Sonar Battery Location

I took delivery of my PA12 today and have been setting it up in the garage all evening. I ordered the Lowrance ready battery and install kit, among other goodies, with the kayak. My plan was to mount the battery inside the 8" round storage area at the rear of the boat. I didn't want to place it up front on the sail post since plan on using the front storage for drinks and lunch. I did't want the extra 5 lbs up there at the bow. I wasn't aware that this isn't possible on the 2015 PA's. Because of the addition of the tracking skeg the 8" compartment is basically cut in half with the recessed area for the skeg to retract into. The battery tray or any other tray or storage bin like the first aid kit will not fit in the 2015. I'm debating mounting the battery behind the tackle management area on the scupper post similar to the sail post. I would just need longer bolts. Has anyone attached a battery around the molded scupper hole. If that doesn't work, then I guess I'll peddle harder to make up for the extra 5 lbs. up front.

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Cory
2015 PA12

You won't even notice it being mounted up front. I have them mounted up front on both my PA's.

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With the 2015 PA's, losing the aft hatch because the new tracking skeg is there, IMHO it's a PITA to have the battery located up front.....it's not the weight but the inconvenience of recharging the battery, as you need to first remove the hatch liner to access the plug.
Unless you get creative with the battery wiring and purchase another battery plug, the next best option is to run additional parallel wiring, back to the center tackle box hatch, where the charger can be more conveniently plugged in.

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Its no big deal. Do what i did. Ditch the battery tray and velcro the battery too the side of the tracking skeg mold. Plenty strong! Put you a small strip of
neoprene rubber under the battery. You can easily put two batteries in if you want.

Call me a doubting Thomas
I like your basic idea, but I would not be surprised if the Velcro adhesive loses it's bond to the plastic, on a hot day and the battery comes loose.

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Nah. I use it for many things including holding a engine management programmer and a enrichment knob in a red and black boat and it has never let go even in direct sunlight . Red and black are blazing hot colors in the summer. Cant see it happening...

Great location idea!

I'm surprised Hobie hasn't come up with an insert or bracket that is molded to fit over the ridge in the middle that would hold a battery on each side. Or maybe just some type of cradle that would fit over the ridge that a couple of the existing brackets could fasten to.

I hope this makes sense.....in my head it is a brilliant idea, lol!

Gladdly

I found easier to remove the front liner rather than take my crate off the back to gain access to the back hatch. I have a 2012 and a 2015, both have the battery up front. I just roll the PA into the garage, pull the liner out and hook up the charger.

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That would work perfect. That said the velcro is plenty enough to do the job. Just be sure to get the industrial grade velcro.
Here is the third pic that didnt upload. You can see the battery does not sit flush to to bottom. The neoprene not only protects the plastic but does a great job gripping/cradling the battery as well.

I like the battery location in the back for several reasons.
1. The Mirage drive is a PITA to get in forward compartment with the battery there.
2. I intend on useing the forward compartement for stowing the M Drive while useing the torqeedo for more deck room.
3. Many public parks wont let you put a motorized boat/yak in so i can keep my torqeedo in the forward compartment and launch, head on up the creek a short bit and in a couple minutes I'm motorized.
Thats both sides of the paddle, the mirage drive and a 403 with battery in there with plenty of space to spare.

Did my maiden voyage today in my new PA12. I ended up attaching the battery to the sail post in the forward compartment. I didn't notice any issues while cruising with the battery up front. I did have a bit of water come in through the Mirage Drive hole when I stood at the front to get my food and drinks out of the front storage area. I don't know if moving 5 pounds of battery aft would make a difference with that or not. I may try to mount the battery to the scupper post behind the tackle storage hatch similar to how it mounts to the sail post. Any thoughts if moving the 5 pounds would make any difference when standing closer to the bow? I like the velcro in the back hatch idea, but my summer time temps are hot! 110-115 during the day. I'm not sure the velcro would hold.

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Cory
2015 PA12

Guys, the velcro isnt going to give up.
1.The battery isnt hanging , it is sitting on the bottom supporting itself. All the velcro is doing is keeping it from sliding around and it really isnt doing that with the neoprene under it..
2. Its industrial strength adhesive guys. Its not going to get hot and come unglued .
3. When you are on the water the adhesive surface is water cooled anyway.
That patch of velcro can easilly support the weight of the battery should you roll over but if you have doubts there is plenty of room for more velcro on the battery...
Dont be sceered....

I keep my battery (22aH) in a dry storage bag with the buckles attached around the molded scupper hole at the rear of the center compartment. I've done that for the last five years with my 2010 PA14 and set up my 2014 PA14 the same way. I've not had any issues at all with the setup.

Ok, what am I missing here? I'd like to post a photo, but can't figure out how. I decided to move my battery from the front sail post to the center area behind the tackle management area. I don't know if it will make any difference, but I didn't like the extra 5 pounds up front. Every time I step forward I'm flooding the deck through the Mirage Drive hole. I only keep a couple bottles of water and snacks in the bow compartment, so it's not like I'm overloading the front. I used a dry box and fitted it with an extra Hobie Thru Hull wiring grommet. I then attached velcro straps that wrap around the scupper posts on each side. Added some foam blocks on the inside of the box to keep the battery from sliding around and a little foam pad in between the box and the hull. We'll see if this makes the PA feel or handle any different. Only bad thing is I'm not using the Hobie battery holder I paid for.

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Cory
2015 PA12

You have to host your photo somewhere on the web and then copy and paste the link here. I use Photobucket.com personally. There will be an [IMG] link and that's the one you want to copy and paste into your post here.