Battery locker

[John Dodge]

On my Hunter 31, 1984 model both my batteries a stored behind the engine on a wood shelf that sits just above the shaft and to the rear of the raw water intake. Now it looks like the place they are supposed to be is in the starboard cockpit locker. my locker has an impression or "molded place" that would fit two smaller size batteries. As I do more and more reading about boat maintenance. It seems to me the batteries are to be away from the heat of the engine. Did the boat's previous owner make a mistake here or is this a standard with this model?

 

[Steve Dion]

Same place on mine.

John:Our boat is a 1985 H'31 Hull# 505. The batteries are also above the shaft log. I think that they where placed there because of the starboard list that these boats had. Even with the batteries on the centerline we still have a slight list to starboard.The original boats did have the batteries in the location that you mentioned. They also had the water fill down there too.I believe your observation about the heat is correct. I think it depends on the type of batteries as to how much effect the heat has on them (but cooler is better for all batteries). I have one starter battery in this location along with one of the housekeeping batteries. I placed two more group 31's in the aft lazarette on the port side. This was not the best location for proper weight distribution but was the easiest place to put them and still not make the starboard list worse than it was.

 

[joe phibbs]

ditto

We have a 1986 h31 and the (larger than automotive) batteries are situated above the shaft. I believe that the short run to the starter counteracts the high temp concerns of placing batteries elsewhere. ...what list to starboard...that is a new problem to me. Joe

 

[Jon]

Batteries

Before I read your post I thought someone was using my name, but spelling it wrong. Anyway, I have a '85 Hunter 31. I purchased it two years ago and the batteries were located aft of the engine. I didn't like the location for various reasons (corrosion, heat, restricting exhaust, etc) so I moved them to the starboard locker. I also replaced all the battery cable with 2 gauge. There may be a slight list to starboard but nothing problematic - I keep the water tank full (located on port side).-Jon Dodge

 

[don robinson]

water heater

I guess that no one has a hot water heater on boat my h30 1980 has the wire for hot water heater in the starbord side gas from bat. an elec.dont go good togeather.