Jon Boat Wiring?

[JLeephoto]

Hey guys, I'm a mechanical/electrical moron, so would appreciate some advice on how best to accomplish this. Read through the myriad of posts and only got more confused. I have 14' Jon that needs to be balanced well to run right. It looks like the previous owner was running a deep cycle battery for both his trolling motor, bilge & cranking. There is a t/m plug in the bow that runs back to the battery. I just bought a 2nd size 27 battery to power a 43lb. bow mounted trolling motor and would like to place this new battery close to the bow for better balance. I'm debating just running the trolling motor directly to this battery or if it would be better to run both batteries in parallel so I could use the existing plug and have increased run time on the T/M. But, if I did run them in parallel, wouldn't I have to worry about killing the battery used for cranking? If I run the T/M direct to the new battery, what's the best way to make a clean connection? Only need power for cranking, bilge, & 12v trolling motor. Thanks for any input.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Jon Boat Wiring?

Look very carefully at the trolling motor plug and how its wired. Then place the new deep cycle up front where you want it. Disconnect the two wires from the troller plug where they are attached now, and connect them to the troller. Leave the other stuff as it is. You now use the deep cycle for the troller and the start battery for everything else. You will have to use a charger to charge the deep cycle back at the dock. You definitely don't want to parallel the start battery with the troller as you will indeed find yourself at one tiime or another with a dead start battery. If you have a small outboard, it of course can be pull started so thats not much of an issue.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Jon Boat Wiring?

Sounds like you already have bow to stern wireing and a deep cycle to start with so another option would be to install a new series 27/31 deep cycle an 2 marine battery switch up forward. This switch would allow you to select battery 1, 2 or 1+2 to feed the troller (or OB starter.) That would allow you to normally run your systems (isolated) as silvertip describes but also allow you to tap into the rear battery reserve if your out for long periods. ( Or start off the bow battery as back-up) Another upside to this rig is that you can charge either/both batteries right at your TM plug if you make a simple adapter for your charger. . For clean connections, buy a good marine grade crimp / solder on connector that will fit your battey/switch. (3/8" hole is always good.) Be sure to use at least 8ga wire for adding any wire for that trolling motor (and 6 is even better.)

Note though that if you do this, you can run the risk of killing your 2nd/rear/starter battery with the troller as well. If you have a small /easy to start motor it's no biggie. Just pull the rope start if you overdrain it. If you have a big or stuborn OB, you REALLY don't want to go there. :-(

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Jon Boat Wiring?

I have a Tracker 1436 jon boat that I think it pretty darn well balanced, hauls a** with myself and adding another person does not affect the performance too bad,,, still planes. Both of my batteries are stored inside the center seat (BIG job and not for the faint of heart) as I wanted to get as much weight forward, yet not clutter up the deck.

Thing about small boats, they are very sensitive to balance and weight distribution. Before you do anything permanent, place the batteries and gear in the boat and see how well balanced the boat is and if it feels stable while motoring and casting. Play around with things in different places to shift the weight distribution around to see what combination gives the boat best performance. This was the first thing I did what I got the jon boat new and after customizing it, it works very well.

Personally, I wouldn't put a battery in the bow of a small jon boat as you will be adding a lot of weight (100#? battery & trolling motor)to the narrowest and less buoyant part of the boat,,, especially if you are going to be casting from the front deck. My son fishes from the front deck, but when I go up there it doesn't feel very stable. I also wouldn't place both batteries in the stern as it will weigh down the stern and kill performance. Just my $.02,,, so take it for what it's worth You will have to play around with weight distribution and see what works for you.