Battery/batteries in the bow?

[emilime75]

I am looking for advice on installing batteries in the bow of the boat. The reason for it would be to assist the boat in getting on plane. This is a 17' ski boat with a closed bow powered by a 77 115hp Merc outboard. I am still deciding if I will be using 1 or 2 batteries on the boat, but was wondering what the best location for them would be. There is also an 18 gallon fuel tank in the rear port side of the boat. What would be more important, trying to balance the left and right side weight by putting the batteries in the rear starboard side of the boat to counteract the fuel tank, or placing some of the weight in the front/center to assist in planing?

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Battery/batteries in the bow?

You can move stuff around to achieve a balanced ride, but if the boat won't plane out with 115hp I'd be looking at the powerplant.

 

[OV1961]

Re: Battery/batteries in the bow?

You're better off leaving the batteries near the stern. A long run of cables to a battery in the bow has a lot of resistance and will wear your battery out sooner. Plus, consider the pounding the bow takes could split your battery and cause a leak or a short or a fire. Better to put the anchor and other less fragile stuff at the bow.