Nathan, you will be fine even with the battery in the boat. You think 32LB's of battery will make any difference?? Don't plague yourself with minor details and just show up and have fun. With the amount of boats signed up for this rally we will need an ocean for all the boats to run from spot to spot on the Bar. Wait til you see the cluster F*&% running around all week!! That's pretty much why I hang near the back of the pack,gets to be real interesting to watch some take off like a bat out of hell only to discover that they have to back track when they notice the leader veer off into a different direction!!!