Hello,

I have a 2001 champion 203. This boat is modeled primarily on its age and as such things have changed drastically since it was engineered. Instead of it having a cranking battery and a trolling battery, it now has a cranking battery and 3 trolling batteries. The boat sits very low in the rear end. The fuel tank is around 45 or so gallons so between it, the batteries, and the live well, there is a substantial amount of weight in the rear end of the boat. The boat has a cooler centrally located, it acts as a step to get on the front fishing deck. I was considering doing away with it and relocating two of the batteries to this location to bring a little weight forward and to free up some space. I dont know if anyone has done this or not or what the risk vs reward would be to do something like this. I am reasonably electrically and mechanically proficient so building a robust frame in the place of the cooler would be of little issue and rewiring with appropriate wiring would be of little concern. Have any of you considered doing this? When the boat is idle there is a pretty significant slope from front to back with all the weight in the rear. The existing motor is a Mercury 225 EFI so, between all these various devices shedding some weight would be helpful. I do
not know what I don't know so feel free to comment as you see fit.

Thanks,
David

Every pound you move forward will absolutely affect performance. They ruined the 203 when they moved the tank forward.

With that said Pat, Is that true in both in both directions? If get 100 pounds and move it forward, being that is likely closer to the original distribution of weight, might that help? Its a little unnerving when you are fishing with the back of the boat facing oncoming waves and to have them at times washing onto the rear deck. I don't think the design intent was for as much weight to be back there as is currently there. The boat runs well, planes out well, it simply sits too low in the water. I go to west Texas lakes, I almost never get to the lake when I am not contending with the wind. I would assume moving some weight forward might assist in getting up on plane as well. less wight to drive out of the hole coming out. I have plenty of elbow grease, and less money, or I would simply purchase light weight batteries and be done with it.

Its a lot of work,

3 Lithium batteries would be much lighter than 3 lead acid batteries and much less work regarding wiring etc...
However the $$$ adds up fast especially if you have to upgrade the charger.

It's a dilemma, I get it. A couple of basketballs inflated in the jack plate will pick you up a couple inches. If lightening up the batteries is possible, I'd do that first.

I'm facing the same thing with this shallow sport, too cheap to go first rate, too little space to go second rate.

Dang old boats.

Pat,

It took me a second to understand what you were talking about with the jack plate. That is truly outside the box thinking.

Thanks for the insight..

David