My 271 Fastech has two batteries located in engine compartment with switch under back seat. All my other boats had batteries under back seat.

With the Fastech, if batteries should die for any reason I won't be able to open the hatch to get to them. I'm thinking I'd like to run remote battery posts to under the back seat so I can hook up a jump box if needed and get the hatch open. Has anyone done this?

I got thinking about this because I'm getting to winterize and was wondering about what to do with the batteries. Leave them in boat with battery tenders on them? Pull batteries out and store inside warm shop? I talked to previous owner and he pulled the batteries. He unhooked pin for hatch actuator and left a block under hatch to make it easy to manually lift open. He lived in Michigan where it gets much colder for longer than where I am (northern NV). My boat will also be stored inside although not heated.

Something like these:

Something like that would be exactly what you need. Every boat I’ve owned with a electrically operated hatch, with the batteries under the hatch, have had remote posts for jump starting.

x 2. In my case, most have’m, but not all. Battery switch also.

These are cool. From Eddie Marine and surely other places.

your engine lift actuator should have a stainless sleeve on the top with a pin through it. in the event you cannot use the actuator, you manually lift the hatch 6" or so, and pull the pin. you can then lift the hatch. My 292 came from Formula with this.

I leave my batteries on this: (1 each) for the winter:


Love the NOCO stuff.

or you can mount one in the boat:


I didn't because in my years of boating, I've never had an issue where I needed a 120v charger. so I just have chargers for over the winter.

However if your boating habits (shorter trips, more 12v loads) require a 120v charger, I'd suggest mounting one in the boat and enjoy knowing you always have charged up batteries.

if you're a real data nerd (like I am) I put one of these on each battery too:

My boat only has 1 voltage gauges for 2 engines/batteries. (why formula?!) so this gives me voltage, time, stats, etc. all sorts of cool info.

But at the end of the day either the batteries (I assume you have 2?) start the engine. or they do not. I'm not sure these would give me enough warning to replace a battery before I knew it was going anyway (slow/no crank).

Exactly what I'm looking for! Thanks.

Great information! Thanks.

Yes, two batteries.

Found this for 1/2 the $$$.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284074485171

All my boats (two of them Bajas) have had remote terminals, and it's frankly something that no boat should be without.

Some hatches, even with 6” slip collar, are so damn heavy good luck lifting with one person. So, i agree, boats with batteries in engine compartment should have remote lugs.