Should I move my battery to the front?

[ZmOz]

I'm going to be completely rewiring my boat before the season starts. It's a 16' Glastron CV-16 with a 150hp inline 6. Currently, the gas tank and battery are in the very back, usually along with a fully loaded cooler. Would it maybe help me plane quicker if I was to move the battery up under the bow? There's plenty of room under there. Would that also do any good to help the boat plow through choppy water? Right now even little waves cause alot of trouble...

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

Moving weight forward is usually a good thing, however you should consider the voltage loss over 20' of cable from your battery to your starter, and from your alternator to your battery. Whatcha got in that coo coo coola?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

ZmOz<br />I would put the cooler up there and some other gear.<br />One of the battery killers is vibration.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

There wouldn't be much line loss if I use big enough cable. There's definately not any room for the cooler up front, and I don't see how there would be any more vibrations up there?

 

[Hooty]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

I wonder if there's a reason for all that weight being aft?<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[Mercury140-I6]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

How about either moving the fuel tank(s) up there or getting a bow tank? Always good to have an 18gal bow tank for weight.<br /><br />Craig<br /><br /> http://www.myfishingpictures.com/showphoto.php?photo=13002

 

[Bondo]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

I don't see how there would be any more vibrations up there?

You already State,<br />

Right now even little waves cause alot of trouble...

There's ALOT More Pounding going on in the Bow, <br />Than there Ever is at the Stern.............<br />The Battery weighs Less than a few gallons of Gas.....<br />Leave it in the stern.......

 

[navigator336]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

I agree with Bondo, the battery is best in the back. You could but trim tabs on if you don't mind spending a few hundred bucks. An alternative would be the manually adjustable trim tabs which will push the bow down. This wouldn't cost too much more than new battery cables.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

Moving the battery further forward would help boat balance, however not much when compared to everything else that is in the back. Major changes in layout could end up causing more problems than you have now.<br /><br />Navigator suggested Trim Tabs and this is probably your best solution, since the additional benefits go far beyond just easier planing. By the time you add up the cost of the cable and other hard ware you would be approaching the cost of some trim tabs, not to mention the labor. You should be able to buy trim tab kits (complete) for as little as $167.00 for your boat. Do a search on this site for Trim Tabs.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

Trim tabs might only be slightly more than the cost of battery cables; however, you still have to consider that I will have to completely replace the battery cables even if I leave it where it is...

 

[richg99]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

Your comment..." right now, even little waves cause trouble"????? <br /><br />This quote leaves me wondering what problems "little waves" cause? It sounds like the bow is too far DOWN if "little waves cause trouble". <br /><br />If that happens to be the case...moving weight to the bow will exacerbate the bow down syndrome. <br /><br />Personally, I'd experiment with weighted sand bags, moving them around until I found out where the "balance" point was best placed. Then move whatever you have to to achieve it. <br /><br />I'd also think long and hard about tabs, hydrofoils or whatever it is that would best attack your particular problem. <br /><br />"Little waves causing trouble " leaves me puzzled. <br />regards,RichG

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

It's just a really rough ride in even a little bit of chop. Hard to steer too...

 

[richg99]

Re: Should I move my battery to the front?

Well, it appears that you are in luck. Glastron has it's own "owners club" on the net at http://www.classicglastron.com/ I'd bet the other owners of your model have already reviewed and solved the puzzle for you. Give them a shot. From the pix I saw, your boat is a very nice V hull and shouldn't be having troubles with a little chop. See what they say and post back here afterwards, please. RichG <br />p.s. it still sounds like you have a "bow down" issue..especially with the steering problem added in.