Hi All,
I'm looking to redistribute weight in my 1974 Smokercraft fishing boat with a 9.9hp 2-stroke Merc. With me (175 lbs.), a gas can, a transom mount trolling motor, a Group 24 battery, and any gear either all in the stern or very close to it, it struggles to get out of the hole and up on plane. I have the height and tilt of the engine adjusted correctly to the hull.
Of the various options to improve performance, I think the easiest approach is to redistribute weight and move the battery forward (please correct me if I'm wrong). Other options I've flirted with are getting the gas can forward, and install a hydrofoil on the motor. I looked into the triangular gas tanks for the bow and off-the-shelf options are too big for my bow well; I'm sure I could have something custom made, but that would be pricey and the battery is much heavier than a couple gallons of gas. So I'm looking closer at the battery.
I do not have a great way to route wires from the bow to the stern. My boat has a floor riveted in, so I can't easily lift the floor. Along the gunwales and sides of the hull are not great options as there is nowhere to tuck 6 ga. wire out of sight or harms way.
Between the hull and floor, there is a drain tube that runs from the bow well and to the "bilge" area in the stern (see the pic with the white stuff in the hole; mice were helping me with my floatation). This is a 1"+ diameter tube. There is a similar hole in the stern. I'm assuming the design is for when a wet anchor is lifted into the bow, any water drains to the stern. It is mostly dry, completely protected from boat occupants, and can easily access the openings at each end. The only thing I do not love is running electrical wires where water is intended to be, but the ends will be above any bilge water. If water gets to those ends, I have bigger issues. The wires would be fished through that tube and connected to remote battery terminals at the stern of the boat.
What are everyone's opinions on this plan?
The next part will be securing the battery better. In the pics, the 2 front corners of the battery are resting against the hull and back, top edge leaning against that front bench seat. I need to fiddle with it to see if I can get it under that bench and on platform.
Thanks!
I'm looking to redistribute weight in my 1974 Smokercraft fishing boat with a 9.9hp 2-stroke Merc. With me (175 lbs.), a gas can, a transom mount trolling motor, a Group 24 battery, and any gear either all in the stern or very close to it, it struggles to get out of the hole and up on plane. I have the height and tilt of the engine adjusted correctly to the hull.
Of the various options to improve performance, I think the easiest approach is to redistribute weight and move the battery forward (please correct me if I'm wrong). Other options I've flirted with are getting the gas can forward, and install a hydrofoil on the motor. I looked into the triangular gas tanks for the bow and off-the-shelf options are too big for my bow well; I'm sure I could have something custom made, but that would be pricey and the battery is much heavier than a couple gallons of gas. So I'm looking closer at the battery.
I do not have a great way to route wires from the bow to the stern. My boat has a floor riveted in, so I can't easily lift the floor. Along the gunwales and sides of the hull are not great options as there is nowhere to tuck 6 ga. wire out of sight or harms way.
Between the hull and floor, there is a drain tube that runs from the bow well and to the "bilge" area in the stern (see the pic with the white stuff in the hole; mice were helping me with my floatation). This is a 1"+ diameter tube. There is a similar hole in the stern. I'm assuming the design is for when a wet anchor is lifted into the bow, any water drains to the stern. It is mostly dry, completely protected from boat occupants, and can easily access the openings at each end. The only thing I do not love is running electrical wires where water is intended to be, but the ends will be above any bilge water. If water gets to those ends, I have bigger issues. The wires would be fished through that tube and connected to remote battery terminals at the stern of the boat.
What are everyone's opinions on this plan?
The next part will be securing the battery better. In the pics, the 2 front corners of the battery are resting against the hull and back, top edge leaning against that front bench seat. I need to fiddle with it to see if I can get it under that bench and on platform.
Thanks!