1850 Reata Battery location advice….

Hoping for some advice from some more experienced battery configurers.

I have a 2006 Ranger Reata 1850, currently it’s setup with:
– 2 size 27 Deep Cycle AGM batteries in the bow compartment(centered in the boat, behind a little plastic divider).
– 1 size 31 Cranking battery in the starboard storage under the jump seat near the transom.
– 1 two bank charger connected to the trolling motor batteries.

I’ve had more and more instances lately where I run out of juice on my trolling motor earlier in the day than I’d hoped. It’s possible the batteries aren’t what they used to be, or I’m just in need of a bigger setup. I’ve also run down the cranking battery a few times because of my newer graphs. Including one nearly catastrophic day where I was nearly out of ALL battery juice, after dark on the St. Croix.

I’ve decided to get a beefier setup. I bought a lithium jump starter as a last resort, and I’m going to be getting two new size 31 deep cycles for the trolling motor, which should give me a bit more capacity. I’m also going to install a 3 bank charger to charge all batteries easily, in the event I run that cranking battery down(some fishing spots don’t require long runs for me).

So here’s the decision I need to make:

Option 1: Replace batteries and onboard charger exactly where they sit today. Will just require extending one of the charging cables to the startboard transom to clamp onto cranking battery. This is probably the easiest of the two options.

Option 2: Move the trolling motor batteries to the Port side jump seat storage, and put the charger there, where it will be close enough to reach the cranking battery. This would require getting longer (and probably thicker) trolling motor cables. This is a better storage option for me though, as the jump seat storage is rarely used for us, gets some water in it, and is normally under the folded down bimini which makes it a pain to access.

Option 3: This is probably the best eventual option, which would be to install a 4 bank charger, add two size 31s for the TM, and add a 4th battery for the electronics…I just don’t think this is in the cards budget-wise right now.

I’m leaning towards option 1, because I think the longer cables for the trolling motor will see more voltage loss, kind of working against my main need. But I’m wondering if one layout is better from a boat performance perspective? I like how the boat runs now, so not sure if adding ~50-60 pounds to the bow, or adding 150 pounds to the back and removing 80 pounds from the bow is going to be better or worse?

Option 4-1…check your batteries don’t know exactly how you are running your trolling motor usage or what you are using for electronics but most scenarios you should have plenty of power to last all day. If you trade out for 31’s and run out something is wrong.
Having an onboard charger to charge every battery is what a lot of rigs are set up to do.

Not sure why you would need a 4th battery just for electronics unless you have a whole radar array on that boat.

You likley have an issue with those batteries but running on the river with an 80# TM is going to zap them quicker that what most guys see. For comparison, I run a 112# on a 2019 Reata mostly on the Mississippi. I get a whole day out of the batteries under heavy use. You have alot of boat to be dragging around in the current.

I’d upgrade your current batteries to the biggest you can get and leave them in the bow…..there is a reason the battery storage is designed for up there. Save your money and eventually go to a 112# system.

Matt, where did you put your third trolling battery in your Reata?

Front compartment. They all fit…….2 in the rear and one front. PM me and I can send a pic later.

Ron F wrote:

Matt, where did you put your third trolling battery in your Reata?

Here are pics….tried to text but they didn’t go through. These are series 27 batteries.