Lol reminds me of my PVC fuel tank debate.
Here's a couple of further observations on the matter of battery
replacement. On my boat the batteries where originally located in the port
locker which I guess counteracted the outboard located on the starboard
side of the transom. After travelling half way around the world (previous
owner), the following problems mounting them there were apparent:
- The plywood floor that the batteries sat on continually pushes against
the bulkhead dividing the locker from the engine compartment, causing it to
start separating. This could only be fixed by glassing a support to the
inside of the hull in which to attach the plywood floor.
- Either by water entry or the placing of wet items on top of the
battery boxes (which to me is justification enough not to place them in the
locker) corrosion of the leads and terminals becomes an issue
On the issue of keeping the batteries low, I actually have a former boat
builder acquaintance that I was talking to about the location of additional
batteries and they made what I though was a valid point on the subject of
keeping weight as low as possible in the boat. They said something like
that if too much weight is below the waterline, the righting moment becomes
too great and righting action can become too fast making the boat
uncomfortable. Food for thought I guess.