Halfords Dynamic Jumpstarter - OK for BUKH DV10?

Poignard

Poignard

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I only have one battery on my boat (and a starting handle!). I planned to install an extra battery last winter but was unable to do so.

As a temporary measure, I am thinking of buying a Halfords 'Dynamic' Jumpstarter, which I hope will be a bit more dynamic than me swinging the starting handle, for those occasions when I have a flat battery and am feeling lazy, weak, hungover etc.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...Product_List_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PLPz1#dtab

My engine is a single-cylinder BUKH DV10 which starts easily from the boat's battery.

Question: Would the Halfords jumpstarter be capable of starting my engine if the boat's battery was completely flat?
 
I've no idea on the jumpstarter but curious to ask, have you tried the handle and found it too hard or are you looking for a way not to have to? If you haven't tried it I would give it a whirl as you may find it easier than you expect and it doesn't need to be charged beforehand :)
Cheers
Dave
 
I would have thought so, particularly if you use the decompression lever to get it spinning; BTW that jumpstarter looks pretty generic to me and I've seen them for sale for £25.
 
Looks identical to the one I got from Maplins for £19.99 which will start a Yanmar 2GM but only if it goes 1st time. Mine rather fooled me by claiming a full charge on its voltmeter after being unused all season but this instantly vanished down to 11v when I tried to hang the load of a windlass motor on it. It charged up ok and again has enough grunt to start the lump.
 
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I'd save the money and use it towards the cost of a decent second battery. You may not be able to immediately install it properly but I bet you can find a safe temporary storage space for the time being, and it'll have much more capacity.
 
lustyd said:
I've no idea on the jumpstarter but curious to ask, have you tried the handle and found it too hard or are you looking for a way not to have to? If you haven't tried it I would give it a whirl as you may find it easier than you expect and it doesn't need to be charged beforehand :)
Cheers
Dave
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Dave

Thanks for your advice and concern.

As a matter of fact, I have been starting the engine with the handle for the past 14 years.

But, I am now 70 and I must confess that, sometimes, I find it a little fatiguing although I have never yet failed to do it. Perhaps a lifetime of sloth has left me not as fit as I ought to be at my age.

However, I do now realise that to expect the Ayatollah to do it, at the age of 74 years, is asking too much of her. Hence the need to place greater reliance on the hitherto despised electric starter.
 
I would expect it to start a DV10. Its capacity is stated as being 17 Ah. My Red Flash 900 is only 13 Ah and will start my Yanmar 3GM, although as has been said, only if it starts first time. I suggest that if you bring it aboard fully charged, or put shorepower on it before sailing, it will do it without too much trouble if the engine is good enough to start by hand.
 
Most of these use cheap sealed lead acid batteries which are perhaps not the best starting batteries and if just connected to the dead battery much of the available oomph is sucked away by the dead battery before you hit the start switch.

My vote would be for a small car starter battery and some jump leads, then do the permaent wiring to make a starter/house set up at your leisure
 
Halfords/generic powerpack thingy

I never travel without mine now - since it started the volvo 2003T away at anchor when the starter battery gave up. Also potentially useful backup for when your other electrics have a problem - there is a 12v socket for the handheld gps etc and a light, though I haven't needed that yet. (Or the pathetic tyre pump....)

And when leaving the boat to return to collect my car after a lengthy cruise I took it with me in the train, as car battery was of course dead after 4 months.

One of the best £19.99 I have spent.
 
I carry a fully charged halfords jump start pack for emergencies.

I have had to use it once (luckily on my mooring and not at sea) and it worked perfectly well.

It is a nice safety net, in case your main battery / batteries get drained.
 
"I am now 70 and I must confess that, sometimes, I find it a little fatiguing although I have never yet failed to do it."


Respect is due. I can't do that in my 50's, I swing the handle but it just stops at compression. I would need adrenaline to help me.
 
Another satisfied user of a Maplins starter pack - I also have a single battery - engine 1GM10

I found it is very good at starting but only if the battery has some charge left in it (doesn't need to be much, but not completely flat) Definitely use the decompression lever.

When motoring I recharge the pack through a "cigarette lighter" socket I have wired in - hopefully ready for next time.

JuSw
 
chewi said:
"I am now 70 and I must confess that, sometimes, I find it a little fatiguing although I have never yet failed to do it."


Respect is due. I can't do that in my 50's, I swing the handle but it just stops at compression. I would need adrenaline to help me.
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Rage is a great help. Shouting 'Start you b---h' works for me!
 
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