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Location for a second battery

Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 4:41 pm
by Philwilhelm
I have a pontoon boat with sealegs. I thought I would add a second battery for the sealegs and the other house loads. Unfortunately, the space where the starting battery is is not big enough to take a second battery. Any suggestions where a good spot might be? Maybe in the seat compartments?

Re: Location for a second battery

Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 11:03 pm
by Steve7
Welcome to the forum. Do you have room under your helm? Many place one or two batteries under the helm for trolling motors, etc, and run the cables as needed.

Re: Location for a second battery

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 6:13 am
by curtiscapk
Both of mine are in a rear seat... :donno

Re: Location for a second battery

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 7:17 am
by FLOUNDERPOUNDER225
I worked on a friend's tracker fishin barge, added a second on the stern against the railing, mounted a battery box to the deck, ran the wires into the box in the corner where the original battery was located, and mounted the 1/2/off batt switch in the original battery compartment, very little wire required because they were close to each other, and keeps the weight in the stern where you want it.

Re: Location for a second battery

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 8:33 am
by guy48065
FLOUNDERPOUNDER225 wrote:
Wed May 02, 2018 7:17 am
... and keeps the weight in the stern where you want it.
I was concerned I had too much weight in the stern with 2 batteries, fuel tank, oil tank, anchors & other junk under the seat. Usually it's only my wife going out with me & I make her sit in the bow because the only weight forward is the boat cover under one seat, and the ladder under the other. Hardly anything--but they take up all the available space.

So I removed one battery. No regrets so far but I do seem to be swimming upstream against the prevailing opinion here that 2 are needed.

Re: Location for a second battery

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 11:13 am
by FLOUNDERPOUNDER225
2 are not NEEDED, but nice to have. It mainly depends on your boat, your operating habits and the usual loads on the battery. You mentioned sea legs, that pretty much puts you in the market fro a second battery as I would think they pull a fair amount of amps during operation. As far as weight distribution; especially on a 2 log pontoon, not as much on a tritoon, you don't want bow weight, they'll head dive into waves and big wakes. if your stern tubes are still 1/2 to a 1/3 out of the water at rest I would say your fine.