two banks, different locations ????

[nolasailor]

going to change out battery layout,,, would it be a bad idea to put the starter battery close to the engine,,, in the engine compartment??? have limited room in the original location

[Faster]

Beneteau and others routinely place their batteries in the same compartment as the engine... They also tend to install a fan that runs while the engine runs to help dissipate any fumes and some heat. That would also deal with any gassing off from wet cell batteries - so that would be a better place than under a berth, for instance.

[jackdale]

Just about any Beneteau I have seen has the battery in the engine compartment. Other manufacturers do as well.

A shorter cable run should mean less voltage drop.