I added a fourth battery....

[cull25]

Ok guys. Last year I upgraded to 36vTM and had to find a way to get the third TM battery in. As most of you know these boats have a shelf in the middle of the bilge area to access pumps. The batteries from the factory are placed on the ledge of the starboard and port side of the boat. On the starboard(drivers side) there was one battery and the oil reservoir. I took the oil resevoir and moved it. I basically built a reinforced shelf for the the center bilge area, and mounted the oil reservoir to it. I then put the extra battery where the oil tank was located. One of the nice things that I like about my Charger is that I can easily access the pumps. Well it was easy before I put the oil tank in there. Now I am starting to wonder if there is another way to do this. The only thing I can think of is to buy all Optima Deep Cycle Batteries since they have a smaller footprint. Any ideas?

[Ntimad8rs]

Cull,

I have the 4th battery over the bilge pump area. I would much rather move a battery than the oil tank. The battery has a handle, the oil tank can spill easier also, just my thought. I also have the leads clearly marked to make it easier to do checks and maintenance of the bilge area. I also have a low profile tray and a hold strap so that the shelf folds up and stays there. It also makes it easier for the charging system if all the TM batteries are pretty much together. Your choice though, whatever works best for you, it's your boat!!!

[fishy1]

I have a 395 tf, and I installed a fourth battery over the bilge area also. I bolted the tray so it can't bounce up and down, but I can still undo it if I need to access the bilge area.

[cull25]

The reason I put the oil tank over the bilge was due to its weight. It is considerably lighter than a battery would have been. I replaced the sheet metal shelf and put in a peice of ply wood and bolt it to the partition so it does not bounce. I am just trying to see if there is any other way of doing it. You are right though I would rather move a battery than the tank but just thought the weight would be too much.

[Jim Dunn]

I think you probably did it about as simple as could be. However, in my 396, there seems to be enough room on the shelf above the stepped hull to put the oil tank. Not sure but I'll measure it tomorrow.

[lakefolk]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cull25 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The reason I put the oil tank over the bilge was due to its weight. It is considerably lighter than a battery would have been. I replaced the sheet metal shelf and put in a peice of ply wood and bolt it to the partition so it does not bounce. I am just trying to see if there is any other way of doing it. You are right though I would rather move a battery than the tank but just thought the weight would be too much.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wonder if the weight thing is a part of the manufacturing process? if so placing the extra battery in the center would make sense to keep it balanced. If the boat is already balanced swapping the oil tank and new battery would add extra weight to the side of the new battery.

[cull25]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lakefolk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I wonder if the weight thing is a part of the manufacturing process? if so placing the extra battery in the center would make sense to keep it balanced. If the boat is already balanced swapping the oil tank and new battery would add extra weight to the side of the new battery. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I aggree with you completely. I am 270lbs extra battery on that side now and My tackle storage is on the same side. I would say by myself that 90% of the weight in my boat is on the driver side. That is one thing that I hate about it. I dont really notice anyything while running though. I wish I had center storage or that the Rod locker was on the driver side. Seems to make sense to me. I guess I have found a problem with my model year.

[Backbassin]

Battery requirements have changed since the new Digital motors came out!

I now have a Digital 24 volt that has over twice the reserve power of my older 2005 36 volt motor

Now we actually use the trolling motor to troll for walleye and set it straight, we use the steering wheel to turn the boat & troll for long periods never starting gas motor!

Andy