Battery placement
 

I just read on the newboatbuilders.com website that under US Federal Regulations and ABYC standards you can't install batteries directly over or under a fuel tank. Having said that, I keep reading suggestions to relocate the batteries to the center console for better weight distribution, which would place them right over the fuel tank. Does the isolation/separation by the fuel tank deck hatch/cover make it legal even though on some older models there is a cut out in the deck hatch/cover for the wires ?

Good question! I would hope the deck would qualify as isolation if you were able to seal off the wire way access hole. Gas is heavier then air and would settle below deck