Battery Storage Option

[billbalme]

I've been working to re-locate my batteries as a part of revamping the navigation area. My Nav table was a really big one - custom built at the factory for the original owner. It looked great, but it severely restricted access to the quarterberth. Under the nav station was one of the two 8D batteries. In the locker beneath the quarterberth was a group 31 battery and the inverter.

So, I managed to move the 8D and the inverter to join the other 8D in the locker aft of the head. Yes, 2 8D's and the inverter fit in that one big locker! The 8D's are both gels - so I had the advantage of being able to lie them on their sides...

The boat has had a list to port and has sat squat in the stern - I'm hoping that the redistribution of weight will improve things.

(Oh, yes, access to the forward bilge pump is seriously compromised - the batteris and inverter have to be removed...)

What do you think?



Bill
s/v Toodle-oo!

[arisatx]

Bill:

That's quite a feat. I have 2 Group 31's in the same space you have the 2 8D's. Hopefully you won't have to change them out anytime soon, as I bet they were a bear to get in there.

Thanks for the pics. I may follow your lead when we need to expand our house bank. Where does the PSC factory normally put their larger house banks - in the bilge?

[jnewcomer]

This is similar to what the factory was doing when I relocated my batteries in 1999. I bought the shelf from PSC and bolted and glassed it in. I prefer bolting the batteries down to using straps.

John
s/v Pelagic
C37 #22

[billbalme]

John:

Very nice installation - I didn't have the same options when dealing with the 8D batteries I have - but I plan to change to Trojans and will attempt the same install as yours.

What batteries are you using?

Bill
Toodle-oo!

[pc37howard]

i glassed in a shelve behind the engine and put the batter that was under the quarter burth in the new shelve, that is my engine battery.i installed a 16 air and heat unit in that location .with the return going through the nav set. and the supply going through the door under the quarter burth. the pump fits in the same space .i also had to take out the old batter shelve and glass in a new one for the ac unit .works find

[jnewcomer]

Bill,

Thanks. The batteries are Lifeline Group 31's. After 9 years two of them are toast so I am hauling four new ones down to Mexico in the fall. As of now I plan on getting Fullriver Group 31's. Lifeline (or Concorde) are too pricey these days.

John
s/v Pelagic
C37 #22

[arisatx]

Originally Posted by jnewcomer

Bill,

Thanks. The batteries are Lifeline Group 31's. After 9 years two of them are toast so I am hauling four new ones down to Mexico in the fall. As of now I plan on getting Fullriver Group 31's. Lifeline (or Concorde) are too pricey these days.

John
s/v Pelagic
C37 #22

Nice clean install John! FWIW, the last Practical-Sailor review of batteries (Mar 2006) put the Mastervolt at top for Group 31 sized AGMs and the Trojan for Group 27. The Odyssey TPPL batteries have been getting some attention lately but that's a whole 'nother thread.

[billbalme]

I covered up my batteries with a neat little tool array - the nice thing about this is that you know where your tools are - and when they're not where they're supposed to be!

Guess what tool is now at the bottom of Mattapoisset harbor!!!

[BirdBrain333]

Dear Bill, I think this could be a new thread: What did you drop overboard this year? Does all that ferrous metal under our boat help or hurt with the galvanic corrosion? Jay

P.S. Neat tool storage!