Relocating battery

[givetoget]

Just bought a used model 1676 Pro Striker XL tiller steer. The trolling motor battery is located in the bow directly under the hatch door which pretty much eliminates any storage. The batt. is just a bit high to move to the back of storage area. was thinking of moving it to the back of boat. the starter batt. is on starboard side, operator sits just off center to starboard, center is a 12 gallon in board gas tank and a 40 hp merc, and I would like to put the series 27 troll batt. on the port side. would this be to much total weight in in the back. would it create negative steering or ride. Thanks much for any experienced advice.

[givetoget]

On my boat, 16 ft mirrocraft( I just purchased used, new to me) I have a marine start battery and a series 27 deep cycle. what batt. should I use to power what. items to be used are 55lb trolling motor 40 hp merc with power trim, locater, nav. lights, livewell, bilge,

small interior lights, radio, horn and gas gauge. The wireing was a mess so im trying to get it straightend out.

Thanks for any and all help that is very needed.

[gunner55]

Usually it's the starting battery only hooked up to the outboard & everything else is run off the 1 in the front(deep cycle).You don't want the TM,electronics,& accessories to drain the starting battery & be dead on the water.

[h8go4s]

Use the deep cycle battery for the trolling motor only. Everything else goes to the marine starting battery.

As for relocating the trolling motor battery to the stern, just pull it out, put it in the stern and run the boat to see if it creates a problem there. Then you can decide. If you do move it, use 10 gauge wire minimum, preferably 8. It's not cheap. Personally, I'd leave it where it is.

[Whoaru99]

FWIW, I just replaced all three batteries in my boat.

I used deep cycle at all locations, the two trolling batteries and the starting/accessory battery. Way more than enough cranking amps for my 90hp engine and more reserve capacity than a starting or dual purpose.

[Pat K]

Usually it's the starting battery only hooked up to the outboard & everything else is run off the 1 in the front(deep cycle).You don't want the TM,electronics,& accessories to drain the starting battery & be dead on the water.

Usually your electronics and accessories run off the starting battery for the big motor. Trolling motors can cause interference problems with your electronics if you try to run them off the same batteries.

[givetoget]

Good thanks all, now for wiring, do I need to run a ground to the boat body for all the electronics . Thanks again.

[Whoaru99]

Well, not inasmuch as using the body/hull for carrying the ground side return path. That said, I'd guess the main engine probably connects the starting/accessory battery ground to the hull just because it's bolted to the transom.

[gunner55]

I don't know what I was thinking but Pat K is right,the TM can & will cause interference issues with your graph.

[Pat K]

Good thanks all, now for wiring, do I need to run a ground to the boat body for all the electronics . Thanks again.

I had a frayed ground wire making contact with the hull of an Alumacraft boat years ago. There was a galvanic reaction with a brass screw holding one side of a stainless steel transducer bracket to the aluminum hull. The 3 dissimilar metals plus an electrical charge equaled a 3/8" hole in the hull before the boat started to leak and I found the cause.

I know the motor is grounded to the hull, but there are sacrificial anodes in place to deal with that.

[TrollnDrift]

Use the deep cycle battery for the trolling motor only. Everything else goes to the marine starting battery.

As for relocating the trolling motor battery to the stern, just pull it out, put it in the stern and run the boat to see if it creates a problem there. Then you can decide. If you do move it, use 10 gauge wire minimum, preferably 8. It's not cheap. Personally, I'd leave it where it is.

+1, I had to put my battery in the bow of one of my boats to get a proper ride. Take yours out, move it to a temporary spot where you want it, and see how it works. Then if you like it make it permenant. Also make sure to test the new battery position with any variables you think you might have such as passengers or not, maximum gear load, minimum gear load etc

Erik

[cylinder]

I don't think you want to ground the electronics or motor or anything else to the hull. Run ground wires for everything back to the battery. If the hull is grounded and a hot wire touches the hull, you will get sparks. If that happens in the area of the fuel tank you may have a problem.

[givetoget]

Thanks everyone for the help. Cylinder, excellent point,I have to go move a ground wire. Thanks

[boatfixer]

As mentioned, NEVER use the hull to ground any circuit