Trolling motor, and JUMPER CABLES?!?

[Capt. Debbie]

Heavier cable like AWG 8 or 6 gauge you should not. Connections create drops and bad connections create HEAT/FIRE. Easiest way is run the motor. Measure the voltage at the battery terminals and at the leads to the motor. Should be almost unmeasurable vdc difference.

Open circuit not running everything will be fine 13.8vdc. It's when you put a load on it to measure for voltage drops. Battery is weak. Need a better deep cycle battery with more Amp hours

You also may have a shit older battery in there. In break downs I've seen 3 years is iffy. a four year old battery is Russian roulette to use.

How are you making connections? Using insulated split bolt copper bug splices or simple crimps?



AND REMOVING FLOATATION obviously looses that ability. Also you are going to become very stern heavy to the point you may be a human counterbalance. My 14' tin boat I put a single 12vdc battery behind the rear seat with my 25hp outboard. But intentionally have a 12 gallon fuel tank forward of front seat to offset my own fat ass.

Originally Posted by Mr Mayor

So, yes. Per my signature you can see I have a 12' V hull rowboat, a 48lb 12v trolling motor, and two nice spinny bass seats.

I mount the battery on the front-most bench that I flipped upside down (seat, not battery); it makes a nice tray. Then I cut one end of 12 ft jumper cables, and shoved that end down some 2" PVC pipe to the back of the boat, where I attached it to a WOOD BLOCK attached directly to the stern, and then bolt the 2 ends together on the wood block**.

Here's my questions:

1) Jumper cables... am I losing any juice here? 12 ft run, really thick cables too. I dremeled the clamps round for a nice fit on the battery.

2) That wood block**, I was once told that's a no-no, and to find some kind of kwik-connect solution. (I haven't found anything I like yet, perhaps I'm too picky?)

3) There is no 3, RIP Dale E.

4) I kinda want to eliminate that whole setup and stick the battery in the back, but I need leg room all the way around me. Can I dremel out some of the bench and foam and drop the battery in there maybe? ((Battery comes out and goes on a Battery Tender after every trip))

Ok I think that's it.