Dumb battery question

[newbiedmv]

When I got the boat new in 2005 I remember being very pleased that the stern was only 4" deep with a full tank of gas.

Since then I've replaced the interstate batteries (one size larger on each) with Walmart batteries. I figure I have 20lbs of gear in the back (in addition to the batteries)now but it's now 10-12 inches.

It's a 17' bass/crappie with about a 70" beam. 

I've been considering getting those 500 to 1000 dollar batteries but don't know if it will buy me anything or even if the draft acts like a spring. A little weight at first gives a bigger draft change than more weight later. I didn't do well in those classes in the 80s. 

I would love to get it to six inches.

The only way to test it it to pull the batteries out at the ramp/dock. That's a  big problem right now and for the foreseeable future. 

Any comments welcome

[MN Fisher]

So you went up in size?

 

Group 29 to Group 31 perhaps.

 

That'd do it - a single Group 31 (on average) weighs twice what a Group 29 does...so dropping two Group 31s in a boat is like putting four Group 29s in there.

 

https://groupbatteries.com/group-29-vs-group-31-batteries/

[newbiedmv]

Don't know. Says 27dc 800mca 80ah @20hr.

 

And a 24ms. For the outboard

The trolling battery is one size below there Max.

I think the old trolling one was 60amp hr at best...yep I'm sure about that it died fast.

It's Everlast batteries. 

[MN Fisher]

That's a Group 27 battery...'27dc'

 

Sounds like you had Group 24s before - not as big a difference there...maybe 15lbs per battery.

 

Is there anything else that might contribute to more weight in the stern?

[newbiedmv]

2 harbor frieght wrench sets(never trust HF size on wrenchs) small socket set. Gallon of oil, 8amp charger, extension cord, marine radio. First aid. It's all in the dry storage. Oh the front TM is about 40lbs minn kota power drive and heavy as crap to haul up.(which I was warned about also). A light rock anchor. Not using livewell. Some water in it between the ridges that won't drain out.

I had a problem getting water in it last year, it's fixed now but I never dug down to the bottom to get the water out.

So I figure 50-60lbs more(old TM was the lowest MG there was 45lb junk).

I looked up in an old physics book and yes the difference changes more with a little first weight on a V bottom due to area in contact with the water, I guess it applies to flat semi v also.

Oh well I'll keep my eyes out for those lithium or agm batteries. It's not worth $2000.00 right now

[J Francho]

6 hours ago, newbiedmv said:

I had a problem getting water in it last year, it's fixed now but I never dug down to the bottom to get the water out.

I would start digging.  Water in a hull that doesn't drain sounds like a big problem.

[moguy1973]

Have you gained weight?  16 years can do a body bad ?

 

On a serious note, with water getting back there last year, if there's wood stringers they probably soaked up a lot of that water if the water stat in there for any period of time.  That would add a lot of weight if it's all waterlogged.

[MN Fisher]

Also - if there's any foam in the boat, standing water can soak into that adding even more weight.

 

Check for any water left in the boat, dry it out thoroughly, and maybe get a bilge pump either with an auto switch built in or a separate auto switch.

[newbiedmv]

Thanks to all.

It's a 2005. No wood, composite tramsom, that I've found other than on the bow. Everything on the deck seems plastic.That I've found so far. It's garage kept and only been rained on twice on the road.

 

Lots of Styrofoam pieces in it. That I saw putting on the TM. Not spray stuff more like flat packaging stuff.

It would take a week or more just to remove enough deck to see. I'd have to gut it.Then another 3 weeks to reinstall without striping the holes out. I thought about checking last winter. It got about 20 gallons in it due to a waterfall ramp and "glue" bunkboards from sitting to long. Below is a pic. The front layout is slightly different.  I can pull the batteries and the underlying plates and shop vac the water out. It's only 1/8 " with the bow raised.

At the very least the batteries, bottom plates, dry storage, and livewell would have to come out. It does have a bilge pump although slightly raised. It wasn't built to be worked on.

Thanks for the info. I'll call a dealer to see what I can figure out.

[newbiedmv]

Duhhhhh. I'm truly sorry. It was a loose nut behind the steering wheel problem.

 

There is more of a V in it than I thought. I just remembered, granted this was 15 years ago, I measured on the edge of the transom. I wasn't this year. Also crestliner said it is plywood and don't mess with it you'll strip the screws ?

Using the mud line(yes I have to wash it) it's 5" now with the extra weight.

At least now I know why I got hung up on a stump awhile back.

Again my apologies. 

[MN Fisher]

16 minutes ago, newbiedmv said:

Also crestliner said it is plywood and don't mess with it you'll strip the screws ?

One thing the previous owner did with the transom on the Alumacraft I picked up...replaced the plywood with solid White Oak - sealed with Spar-Urethane.

[WRB]

Just for info Interstate Deep cycle Marine battery weights

group  27= 46 lbs

group 29 = 50 lbs

group 31-= 60 lbs

1 gallon of water = 8 lbs

Tom

[newbiedmv]

Just a ARGGGGG FYI.

I looked over the specs from the site recommended and a few others last night

I just got 5 emails about batteries and my Google Chrome "news feed" has 3 articles on marine batteries.....privacy has gone the way of the dodo.

[TnRiver46]

14 hours ago, newbiedmv said:

Just a ARGGGGG FYI.

I looked over the specs from the site recommended and a few others last night

I just got 5 emails about batteries and my Google Chrome "news feed" has 3 articles on marine batteries.....privacy has gone the way of the dodo.

It doesn’t have so much to do with privacy, greed is the root of the problem