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Hello folks. Just purchased my first Whaler. A 1988 Outrage 20 with a 175hp Johnson Ocean Runner. My question is about the placement of the battery. I would like to move it to inside the console and would like to hear pros and cons if any. Just seems like one good following sea wave coming over the transom may cause an issue. Thanks

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Seems like most do it to declutter the cockpit and to balance the boat.

I just bought a 1995 Outrage 17 I. This boat is reportedly sensitive to stern weight. With a 4 stroke suzuki at 400 lbs, moving the battery forward is supposed to be a good idea.

Not sure about the earlier 18

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I wouldn't try to overthink a tried and proven design that is still working today in many Whalers.

Depends on if you have a plan to put something else in the splashwell or you just want to give up the only dry storage spot that is left in the console.

Everyone has different ideas and needs, and none of them is universally correct.

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I have moved batteries to the console in both my Montauk and my 1991 Outrage 17 I. It is on my to do list for my 1992 Outrage 17.

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In a good quality battery box, they are fine back there and easily accessible. I opted for moving to the console simply because I did not like looking back there and seeing them. Having redone the boat, I wanted a "cleaner" look in the stern area.

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I have a 1987 20 ft outrage. My opinion is to move them under the console. Keeps them out of the weather, gets useless weight out of the stern and simply looks neater.

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OK thanks everybody for the replies. I think i'm going to do it. Does anybody have a photo of where exactly they mounted it in the console? Should battery switch be up near the battery or back near the stern? Thinking of new #2 gauge cable too.

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Charts available for amp usage and length of run. The heavier cables are not very forgiving so best to get some romex or hose to measure your run. Measure and use it as a template. Check the Blue Sea catalog for the dual battery plus ACR system. My switch is close to the batteries (my batteries mid ship on my 1979 22' Revenge) and is just below my key start.

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Go to a welding supply house and get welding wire. It’s better then marine battery wire and cheaper. You will have to make your own lengths and put on the ends. I also put the battery switch and breaker under the console.

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Moving a battery into the small center console, on Whalers that already have minimal dry storage for essential boating and passenger gear, is a bad decision if you ask me. For what? To make 30-40 year old boat look cleaner and more modern? If that was the case, you should have bought a newer Whaler with concealed battery.

It is a time consuming job, expensive and requires butchering up, and cluttering up, the center console interior. It also adds additional engine and house wiring work, battery post connectors, etc. for what? To move an insignificant 30-40 Lbs forward, and so the battery is difficult to service, charge, add water, and take in and out.

I would stay with the way Whaler designed it, keeping the battery in the splashwell, using a nice Whaler desert tan battery box, or a later copy if you don't already have one or can't find one used. Put a piece of "DryDeck" under it so it doesn't tear up the gelcoat finish.

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/l...Dk=/?ref=1

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/l...Gc=/?ref=1

A wave coming into the transom, a rare occurrence, will not matter. A good battery box is designed to keep the battery dry. I had it happen only once in my Outrage 18, over a 31 year span, and with two batteries in the splashwell as Whaler intended, with no effect at all.

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Piggy-backing on Finnigan's reply......my Revenge has a small cuddy cabin. My batteries sit on the deck outside the cabin.....one starboard and one port. I really cherish my cabin space. I personally prefer a 2 battery set up with Blue Sea components. However, a 20' Outrage can go single battery with a mechanical bypass when starting to protect electronics. Really reflect on what your boat use is. I fish quite a bit on my friend's Montauk and the console set up leaves very limited storage.

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To each his own. I moved my batteries and boat rides much better, the added weight forward smooth out the ride. Storage inside the console is not effected if you cut out the plywood floor so the batteries inside the battery boxes slide into the floor.. the batteries only stick up about 4inches. Very minimal room lost. Maintenance on the batteries is also not an issue. If you want to charge your batteries now you put the charger in the console and don’t have to worry is it rains while charging. Battery switch and breaker are now out of the weather under the console. Installing new battery cables was also not a big deal, cost about 100 bucks. I love the clean look with nothing in the splash well and added storage for coolers and buckets. I usually have 3 people on the boat fishing with lots of gear and never had a problem with storage. Any questions don’t hesitate to ask.

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Surfgod.......I quite agree. To each their own for use. I personally am a proponent for two batteries but, a single battery set up correctly installed does just fine. I do have some feedback on welding cable. I am in saltwater use and originally used some heavy, well insulated welding wire for my forward battery installation. Heat shrink wrapped the ends. Only used that way for a couple of seasons before I took my Revenge out of the water for a major retrofit (still dry). Patina had managed its way down into the wire a ways. I have a local marine wiring shop and asked about the issue.......it was going to continue into the wire slowly restricting the charge through the cable. I swapped it out for tinned wired and now have a kick butt set of jumper cables.

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I’m surprised you had a problem with the welding wire. I’ve used it on my 25 Bertram going on 15 years now and no issues. I also have 2 batteries in my whaler console, reason being I have lots of draw and don’t want to be dead in the water. But like I said to each his own.