example, a three bank charger will be able to give a little power to a 24V trolling motor and a 12V cranking battery. If you are running a 36V trolling motor then you are going to need at least a three bank, while a four bank charger will cover the cranking battery,
Recovery Time
This is the speed that your batteries will be able to be fully recharged after they are completely drained. Premium chargers will be able to recharge your boat batteries in roughly 3 – 5 hours, and can put out around 15 amps per bank. On the other hand, some other chargers are going to take from 6 to 12 hours to completely recharge all of your batteries. If you are going to be fishing for multiple days in a row then having a faster recovery time is going to be especially important.
Battery Type
Not every marine charger is going to be suitable to use with AGM or Gel batteries. This is slightly problematic as you can permanently damage the battery if you don’t pay attention to this point. As a rule, AGM and Gel batteries tend to need more specialized chargers that are going to protect them and keep their longevity. Lead acid batteries tend to be a little easier to manage but they can get into the habit of boiling off their flooded cells when they get overcharged.
Budget
The amount that you are going to be paying for a marine battery charger is going to be varied based on a number of factors. The number of banks you need and the number of additional features you require are both going to determine how much you are going to be spending on a battery. A basic 2 bank charger that doesn’t have any battery monitoring or digital protection is only going to cost a fraction of what it would cost to get a 3 or 4 bank that does have precision digital charging.
Once you have thought about these different elements, you will be able to get yourself set up with a good quality battery charger that is going to be able to ensure that you have made the right marine battery investment for many years to come. Read on to see some of the best marine battery chargers, based on our own research into the data and technical specifications.
Minn Kota Digital On-Board Battery Chargers
- Multi-stage charging and automatic temperature compensation
- Saltwater tested and fully corrosion-resistant
- Digitally controlled microprocessor design protects your batteries