Battery box

[jackytdunaway]

I am going to to build a battery box since i can't find one to do what i want. I will build it 1st and test it out for a few weeks and if it will do the job then i will cover it with fiberglass. My question is do i need to use marine grade plywood or will pressure treated do. or can i use regular plywood since i will cover it with fiberglass? I sail on a freshwater lake and the locker where the box will be never gets wet but it is a boat so you never know. Any advice is appreciated. It will hold (1) group 24 and (2) group 27 batterys all end to end so it will be about 8" wide and 38" long

[camaraderie]

If you plan to glass it completely then any old plywood will do.

[jackytdunaway]

Thanks. You guys are so helpful. Any construction tips would be appreciated

[Giulietta]

Why don't you just buy some plastic box with a lid and adapt it??

Then close the lid with a strap around it..

Here's a idea of how they look like.

Go HERE, click in 2007 catalog, click on index, select battery boxes, page 59...buy something like that at Home Dpot or other store...

[jackytdunaway]

I’ve looked everywhere for the right size battery box and haven’t been able to find it. I haven’t looked for just a plastic box. I will try that before I make one. Thanks Giu. How’s the new boom working out? You know if you carry some duck tape next time you might be able to fix the one you have.

[Giulietta]

DUCT TAPE...that is something we didn't have until recentely, and some people here just call it the silver American tape...Duct Tape is not part of our culture, but I have been using it for many years now...anyway...

I have a story to tell everyone here, (that I will tell once I can write it) about 2 friends that crossed the Atlantic on a S&S a Portuguese guy bought....halfway across the Atlantic, on starting the engine, the engine mount broke, the engine moved 3 inches and ripped a fiberglass tube allowing water to get in and they almost sank....they had a roll of duct tape and used it to cover the whole even with salt water wetting everything.

They then rolled plastic wrap around it and almost stopped the leak, almost 2 inch wide and 6 inches long crack!!!!

They owe their life to the "American silver tape", and a good extra bildge they bought in Miami West Marine before crossing....

I still don't think it would hold my boom!!!

[Valiente]

Duct tape or gaffer's tape: the boater's friend. I carry a roll of 4 inch grey stuff about a foot across.

[CapnHand]

Originally Posted by jackytdunaway

Thanks. You guys are so helpful. Any construction tips would be appreciated

You should check with the epoxy / resin manufacurer regarding chemical resistance to battery acid.

[SimonV]

If you use AGM batteries you wont need a battery box, and without the box there is more room for bigger bats.

[Valiente]

Welllll...TECHNICALLY you don't need a battery box, but I can see a number of reasons for still wanting them, like having a better way to tie them down and a way to keep them cleaner and drier in an engine compartment.