[Chris Williams]

We run one too. Have one 12v battery and an East Coast alternator. This past winter (last year), I messed up and the alternator wasn't charging the battery. Made it a mess, gotta be on the charger the second you get back, gotta worry about it, and if you go rounds you are in trouble. Fixed that asap. Sure, we toss it on the charger when we have to sit for a while, but it's not necessary, and we never worry about it.

IMHO, anything that makes you worry takes your mind off the real problem: hitting the tree and the tuneup. Taking away that worry is worth whatever HP it costs...