Relocate batteries

[Plasma George]

20' Maxum bowrider....the previous owner fished 100% of the time and mounted a trolling motor to the bow, and installed 2 deep cycle batteries under one of the seats at the stern. (seat on each side of the outboard).

My thinking was to put a nice sound system with an amp and use the batteries when I'm not using the trolling motor and I'm thinking of moving the batteries (or just having one) up to the bow. There's 3 compartments under the seat cushions that are empty.

Is this a bad location for a battery (or 2 batteries) ?
Could I get away with just 1 battery ?
Is the weight distribution negligable and make this project not worth losing a storage compartment ?

I was hoping this would distribute the weight better, get the batteries out of sight, etc. I'm figuring we'll only use the trolling motor on the river, and that might only be 20% of our boating life. Ocean, bay, water sports will all be sound system.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Relocate batteries

I have a 17' Deep Vee Homebuilt. I put both batteries in the bow for better wieght distribution because I have a 90 HP 4-stroke hanging off of the stern. (4 strokes are heavy.) Putting the batteries up forward made good sense for my application. I get around the bay and offshore so I definitely wanted two batteries. I ran a good quality 2 guage marine wire for starting purposes and it's worked very well.

 

[Plasma George]

Re: Relocate batteries

Do you have the batteries under the seat cushion compartments, or in a well ventilated area ?

In some of the searching I've been doing, people are saying the compartments under the seats (I have 3) are not ventilated enough for batteries, and it could be dangerous.

The other con would be bouncing around the bow will reduce the batteries life ??? I'm not an ocean cruiser pounding waves, but I do get moving and the bow will see some action.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Relocate batteries

Moving batteries up front makes for better weight distribution but ventilation is required. Whether or not you can use one battery depends on whether the trolling motor is a 12 volt or 24 volt model. If it is a 24 volt unit (and it likely is in view of the size of the boat), you cannot run the motor on one battery. If you do use both batteries AND this is a 24 volt motor you best be darned sure you know what you are hooking the stereo system to or you will have that system for a very short period of time. 12 volt stereos do not respond well to 24 volts input. You need to provide us with more information than we currently have to provide meaningful suggestions.

 

[Plasma George]

Re: Relocate batteries

Moving batteries up front makes for better weight distribution but ventilation is required. Whether or not you can use one battery depends on whether the trolling motor is a 12 volt or 24 volt model. If it is a 24 volt unit (and it likely is in view of the size of the boat), you cannot run the motor on one battery. If you do use both batteries AND this is a 24 volt motor you best be darned sure you know what you are hooking the stereo system to or you will have that system for a very short period of time. 12 volt stereos do not respond well to 24 volts input. You need to provide us with more information than we currently have to provide meaningful suggestions.

OK, the trolling motor is 24v. There are 2 batteries and there's a jumper going from the one + to the other -. If I take this jumper out, and connect my amp's 12 volt power supply to either battery's +, will that equal 12volts ?

I can leave the jumper in for the house charger, connect the trolling motor when needed (obviously no amp needed for quiet fishing), then when it's water sport time, remove the jumper, connect the amp (or install a on/off switch inline)...and we got tunes.

Am I doing this right ?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Relocate batteries

And with that scenario I gurantee you will fry your system sooner or later. Wire the troller the way it was intended or as shown below. Then forget trying to disconnect the jumper or using a switch as it is not necessary. You can take 12 volts off the left side battery. DO NOT TAKE IT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE BATTERY.

 

[Plasma George]

Re: Relocate batteries

Awesome information.
I'll connect exactly as you've shown.

What if I drain the first battery down from a day of good tunes ?
Can I move the power lead over to the + of the second, or is that second always wored up for 24volt ?

On days I'm not trolling, the 2nd should be fully charged from an overnight charging.

 

[larlarsa]

Re: Relocate batteries

why those bass boat place all three battery and fuel tank at the back and still riding stable??

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Relocate batteries

Batteries don't like the vibration and pounding that they will get in the bow. I would prefer to leave them at the stern unless the long cable run is a big issue.

 

[larlarsa]

Re: Relocate batteries

is the weight suppose to be 50/50 ,or 30/70 for easy on plan?