Weight Distribution Question

[Catfishmonkey]

I have a 15 foot aluminum Starcraft (with closed bow). I am going to put a 48 hp Evinrude special (boat rated for up to 50 hp). I was wondering whether I should put both batteries (starting battery and deepcycle) up in the front. The engine is somewhere between 180 and 200 pounds. Keep in mind, there will usually be two men in the pedestal seats right behind the windshield, 2/3 towards the front of the boat. Any thoughts?

M

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Weight Distribution Question

That is something you will need to experiment with.
see how it does with the batteries in the back then move one forward,try that then move them both.
Every boat is different....

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: Weight Distribution Question

Would putting the 6 gallon gas tank and one boat battery up front (while having one battery in the back, instead of having two batteries in the back) be overkill for the front. Thinking of putting a bow mount motor up in front, and would make electrical connections a whole lot easier as well. What are your guys thoughts on that?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Weight Distribution Question

I would rather have the batteries and gas tank(s) at opposite ends of the boat.
Plus you would have to dig for the gas tank to fill it?

 

[5150abf]

Re: Weight Distribution Question

The starter should be in the back by the engine, but ya, get the house battery and the gas up front, it should balance pretty well and the engine will easily pull the gas that far, just be sure to keep the gas line up out of harms way.

As Gary said you will probably have to mess with it a bit to get your weight just right.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Weight Distribution Question

I had 2 16' starcrafts w/ 55's on them. We had one battery in the stern, and put 2 6 gallon tanks under there too. sometimes a third. Didn't have PTT so the hole shot involved a passenger going up front (bow rider).

I don't know if you use 6 gallon tanks but I"d put one battery up front, and store one tank up there, but switch them when the stern tank was empty, rather than run a fuel line.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Weight Distribution Question

If your going to run with 2 at the windshield seats I think I would start with just 1 or 2 6 gal tanks up front. See how it acts.If you end up with a trolling bat and motor up front you may not need anything else.Depends on the length of the deck.We had a 70 15ft Starcraft Nova with a fairly long deck with a 50.We ended up with a 12 gallon tank and a 25lb anchor in the front and still was a little light in the bow but we lived with it for about 26 years.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: Weight Distribution Question

Since I am probably going to try to put a bow mount motor (I just bought used) up front, I will probably put one battery up front, and the starting battery in back. I want to connect the batteries so the alternative of the engine charges both, and also, more importantly, so that when I use a transom mount electric trolling motor in the back, it will work off both batteries instead of just draining the starting battery only. The wire will probably have to be 12 foot long. Would a 6 gauge wire work in this case?