Lengthening battery leads!!

[MikeMo]

I have a 2007 20 horse Yamaha electric, 4 stroke on a 14 foot lund (acadian). As this boat is for short shaft motors, I added a jack plate so I could use a long shaft, for the day I buy a new boat.
I want to add an electric trolling motor. As a result my battery will need to be closer to the front of the boat. (Otherwise, I'll never get it to plane.)
Question: Can I lengthen the leads from my Yamaha approximately 5-6 feet to move the battery forward?
What size wire would you recommend? Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks
MikeM

 

[hankll]

Re: Lengthening battery leads!!

Why move your batteries at all, just run wiring for the Troll motor. I'd run 12 ga wire since you have a 14'. Thats what my ProCraft 19'6" Bass boat has and my batteries are at the back just in back of the gas tank where all the bilge pumps and livewell motors are located.

 

[MikeMo]

Re: Lengthening battery leads!!

Thanks for the reply, Hankll.
I need to move the battery forward so that I can redistribute the weight from the back of the boat. Otherwise, it is very difficult to bring the boat to plane (even with a doel fin).

 

[hankll]

Re: Lengthening battery leads!!

Ok, I missed that part of your post... well you could get same size cable as you now have and get brass cable clamps (electrical hardware, available at big box home supply stores) clamp tightly and slide shrink wrap over connection ( slip shrink wrap on cable first) heat it and you have a reasonably water tight connection. to make sure it is water tight, get a can of liquid electrical tape, most boating supply store have this, apply liberally over your connection and that should fix you up.

There may be a better way other than the obvious way of replacing your battery leads with longer ones all the way from starter relay on your motor. But I can speak from experience, as I did the extending with the electrical cable splice clamp on my boat. I haven't had any negative issues while starting my motor. Of course in your case you just want to add length to get your batteries away from the back. It should work well in either situation. Just be sure that you clamp your batteries well so there is no bouncing, a major no-no in batteries in a boat. I would mention that is one reason batteries are normally located in the back of a boat, so that bounce is reduced significantly or not at all. If ever you go to a boating supply store, you may see a rubber ball (cut in half) that is designed to help eliminate premature battery failure due to bounce and messing the plates up from shorting against each other.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Lengthening battery leads!!

Just wondering is the gas tank allready forward? Full tank is about 50 lbs.
Use the same size cables that motor probably starts at the touch of a button/key.Put the battery just in front of middle seat less movement there.
a tiller extension might be a good idea as well.Put you in the middle seat.
Probably no need to move the battery.

 

[oldtruckface]

Re: Lengthening battery leads!!

i extended my cables with automotive jumper cables,just use good hardware to connect them and shrink wrap em that liquid elct.tape is a good idea
good luck


__________________________________________________
momma said quit yer china-walking and get off yer roostertail !

 

[MikeMo]

Re: Lengthening battery leads!!

You guys are so helpful!! Thanks for the suggestions. I never thought about the battery bouncing around, so I'll need to take that into consideration.
Thanks again.