I just got my first bass boat. It's a '99 Skeeter sx176 with a Yamaha 115. I have a couple questions about the wiring, I can't quite tell which wires go where and I'm not familiar with the battery setup.

So...I have two trolling motor batteries connected in a series on one side in the back and the cranking battery on the other side. Which side is being used for the sonar, pumps, and other electronics? Do they run off of the trolling motor batteries or the cranking battery? I know I need to charge the trolling motor batteries and there's an onboard charger, but do I need to charge the cranking battery or does it recharge from the motor like a car?

I'm just wondering if I was using too many electric devices (phone charger, sonar, gps, etc..) could that kill the cranking battery?

Sorry for the stupid questions, I'm new to boating.

Trolling motor batteries should be just for the trolling motor. Everything else on the starting battery. I always keep a charger on all batteries myself. It only takes a couple of trips to the lake and your motor not to start to convince you. Get a pair of jumper cables in case you learn the limit of your batteries the hard way. You can jump start your starting battery by just hooking up to one of the trolling motor batteries.

Thanks for your help!

This, plus your on board is probably a 3 bank charger, so all batteries get charged. Post the model number of the charger and some one will verify how many banks you have. On most you will see the number of lights lit when turned on.

I don't see a model number on the charger, but it only has 1 green light and one red light. There are two cables coming from it and they appear to only be going to the trolling batteries. So should I charge the starting battery after each trip?

OK, it's a Charge Pro model 2611. Looks like it's only 2 bank

I don't charge my starting battery after each trip. In fact, I typically only charge it once or twice a year max (have gone years without charging it at times). But I only go fishing maybe once a month, and only once in the 17 years of fishing out of my boat have I ever had to jump the motor off the trolling motor batteries.

It depends on how much electronics you have running and how much you're running your pumps. If you run a bunch of non-motor stuff throughout the day, it's not a bad idea to charge it. If you don't, it should be fine.

I charge mine each trip but mostly because it's already setup that way. When I fish nights durring the summer I carry a jumper box with me, runnig the live well pumps, lights, graphs take there toll and if you are just making short runs you won't be runnig enough to charge the battery. Jumper box works much better than just jumper cables IMHO. Spend the extra money and get a good one the ones and Walmart are junk and won't last long. Just my 2 cents worth.

I have to say, carrying a jumper box is the best way to keep everything running without damaging your battery. And a good jumper box can be used with other boats and vehicles too. It is soooo worth the investment. Don't get stranded on the lake at night with no lights

Just so you know, the only dumb questions are the ones we never ask.