Battery cables

[mtbinscotland]

Hello from cold and wet Scotland.  One of the projects I would like to do this winter is to change the location of the batteries in my 91 Legend from under the spotters' seat to behind the drivers' foot rest.  The current location is not not good enough as the batteries are getting wet when a skier comes in off the water and sits to spot for the next.
The issue I have is that I will need to exchange the existing main battery cables as the current ones are not long enough - I'll need an extra few feet for each so will be replacing the entire lengths to suit.   It looks like I have 2 gauge copper cables currently.  Should I stick with the same or change to tin-coated copper?  Are there any other issues I need to be concerned about?
Thanks, in advance for any advice...again.  I would be lost without this excellent forum!!!
Cheers!

[RonT]

#2 will still be fine for an additional 4' of length, tinned copper is always the preferred marine wire.
The battery is located on the passenger side to help balance the boat, adding the battery weight to the drivers side will weigh down an already heavy side and worst case case scenario induce chine lock.
If water is getting through the seats, fix the seats, or cover the battery.

[mtbinscotland]

Thanks Ron.  The boat should be well enough balanced if I do move them to starboard side.  It is very rare that our port side bow storage area is not loaded with skis, wakeskates etc not to mention wife, niece and nephew on board (not in storage bins) to counter-balance.   Unfortunately, there is just not enough height in the under-seat bin to put the batteries in a battery box, hence me looking for alternative locations.  WI know what the chine is but what is "chine lock"?
Cheers yet again.

[RonT]

I have a Legend here that i will be re-doing the interior sometime this winter/spring, there is probably room to recess a battery in the floor under the seat as long as it's "inside" the main stringers.
Adding weight to the stb. side, and adding weight ahead of the balance moment increases chine lock, a condition where when you enter a turn (typically right turn) the stb. chine tries to become the bottom Vee that the boat is now riding on and the rudder does not have enough authority to overcome it. Some boats are more prone to this than others, our TBX is very sensitive to it. It has claimed other brands at the AWSA towboat tests over the years when turning around a turn island, the driver enters the turn, right, the boat takes a deep set on the chine then goes straight ahead into the shore, steering will not correct it. (very embarrassing for the boat builder)   

[mtbinscotland]

Aha.  Right then. Better have a 're-think.  Thanks!

[RonT]

Are you using more than one battery???

[RonT]

On the Legend I have here for interior replacement I plan on adding an in-floor ice chest between the pylon and seat base and inside the seat base add an in floor recessed battery box.

[mtbinscotland]

An ice-chest and in floor battery box would be a brilliant addition!  That's a bit too much work for me I'm afraid but please share photos when you can.  Yes, I am using two batteries with a switch controlling 1, 2 or both.