Hi Gary,
I just went through the same process that you are going through. You might want to take a look at my thread http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,9283.0.html
I ended up going with a 50w Flex solar panel ($95) and a BlueSolar MPPT charge controller ($99) both purchased from Amazon. I installed the panel on a bracket on my stern rail and the charge controller under the nav station desk. It went fairly easily for a novice like myself. I'm pretty happy so far. In 2 days it took the battery up to full charge. I don't have a battery monitor but the controller indicated Full Charge.
note: I only have it hooked to 1 battery right now. At some point I will put in the Echo charger. In the interim I might try leaving the switch on "Both" which will charge both batteries. There are pros\cons to that. I have a spare battery (to be wired as my dedicated starter) in the event that I screw up and drain both.
I will try and upload an image. Let's see if it works.
Bryan
I just went through the same process that you are going through. You might want to take a look at my thread http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,9283.0.html
I ended up going with a 50w Flex solar panel ($95) and a BlueSolar MPPT charge controller ($99) both purchased from Amazon. I installed the panel on a bracket on my stern rail and the charge controller under the nav station desk. It went fairly easily for a novice like myself. I'm pretty happy so far. In 2 days it took the battery up to full charge. I don't have a battery monitor but the controller indicated Full Charge.
note: I only have it hooked to 1 battery right now. At some point I will put in the Echo charger. In the interim I might try leaving the switch on "Both" which will charge both batteries. There are pros\cons to that. I have a spare battery (to be wired as my dedicated starter) in the event that I screw up and drain both.
I will try and upload an image. Let's see if it works.
Bryan