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Joe, I see your montauk pic from the linkage thread and see no battery. I like it. Also, everything is neat. I have a mess at the moment. I guess your battery is under the console. Is this correct? Can the bottom of my montauk console support the battery and the 1.5 gallon oil reservoir as is? I will do a bit of pounding with my boat.

Thanks, Pete

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Pete,

Good eyes...
Yes, my battery and oiler were in the console. Originally, I had two batteries and the oiler there.
I never had a problem with the bottom of the console although we have all heard the stories of the bottom breaking out on other boats.
My Oiler was right next to the side access door and then the two batteries. One Group 27 and one Group 24... When I removed the bow trolling motor, I also removed the Group 27.

I firmly believe in having the battery in the console on a Montauk. Just makes more sense to me as floor space is a premium. Not that console space isn't, but floor space seemed more important to me.
For an Outrage series with the full splashwell, then I believe in keeping the battery(s) in the splashwell. Can't use the splashwell for much else anyway and it almost always wet too.

Some people make a cutout in the bottom of the console so a battery with a box just fits down into the hole and then the battery rests on the floor of the boat instead of the floor of the console. One of my other Whalers was like this and it seemed to work good too.

Maybe others here can give you their opinion.

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Thanks again Joe.......... My list of things to do grows longer.
My console bottom appears solid and I will put both oil tank and battery in there. I'll work on my list of parts needed and things to do because its cold to work in the garage tonight.

Pete

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Pete-

I have a Montauk with the oil tank and battery mounted in the console. About 5 years ago I had to rebuild the console floor because the battery cracked the original plywood. After fixing the problem I added a piece of 2X4 (+or-) hardwood on edge to fit snugly between the console floor and the floor of the Montauk to ensure that the battery was supported by the floor of the boat as well as by the floor of the console. I have had no further problems and the 2" obstruction of water flow aft was preferable to the length or width of the battery box. George

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Thanks George, I was thinking of adding some support under the console floor. I'll be fishing the Rockaway beach, Breezy, Sandy Hook, SI, CI and all in btwn. I will get stuck in some sloppy stuff and take a pounding here and there. I'm not shy. If my boat will take it, I'll fish it.
I need to add some longer battery cables. I guess this is simple enough. I should replace all the wiring anyway. It's never been done.......... 22 years. Are the battery cables OMC specific ? I guess I would need 20 feet to run them with new throttle/shift cables like Joe did in his old montauk. My new oil tank has plenty of wire for the alarm and I believe enough for the oil line. I also like that bilge pump from the tunnel into the splash well with the 90's. Very clean.

Pete

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Pete,

I for 20+ years both the battery and oil tank were in the console of my outrage. I moved both to the stern for a couple reasons. The long run from the console (22 outrage) would cause a drop in voltage that I did not like to see. Also trying to fill the oil tank in the console was a ROYAL pain in the ass. If you spilled the oil in console everything got coated and it was a pain to clean.

With our Montauk we kept the battery in the console and never expierenced the voltage drop like in the long run outrage. And we premixed all of our fuel so no need for a tank (Old Merc).

My thought is move the battery into the console. Then move the oil tank into the battery box in the stern. I have seen others do this and it helps move the oil tank out of sight, cleans up the space, allows for easy filling, keeps the oil tank out of the weather, and helps contain spills.