My Alumacraft Magnum 165 Tiller is 20 years old. My two trolling motor batteries sit in a compartment in the middle of the hull up front, I've had no ride issues at all, and, honestly, don't know where I would even fit them in the back. I would agree with the poster who said that the manufacturers of good boats such as Alumacraft, Lund, and Crestliner likely put serious thought into all this.