Battery Relo...

[reelapeelin]

Although I don't consider the 2.4 litre Merc to be a heavy outboard, once you add two guys working lines off the stern, 25 gal bait tank center of cockpit and two batteries in the bilge the '84 does get water in through the deck drains...I'm trying not to have to add check valves to those drains, so 1st attempt at fix was to relocate the batteries...ALL 3 of 'em...

And in an attempt to conserve the cash on this boat, used the sliding 2nd hatch lid to cover the new opening...

I wasn't using that cover anyway and I did test it's walk-on-ability before cutting the floor...
And all 3 batts are in boxes screwed down to the newly mounted 3/4" treated hatch floor....same 3/4 lip around inside edge for lid support, battery straps and foam insulation board snugly fit into batt boxes to keep things in place...
What I did break down and buy...

My portable charger was on the fritz and w/3 batts didn't want to use portable anyway...plug it in and forget it...keeps 'em HOT-TO-GO!!...REEL Deal comin along!!...