Battery placement and weight distribution in an older aluminum bass boat.

[udoittwo]

Hello,
I have a 1984 Lowe Commander 17.6' aluminum bass boat. Basically like the Bass Tracker of that era but a little heavier. Long, narow and shallow. It is rated for a 75. I bought it in 1986 with a 1986 4 cyl. 75 Mariner and never had any issues. The motor died and I put a 1993 3 cyl. 75 Mercury on. I asked here a while back and I believe I was told that the 3 cyl. weighed less than 20 pounds more?
The problem is, that it now seems to sit a lot heavier towards the stern now. Actually, while I was in the boat leaning over the back to service the carbs, I didn't notice water slowing running in through the upper transom drain and before I could do anything, the boat sunk. Fortunately, it is foam filled and only went down to the gunnels.
My question is, I would like to distribute the weight towards the front a little more if possible? The batteries are now under the rear deck in the open area just behind the bench steering seat along with the 2 removable fuel tanks that sit all the way to the rear.
Can the batteries be moved forward? Would it be too much strain or vibration on the batteries or boat if they were up under the front platform?
The 1993 has the oil mixer built under the cowl. It has not been hooked up since I bought the used motor. It looks to still be full.I am not interested in finding out if it works and never trusting it. Can it be removed without affecting anything and what might the whole unit weigh?
Thanks for your time and any answers,
Karl.

 

[fhhuber]

You can move the battery(s). Go one wire size heavier for the extended wires (When I did that for a 14 ft boat I bought a set of jumper cables the correct gauge and clipped the battery clamps off)

Cut pink foam and fill the space under the battery(s) Then top the foam with a plywood platform if there isn't one already. Expanding foam (great stuff is fine) fill the voids that are hard to fit cut foam into. Make sure its all tied in place well. Result is the battery guaranteed to be supported as well as possible.

******

Can't answer your engine question.

 

[GA_Boater]

I hate to say it, but 20 extra pounds of motor and you moving to the stern causing the boat to go under is saying you have much bigger issues to worry about. It sounds like the foam could be waterlogged or the boat is overloaded.

No working bilge pump?

 

[WIMUSKY]

Just an fyi, the motor weighs 24#s more.......

 

[alldodge]

There is a write up this month in the Boat US magazine about boats sinking in the rain. Several were caused not by the bilge pump but because folks went from a 2 to 4 stroke motor which weighted more. This is with even the larger CC.

I'm thinking your boat is so light, the 20 to 24 extra weight put's it in this tipping point area

 

[fishrdan]

Group 29 batteries weigh around 65#, 12 gallons of fuel about 100#, so moving that stuff mid-ship would move 230# +- depending on your gear. Should make a big difference. For wiring size, check out this site

In my little 14' jon boat I have 2 batteries and a 6 gallon fuel tank mid-ship, about an 8-10' wire and hose run, never had problems with fuel or powering the trolling motor.

 

[fhhuber]

Move it where you need it...

With the ancient Lonestar runabout (had the factory decked front but missing windshield) I had, and no hydraulic tilt/trim on the ancient 35 hp... the boat tended to nose up badly for hole shot or adjust the engine angle to reduce that and it plowed. I moved the battery forward and could have the engine angled for planing and the battery in the nose kept the nose down for hole shot.

I wasn't moving the battery to keep water from coming over the transom.... but I had a relatively tall transom.

You need the weight forward to stay afloat then by all means move it.

 

[fishin98]

Sounds like you have other issues to resolve before you think about moving batteries and fuels tanks around. With only 2 grp 29 batteries, 2 6gl fuel tanks and a motor that weighs slightly more than the original, no way should your boat have sunk.

 

[fhhuber]

I can see it... I've seen someone in an unpowered 10 ft aluminum boat lean back over the transom with a net and take water over the transom.

Nothing in the boat but him and a tackle box. Front so light (and the guy so heavy) that it just went 45 deg nose up... and he was swimming.

 

[Texasmark]

I had a 17' bass boat of that general nature with a 90 triple Merc, 3 batteries within 6" of the transom and a 22 gallon fuel tank adjacent on port side. 20 gallon live well just forward of that and the seats and helm just forward of that. Transom was 20". With my 250" at the engine I had about 2" of freeboard. Only thing I had to watch was not dumping the throttle from wide open. Had to cut it back to about 1500, let the transom settle and back wash settle in and then could chop the throttle. Otherwise the deck would be awash.