TM & House Batteries, Isolator, Fuses, Switches, Etc. for Competitor 205 CS

Don’t have many details of available space for these items on the boat. I just ordered it, so don’t have it yet, and there are none in stock at a dealer near me to look at. Your experienced comments would be appreciated.

I want to install three group size 31M batteries and a 3-bank battery charger in the bow battery compartment for the trolling motor. Is there room for three of this size battery there? How did you secure your batteries, with straps furnished with boat, or did you customize to something heavier duty?

I want to install group size 31M AGM house and starting batteries (one of each) in the aft battery compartment, and would like to install an FET battery isolator, battery on/off switch, and 2-bank battery charger there, too. However, the only photo that I’ve found for the aft battery compartment makes it appear very small, so I’m thinking that I might need to use the adjoining storage compartment. Has anybody done this?

I’m thinking of using an MRBF terminal fuse block at the house battery, but they’re not rated for ingress or ignition protection. Pardon my ignorance, but would ignition protection be required in the battery compartment (e.g., due to explosive battery fumes, etc.)? If it is required, I don’t see how an MRBF terminal block could ever be used in an enclosed compartment. As for ingress protection, I expect that the humidity, and maybe even possible splash moisture could be significant, but don’t know at what level that becomes a problem for an MRBF. What battery fusing do you use?

I would start with asking who you ordered it from.

Dusty Gesinger wrote:

I would start with asking who you ordered it from.

I have asked the dealer about the battery space, but they just don’t sell this model boat in the south, where I’m from, so they have no first-hand knowledge, and it seems that they’re having a slow time of it getting answers from Alumacraft.
I also submitted an information request to Alumacraft, using their website form, but they just turned around and sent the inquiry (including the fact that I had already ordered the boat) to another dealer, and I’m not buying the boat from him. I don’t expect that dealer to respond

Why would you ask these questions AFTER ordering the boat? And secondly, why would you order a boat from someone who has no idea about their products they are selling.

You got lots of room for 31 series TM batteries, 3 under front deck. I think you might be able to get 2 27s in the starting battery compartment but it would be tight and have no room for a fuse panel etc.. I have a main shut off and fuse panel with a 31 series as as starting battery in mine. I put my hub in the compartment in the storage box beside the livewell.

I put my charger under the floor storage box.

I have a 205 tiller.

Getting a boat configured exactly as you want it, for a reasonable price, is not easy. I’ve looked at hundreds of boats from dozens of manufacturers, but mostly online. Only a few of this deep vee type (not this particular boat) are in stock at dealers within reasonable driving distance, and they all had their shortcomings. Getting details from dealers or manufacturers is far more difficult than I ever imagined when I started this boat search. Finding out that I couldn’t use group size 31M batteries wouldn’t be a deal breaker, as this boat has other features that are more important to me, which I couldn’t find on any other boat in this price range.

gregl2017 wrote:

You got lots of room for 31 series TM batteries, 3 under front deck. I think you might be able to get 2 27s in the starting battery compartment but it would be tight and have no room for a fuse panel etc.. I have a main shut off and fuse panel with a 31 series as as starting battery in mine. I put my hub in the compartment in the storage box beside the livewell.
I put my charger under the floor storage box.
I have a 205 tiller.

I thought that might be the case with the starting batteries. A ridiculously small battery compartment, on a boat of this size, but I’ll make do. I was thinking of using that adjacent storage compartment, too.
I plan to install a new fuse block under the console, powered from my house battery. The Suzuki engine has an option for isolating and charging 2 batteries, so no separate ACR or isolator is necessary, but I want to find space for a “dual circuit plus” battery switch, a 60A circuit breaker for the new 6AWG fuse block feed wiring, and even a 600A negative busbar, if possible. I would like a dual bank charger there, too, but that looks impossible.
What charger did you end up going with in the trolling motor compartment? I’m considering Noco Gen 3 or Minn Kota PC 3-bank, if there is room.