Battery installation

[Daniel Westfall]

I am looking for plans or suggestions for mounting a trolling motor battery inside the cutty of a DS11. Any help would be appreaciated. Thanks

[Roger]

I mounted my deep cycle battery forward of the mast on the cuddy floor. I bought a battery box which has two strap loops that screw down to the floor. The leads to the trolling motor were not long enough, so I bought a cheap pair of jumper cables the same size as the leads and spliced them together, then waterproofed the splice with shrink wrap. I drilled a hole in the seatback near the motor and ran the wires into the hole through a rubber automotive grommet using an electrician's fish tape, then forward behind the seat and through the bulkhead into the cuddy, to the battery. I then sealed the rubber grommet with marine goop.

This is a great position for the battery as it moves the weight forward, improving trim. The weight of a gas motor and gas tank is relieved from the stern, and it sits higher in the water for better trim.

For a motor, I use a 55# thrust Minkota Endura. It moves the boat along at about 3 knots, no breeze, no current for 90 minutes, or 4 hours at the 4th speed setting; 2 knots, or 12 hrs at the first speed setting, 1 knot.

[Daniel Westfall]

Thanks Roger for the tip. I will locate a case and see how it would work. I have a Motor Craft 34# so I hope it has enough thrust to get me moving. I bought it used and it had only been in the water once and was a year old. Just like new. My one thought was to run the cable through the drain hole in the cutty floor to the cockpit and then use velcro strapping along the base of the cockpit at the bottom of the seat section and save drilling holes. That way it could be easilly removed when needed. At the mid point of the transom I would also mount a block where I could have the cable mounted on metal bolts and then I can attatch the motor leads to that. All of this would not be permanantly mounted. Of course all contacts would be insulated and covered.Thoughts on that?

[Roger]

Assuming all things being equal your 34# thrust is about 2/3 of my 55, so expect 1.35 knots of speed. I'm not sure the endurance on that with a group 24 batt, but at that speed and a power setting of 3 (2/3 of 55#=33#), I would endure 6 hours and travel an estimated 8.1 nautical miles.

As far as the cable routing goes, I would mount it about an inch above the gutter to still allow some drainage.

Part of my idea of having a continuous cable through drilled holes was security. A potential thief would have to cut the leads short at about 18 inches to make off with the motor using wire cutters. I also through bolted the mount to the transom with a stove bolt and loc-nut so that tools would be required for theft.

If that is not a concern, and shorting out (covering the terminal ends on the transom) can be prevented, then your solution would work fine.

Let us know how you make out.

[PromptCritical]

That's pretty much how I mounted my battery. A wheelchair battery deep cycle. I used molly screws to bolt the box to the floor of the cuddy and U-bolts to bolt it to the mast. Probably overkill, but I always over-engineer everything. I was afraid either mounting method would fail in the event of a capsize, so I used both.

All I've got it hooked up to is the running lights and a cigarette lighter-style power outlet for the GPS, Radio, whatever I want to plug in. The plug will also be used to charge the battery so I don't have to remove the battery from the boat. I still have to fashion an adapter pigtail (Terminal posts connected to plug that fits the outlet). Also gonna try to get ahold of a solar panel to keep the battery topped off when sitting at the dock.

I'm still using a 1 hp Johnson, but the electric motor has crossed my mind...