Battery placement

[jusfloatin]

Good day to all I am in the process of rebuilding/refitting a 16' closed bow V-hull with a 85 Merc. My hopes is it will end up as a decent fishing boat.

Well my question or at least my first of a thousand is:
I want the boat to have 3 batteries with a onboard charging system, which I know can be spread out in different spots on the boat but I was woundering what the draw backs might be if I was to put all that under the bow.
I do intend to put 1 big fuel tank in as the 2 5gal. tanks that come with the boat have seen better fishing trips.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Battery placement

You may put the batteries anywhere convenient, however, since that have significant weight to them, the bow may not be the best place, if it causes the boat to plow water. Don't put them all on one side either.

BTW - Do you really need three batteries? Are you running a 24V trolling motor, or something that requires that much juice? How about a 24 series marine starting battery and a single 27 series trolling motor battery(12V Trolling motor)?

if that merc is an old inline 4, they do not put out too much juice for charging, maybe 5-7A at 2/3 throttle. You will want a 10A 110VAC Battery charger for overnight charging.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Battery placement

One would be just for starting and lights with the second being for the trolling motor and the third would run dvd/electric downrigger/anchor winch/fish finder.
I know most of the stuff I mentioned could run of second battery by itself but when I was on the Minnkota site they said that running one of there trolling motors with the maximizers can interfere with the reception of the fish finder. So I thought just add a third and problem solved except for the weight issue.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Battery placement

the bow is not the best place for them, as they don't like being slamed around. mid boat to the stern.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Battery placement

I would be using Optima blue top batteries which my understanding is that would not be a issue.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Battery placement

don't care what they say. they still don't like it.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Battery placement

Just, Do you really need an anchor winch on a 16 footer? It cost large dollars, and uses a lot of juice.

The DVD and FF do not use any electricity of consequence. if it were me, I would skip the anchor winch and the third battery, and put the downriggers on the starting battery, and run the engine, while setting them initially. I presume you will be fishing in the daylight, so the lights are of no consequence. I would also install a battery switch so you may start the motor from either battery(normally set to the starting battery), in case SH$* happens and the starting battery craps out. i would install a battery combiner between the batteries to charge the trolling battery, when you use the motor to change spots. You also might just be able to start the motor with a rope, if necessary.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Battery placement

I hoping to go after some sturgeon which are just hours from me and those rivers are a bit fast to be climbing over the winsheild to throw out an anchor.
I would rather have overkill they be killed or wait I'm the one driving. Now theres a good reason to never catch more or bigger than the boat owner

As for the charging system I got a Minnkota 3 bank on board charger.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Battery placement

jus, You can get an anchor roller to hold the anchor when it is not being used, and guide the line when it is being used. You can then set and retrieve the anchor from the cockpit.

Of course, pulling in an anchor is a two hand activity. If you have a buddy with you, it will be a piece of cake. if you are alone, and need to have the boat in gear when retrieving the anchor, it will be a challenge.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Battery placement

My first thoughts was just a manual system as the saying goes keep it simple. Nothing realy to go wrong with a manual lift but no matter how slow and careful you are stuff gets wet.
So for a $150.00 no one has to touch anything but a button on the dash.

" Powerwinch Deck Mate 19 Anchor Winch
Anchor Winch, Deck Mate 19
This anchor winch is ideal for lake boats, bass boats, pontoon boats and deck boats. " This was copyied from this site

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Battery placement

Jus, I did not know one could buy a winch for $150. I was thinking it was a minimum or $600, plus breaker and wiring supplies.

Does that winch accept a length of chain? Do you need to use chain in those rivers?

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Battery placement

This winch doesn't accept a chain and I won't be useing a chain on the river just 3/16 braided line this unit comes with.
There are ones that do and don't seem too bad of a price. Just hit the link Marine store at the top of this page.

 

[STUARTPAUL]

Re: Battery placement

Hello I have A 1996 well craft v21 steplift I would like to add dual batteries to it but don't know where to put them ???