Relocating Batteries

[Craig314]

Been awhile since i posted pictures of my boat, it has been a work in progress so to speak. It is a tracker 165 with a 60/40 jet. I moved the batteries up front not long after i bought the boat in 99, I need more weight in the front to help with CG, I also went to a 24v TM as i fish alot of rivers and need the power. I post some pictures of my jet set up and HYD trim tabs on here. I didnt like that i used up my front storage area, and my batteries were 4 years old and not holding a charge as well as they use to. As it is the frozen tumdra up here in Wi, i had planned on doing some work to better locate the batteries and get a little more storage in my boat ( tired of tripping over all my tackle,lol) when is gets warmer. My brother had to go and find a lake up here that doesnt freeze and has smallies , LM, and hybred strippers in it and water temp stays in the upper 60's all winter, yes it is a power pool lake. So I had to dig the boat out of a snow drift, thats no fun let me tell you. We had a bad rain ice storm that ripped my boat cover so i had to deice my boat as well. I bought two new matched deep cycle battiries to go in my boat, good to have a buddy that sells batteries,lol.
So my brother and i put the boat in his garage and take the top off the front, which isnt that hard on a tracker. Makes sure you have plenty of zip lock bags and marker to place all the screws and stuff you remove in.
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As you can see i had the batteries upfront but they used up all my storage. plus i had my onboard charger up there too. We removed the old batteries and did some measuring at the front of the storage area. Had to cut and shape the foam at the front to make room for the batteries, once we removed the foam and drilled the rivets out holding the plastic battery trays we drill new holes and riveted the trays at the front with straps to hold the batteries in place. I got lucky and the battery height was just under the lip of the storage area. We had to relocate the crossmember support but that was easy a drill and pop rivets and it was done.
We had marked all the wires with tape so reinstalling those to the batteries wasnt hard. I then shot some expanding foam under the battery trays to replace what i had removed and help cushion the batteries. we then tried all the electrical systems to make sure they operated and the battery charger was working, TM and graphs worked also.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj320/craig314/Picture296.jpg
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Once that was done we put everything back together and i now have more storage, new batteries and ready for a new fishing season, I know i left alot of steps out in this process as this is alot to type, if anyone wants more info or has questions i will be glad to give you my number and you can give me a ring, good luck fishing .

Craig

[Kal-Kevin]

looking good, now you got me thinking on doing some rearranging too!

[UltimateBass#4]

Mine is backwards from you, I need to move weight back instead of front, but I don't have a jet.  I have the space in the back that I never use because it's a pain to go to the back to get stuff.

[Craig314]

I use the area where my batteries were to store my rain suit and a few other things. I love my jet and will never own a prop. I just wanted to use my storage, what little i got, to the best advantage.

Craig

[illinifish]

Is the new area you put the batteries in have lid access?
The reason I ask is the batteries do not appear maintance free and if you burried them it will be tough to monitor them and add water when necessary.

[Craig314]

   I do have access, they are still in the forward storage area, but i just moved then more forward. I will admit it isnt the easiest area to get to.  I was hoping the area forward of the storage box could have been used but not to be. I have a friend that sells batteries, while not completely maint free these shouldn't, and i stress shouldn't give me a prob.
Craig