Battery placement

[Albysure]

98 sportster 1800.....ok I have no idea where to put the extra battery... Every place I tryed in the engine hull it would not fit unless I removed the stirefoam and foam patting which the blower is in....I did find one other spot but not sure.....gonna see what you guys think.... This would be behind the steering wheel...lift the hatch and remove the storage container and there is a hughe spot...but the flooring is only made out of 3 inch black stirefoam.... I could use butterfly Mollies and some strong adhesive....but my fear is that stirefoam after a while will not hold because of all the bouncing around... It would indent the foam making it loose..but besides that I have no idea...

Thanks

 

[RFoster130]

Where is your factory battery? Usually on the twin engine boats the 2nd battery will fit in the same spot on the opposite side of the boat. Look under the oil tank. It fine perfect there on my 98 speedster.

Also, no way would i put it up front.

 

[Albysure]

Yea that's what I was thinking but wanted to here all the info... My factory battery is under the oil tank and there is no room at all there to add... Plus the opposite side is even tighter...but I'm gonna have to move stuff to make room on opposite side... This would be the best spot I guess... This would at least keep the weight even...no real harm in cutting the stirefoam a little that supports the blower?....think?

Thanks

 

[RFoster130]

Chop that crap out. It wont hurt anything. If you sink....you really think a little block of styrofoam is gonna save your boat? I chopped out a bunch on the 98 for the audio system.

 

[Albysure]

Sounds good

 

[Dr Honda]

Where is your factory battery? Usually on the twin engine boats the 2nd battery will fit in the same spot on the opposite side of the boat. .....

Yep... I just installed one in an 1800 myself. On the Starboard Side... just in front of the ignition (black) box. I moved the vent hose, behind the box... and there is more than enough room to mount a Group 24 battery on the stringer.


AND... the foam isn't for flotation... it's sound deadening.

 

[Albysure]

Yea that's were I'm going to install it...yea I just didn't want to cut into the stirefoam there to much... Like you said it's for sound and I need all the noise reduction I can...how long we're the screws that you used on that side to anchor the battery tray down?

 

[howie099]

I installed mine right next to the OEM battery. I used fiberglass to flatten and raise it level with the other battery. I put some marine wood between the fiberglass so I could screw the new tray in place with some bonding agent/glue. It doesn't move at all now. I can send some pics if you want. I though of putting it on the other side to but I notice water splashes up on that side much more the the port. Don't know why.

 

[Albysure]

Thanks for the reply and info...I just finished mine this weekend...I ended up putting it on the other side...just wanted to try and keep weight even...would of been cheaper were you put it... marine grade wires are pricey....but u still can send some pics.

 

[howie099]

I thought about the other side but is seems like more to move the cables around and that. The cable use would be close to the same maybe a few feet less. I put my battery switch right next to the MPEM to keep the stater cables short. I had to run power/ground cables up to the radio for the AMP and that.