Relocating batteries, will this help?

[bassa9]

I want to improve balance, handling and performance by moving the two batteries amidship.
The possible location will be under the fold down seats, 5' forward from the stern.
Will this effect any of the three items listed above?

Boat details:
1. 1965 glasspar 16' avalon runabout
2. 1991 johnson 70hp
3. Cables are #6
4. Utilizing a battery selector switch for single or both

Current situation:
1. Good boat speed 31 mph wot
2. Balance is odd, boat will lean slightly to one side under power requiring weight shift
3. Handing is ok, but not effortless
4. I love this boat!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Relocating batteries, will this help?

will moving batts AFFECT those things? yes very likely.... will moving batts IMPROVE those things? MAYBE... depends on many variables, not the least of which, is what you consider improvement.....

EXAMPLE: I just changed the merc 2 stroke 60 on my dads 18.5' aluminum bass tracker out to a honda 90 hp 4 stroke for a gain of 176 lbs.
At his request I moves all three batts and the onboard charger to the front most storage box under the front casting deck.

This solved the issue of the stern sitting very low, leveled the boat, improved the rough water ride, and made it plane at a lower speed but cut 4 mph off of the top speed. I then returned the starting battery to the rear and gained 1 mph without lowering the stern too much.....

Point is you will have to move the batts around and try for yourself... Just don't wire anything permanent till you have tested thoroughly

 

[BonairII]

Re: Relocating batteries, will this help?

I want to improve balance, handling and performance by moving the two batteries amidship.
The possible location will be under the fold down seats, 5' forward from the stern.
Will this effect any of the three items listed above?

Boat details:
1. 1965 glasspar 16' avalon runabout
2. 1991 johnson 70hp
3. Cables are #6
4. Utilizing a battery selector switch for single or both

Current situation:
1. Good boat speed 31 mph wot
2. Balance is odd, boat will lean slightly to one side under power requiring weight shift
3. Handing is ok, but not effortless
4. I love this boat!

I have a '67 Avalon and love my boat, too.

Your boat leans only when it's under power? Could your bow be hooked?

 

[5150abf]

Re: Relocating batteries, will this help?

Playing with weight you almost have to try it to see what it does, took me quite awhile ot figure out mine, 16' Sea Nymph, I use mine for fishing and always hated the way it was transom heavy so I moved a battery cleart o the point of the bow and the other 2 mid ship and now it sits almost flat at rest.

Probably not the greatest for speed but I will give up soime speed to not walk up and down hill all night.

A weight probelm would show up more at rest, if it is opnly leaning under power check that your engine is mounted straight up and down on the transom.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Relocating batteries, will this help?

Leaning ONLY when speed is increased. If the lean gets worse as speed approaches WOT. Could be the motor is slightly not on the center line of the boat. That happens a lot on used boats where the owner takes his motor off & just drops a motor on the transom to sell the boat with. He does not care about you. Check for center line location.
Does the boat sit level left to right ...with you sitting in it ? That should be done by a person outside the boat. Some boats wind up with driver, batteries & loose gear all on the same side. Just happens that way.
I have layed out my boat as a side mounted dash board. Wheel & controls force me to sit almost on the center line. Battery shift makes it OK.

I put a long shaft 21" on my short shaft 15" transom & the boat was really a leaner in a turn. The boat would lift the outside up & drop the inside so much that there was a 6" wave about 2 feet away on the inside of the turn. Spooky. Dangerous too. It was VERY sensitive to not being on the center line.

5150 is right about being VERY VERTICAL. Higher powered boats get very touchy about that.

 

[bassa9]

Re: Relocating batteries, will this help?

Some additional facts about my boat situation. The boat sits level port to starbard at the dock. The stern is low with a bow up trim when not under way. At low speeds it rides level, as the speed increases I must move to port (starbard side controls) to balance the boat. I checked the motor and it is off center a 1/16th.

I have also heard of hooks (soft spots) and will check for this condition tomorrow. Not sure how to go about this, so if you have suggestions, it will help.

Launch date will be ice off mid april in metro Denver, so trials with battery position won't happen for awhile.

Thanks again for the helpful suggestions.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Relocating batteries, will this help?

Bass

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Relocating batteries, will this help?

Bass

So this is STRICTLY a powering up to WOT condition. Big help in curing.
What hull shape is your Avalon ?
What is the rated maximum HP ?
Medications are strating.
Does your engine have a small vertiocal tab on the horizontal plate above the prop. It is adjustable. Could be missing or even loose. Post this question in in the J ohnson / Eveinrude outboard section.

How many inches up or down, from the flat botton of the hull.... is that flat part above the prop ?
Prop information. Diameter,Pitch, # of blades, ALUM / SS. Manufacturer & model number if known.

CRAP!!
Forgot to ask if the motor is perfectly vertical on the transom. Use a string & large nut to get it verticle next the motor lower unit.
Check if you can possibly push the lowerunit sideways in either direction . Push on it someehere near the prop housing.
Edit
also push & pull front to rear for loose trim drive parts/ wear out. Wear HEAVY gloves & heavy sleeved jacket. A slip is a lot opf stiches.
Do that BEFORE checking the 2 clamp screws. Any marks near or under the clamps where it looks like at one time the motor had started moving around ?
Getting tird.