MrGiggles
Well-known member
I've got a 79 Alumacraft F7 V bottom, with a 9.8 Mercury, a group 24 battery, and a small Minn Kota transom mount trolling motor.
The first time I took the boat out (without the battery and trolling motor), it would scoot pretty good. 17-18 mph.
Since adding the battery and trolling motor, it's a slug, and I can barely see over the bow. The stern is only 6-8" above the water line. It will do 8-10mph now, 11 if I have a passenger sitting up front. I can tell a difference just from shifting my weight forward in the boat.
Right now I have the battery in front and to the left of the rear bench, the gas tank in the very back next to motor (3 gallon steel tank), and my seat offset to the right.
I'm thinking about moving the battery in front and to the left of the middle bench, and putting the gas tank where the battery was. I'm wondering if maybe I should put the battery up even further. With the weak fuel pump on these Mercs, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to put the tank much further up than in front of the rear bench.
The boat has three full benches and a front step. I fish alone or with one passenger. We carry some gear but nothing that really amounts to much.
For those that have a similar boat, how do you have it set up?
The first time I took the boat out (without the battery and trolling motor), it would scoot pretty good. 17-18 mph.
Since adding the battery and trolling motor, it's a slug, and I can barely see over the bow. The stern is only 6-8" above the water line. It will do 8-10mph now, 11 if I have a passenger sitting up front. I can tell a difference just from shifting my weight forward in the boat.
Right now I have the battery in front and to the left of the rear bench, the gas tank in the very back next to motor (3 gallon steel tank), and my seat offset to the right.
I'm thinking about moving the battery in front and to the left of the middle bench, and putting the gas tank where the battery was. I'm wondering if maybe I should put the battery up even further. With the weak fuel pump on these Mercs, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to put the tank much further up than in front of the rear bench.
The boat has three full benches and a front step. I fish alone or with one passenger. We carry some gear but nothing that really amounts to much.
For those that have a similar boat, how do you have it set up?
