Battery relocation help?

[Kennc]

So my dealer installed house battery on my 2015 AR240 died on me.

As I contemplate my upgrade I saw the weight of some of the batteries I am considering.

Further considering the pronounced list to port my boat displays, I realized that new batteries would likely exaggerate the already annoying issue.

So, what is conventional wisdom on relocating to starboard?

BEP house/starter/parallel/dvsr switch mounted under port seat from factory.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Ronnie]

I think it would be a lot easier to move the batteries further back in the same compartment they are in and counter their weight with other gear on the starboard side.

 

[txav8r]

There have been several folks that hated that list to port. Me included. A nice stereo upgrade adds heavy equipment to starboard that counter the second battery. Others have just added the second battery to starboard and suffered the cable runs between the two. But conventional wisdom is that Yamaha designed the boat, with weight distributed to account for the primary battery on the port side. Boats that were not designed for a second battery, don't have the counter weight for it, such as the SX and AR. The LS had a hand shower on the starboard side and when filled, it counters the second port battery easily. So my suggestion is to store the 50-70 pounds needed in the starboard rear seating compartment and be done with it. I did exactly what @Ronnie suggested. Moving them back reduces the amount of list, but also improves the port seating areas storage capability. But it also hampers your ability to check and add water to your batteries. Batteries that are stored more than they are used will need that maintenance. I just yesterday had to add water to my golf cart and motorhome batteries. It is a monthly requirement for me and I was negligent on the golf cart, it wouldn't hold a charge, now it does. So if you move batteries where they are hard to inspect and service regularly, getting AGM batteries would be a must in my book. They do make watering systems that are easy enough to use, and that is what I use on the motorhome, even though I can easily get to the 4 six volt batteries, it is just easier to water them with the hose connection. One last thing, I did a test on the second boat after hating that list you speak of. I bought the new batteries and went out with one in a cardboard box on the starboard side compartment, and the boat listed bad to the starboard side. That is what really convinced me that ballast would be required no matter the arrangement. Hope this helps!

 

[Kennc]

@txav8r thank you very much for the thoughtful and thorough reply. Some very good points to consider.

 

[tdonoughue]

In my boat, if I am dealing with list, I just have one of the kids in the front shift from port to starboard (or the reverse). I am impressed that the weight, while heavy for a battery, is not so much as a person. And people move pretty easy...