1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17 Battery Setup

[DirtMcGirt]

Owning a boat is new to me. I recently purchased a used1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17. The boat has the following:

1997 50 HP Johnson - 2 stroke
PowerTrim
30lb thrust trolling motor

The boat only came with one battery. My question is what is the typical setup for this boat? 1 battery? 2 batteries? And how are they setup... Shouldnt the motor charge one of the batteries...etc.?

Any help would be appreciated... Thanks!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17 Battery Setup

There really is no typical setup... You can set it up any way you like... Do you have or plan a trolling motor? If so you will likely want an onboard 110 volt charger for your tm batt(s) and have the engine to take care of the start batt... If no TM then I suggest an aux batt and an automatic charge relay or isolator for the second batt so that the engine will charge one first and then the other along with a off 1 2 both battery switch.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17 Battery Setup

As smoke said. Additionally, some TM's are 24 volt requiring 2 high discharge rated batteries wired in series....one electrically on top of the other. A 12 volt system can run on two batteries for longer trolling times, wired in parallel if you choose.

Recharging a dead/semi dead battery, like a TM that you wore down trolling and then hooked to your OB's alternator on the way to another fishing spot or on the way home could overheat and damage your charging circuit. Alternators are designed to keep charged batteries charged, not charge dead batteries. I know for a fact that auto after market alternators contain that warning in the box and they have a lot more cooling area and forced convection cooling air that OB's don't have.

Mark

 

[DirtMcGirt]

Re: 1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17 Battery Setup

Thanks for the response. Yes, I do have a trolling motor. 12v ... 30lb thrust motorguide. So that leads me to my next questions... How my outboard motor charge my batteries? Is there wires that go to crank battery to charhge it... And how do I know its charging?

Also, how do I place batteries in back... Meaning should they have tray and strapped down? In a battery box with cover? The batteries are located right next to gas tank. Is that normal?

Thanks!

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: 1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17 Battery Setup

You're going to want to install a seperate battery for your trolling motor. Deep cycle marine so it draws down slowly. When not in use is there electric available nearby. I wouldn't want my trolling motor and my outboard on the same battery. Trolling motor can be charged seperately with a charger IF you can plug one in nearby.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17 Battery Setup

yes trays or boxes strapped down.... yes location is normal... yes it charges through the motor leads.... you know it is charging by looking at the battery voltage.... If you don't have a gauge on the dash you can add one or hook up a multi meter... example... your engine is off and gauge reads 12v... you start engine and get rpm's up and gauge reads 14.6.... you are charging

Btw if your batts have a common ground you can install an on/off switch between the positive terminals and be able to jump off of the trolling batt very easily if you ever manage to run down the start batt

 

[DirtMcGirt]

Re: 1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17 Battery Setup

Great! Thanks for the responses... I will see if i can get it setup correctly.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 1992 Bass Tracker Pro 17 Battery Setup

Thanks for the response. Yes, I do have a trolling motor. 12v ... 30lb thrust motorguide. So that leads me to my next questions... How my outboard motor charge my batteries? Is there wires that go to crank battery to charhge it... And how do I know its charging?

Also, how do I place batteries in back... Meaning should they have tray and strapped down? In a battery box with cover? The batteries are located right next to gas tank. Is that normal?

Thanks!

Apparently I wasted my time responding to your original post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!