Trolling motor, and JUMPER CABLES?!?

[Mr Mayor]

So, yes. Per my signature you can see I have a 12' V hull rowboat, a 48lb 12v trolling motor, and two nice spinny bass seats.

I mount the battery on the front-most bench that I flipped upside down (seat, not battery); it makes a nice tray. Then I cut one end of 12 ft jumper cables, and shoved that end down some 2" PVC pipe to the back of the boat, where I attached it to a WOOD BLOCK attached directly to the stern, and then bolt the 2 ends together on the wood block**.

Here's my questions:

1) Jumper cables... am I losing any juice here? 12 ft run, really thick cables too. I dremeled the clamps round for a nice fit on the battery.

2) That wood block**, I was once told that's a no-no, and to find some kind of kwik-connect solution. (I haven't found anything I like yet, perhaps I'm too picky?)

3) There is no 3, RIP Dale E.

4) I kinda want to eliminate that whole setup and stick the battery in the back, but I need leg room all the way around me. Can I dremel out some of the bench and foam and drop the battery in there maybe? ((Battery comes out and goes on a Battery Tender after every trip))

Ok I think that's it.