Live well conversion to Trolling motor Battery Box

[BigBellyBass]

Hello friends, this is my first boat, and I am figuring it out as I go. I have two live wells in the bow of my boat (1993 monark 1700DC). I would like to convert one of them to a battery storage for a trolling motor. The plan is to disconnect the fill pump (it's a tee fitting I will replace with an elbow fitting). I will put a plug in for the drain to keep any water out.

 

Has anyone ever done this modification before? Any tips or suggestions. I don't want to ruin a couple batteries due to ignorance.

 

Thank you in advance!

[Puggz]

It should work as long as you ensure that all the water ingress points have been dealt with.  It would also pay to have a way to drain it in the event you swamp the boat, rain, etc.

 

One thing I can think of, TM batter compartments are typically along the centerline to keep the boat level.  As you mentioned 2 batteries (24 volt?) you may want to test it.

 

Most important advise I have is as follows:

• Use a good quality battery tray to prevent damage from bouncing around (bow moves more than the stern)
• Hard wire it to the TM rather than use a plug. Its more reliable
• Use a properly sized disconnect switch, circuit breaker, and cables.

PM me if you need help.

[BigBellyBass]

The plan is to do a 24v set up. You make a good point with a circuit breaker. I will be sure to wire one in to prevent any serious damage to my trolling motor in case something does go wrong.

 

Thank you Puggz for the advice ?!

[S Hovanec]

one of my concerns would be the ability of the livewell to support two batteries.  Is it a plastic tub type liner or is at an aluminum box?  If it's the metal box, I wouldn't worry about it.  If it's the plastic, I doubt there's enough support beneath it to keep the batteries from going through it in time.

[WRB]

livewells do not have heavy walls and I would think a battery would break through it the first wave you hit hard. Put the batteries as far back as possible the the rear. Front livewells make good dry storage units for light weight items like clothing, towels, rain gear etc.

Tom

[J Francho]

What's the logic of putting the batts up front?

[S Hovanec]

Probably the best place for the batteries is midship.  I installed an accessory battery in the back of my boat once to run the graphs.  My boat ran like a$s with the extra weight back there. Lost 4mph on the top end and had waves knock me off plane occasionally.  I moved it up to the battery compartment in the middle of the boat and all was good again.

[WRB]

Glass Bass boats plane on a very short area at rear of the boat called a pad. Any weight foreword of the pad must be lifted out of the water by engine angle to increase boat speed. Tunnel hulls and hydroplane hulls have longer plane surfaces; the prop and sponsons, air becomes the lifting surface and weight can be moved forward.

It's always a balancing act to attain maximum speed, weight foreword defeats speed unless the boat is under powered and can't attain enough speed to ride on it's pad. Displacement hulls run faster with centered weight balance.

Tom

[J Francho]

Generally, the best place is where the manu puts them.  I know a guy that put his in the front livewell of his tracker 170, and it's not fun to get up on plane.

[BigBellyBass]

They are aluminum live wells. The only reason I am putting them in the bow is because I have an enclosed transom. One side I have a built-in fuel tank (a stray spark and fuel make a bad plan) the other side I have storage for a starting battery. In the middle of the transom is a small storage compartment (couldn't fit a better there). I do have a live well in the stern I could convert. The batteries would then be all in one side of  the boat. At least  in the bow I can try to keep it centerd. The boat doesn't seem to have much trouble getting on a plane if I have the motor trimmed right for the speed. With a deep-v hull I should be ok right?

[WRB]

Aluminum and battery acid aren't compatible in enclosed spaces. You will need to vent the boxes with good airflow. Plastic battery box with a strap tie down and use AGM battery that doesn't leak fumes or acid may work. 24V TM's were around in the late 80's, why your '93 Monark bass boat doesn't have battery space is unusual.

Tom