Hunter 34 battery location

[Ilanortho]

Hi;
Has anyone changed the battery location so they are more accessible? I am getting to old to climb into the rear locker or hang upside down to check the fluid and terminals. Have even thought about switching their location with the water heater.

Thanks. Ilan

 

[woodster]

stu jackson and a few others on here may be able to help they know this boat inside and out

 

[splax]

I agree the "pit" makes an inconvenient location. I had thought about putting a house bank under the port settee, but ended up drilling a hole through the bulkhead and running the leads for the bank through there.
I am not really comfortable with the way the battery sits on the port side.

 

[Allan12210]

Ilan,

Here is the link to my battery relocation project. Its the third response down from the original post.
If you still have the original holding tank, then the starboard settee next to the water heater is an acceptable location. I left my starter battery in the cellar as its maintenance free and you don't have to service it. My four house batteries (all 6V) are now fitted with automatic watering systems that works great.

http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/adding-house-batteries.131515/#post-829451

Allan

 

[markwbird]

This is one of those common subjects for the H-34 and an improvement that I am planning on doing myself. I plan to move the batteries under the port settee both for ease of access and better overall weight distribution. Definitely worth the effort. I also like Allan's idea of creating an access hatch from the aft berth into the starboard locker. No more tumbling down the rabbit hole to get a fender.

 

[Ilanortho]

Thanks to all!!
Will review this carefully. I also considered the starboard settee to where the heater tank is. Thought about moving the heater to where the batteries are. Thought about removing heater all together as never use it and would be one less winterizing concern, but know if I do so I will want it back again.

Only concern is that I suspect I am raising the batteries higher away from the center of gravity.

 

[Stu Jackson]

woodster, not me, personally. We have a Catalina 34. I have a friend who has one and I have noted the difficult position. I also have friends right here on sbo.com with H34s, and IIRC there were discussions about it right here. I suggest the OP do a search. Woops: Allan beat me to it!

stu jackson and a few others on here may be able to help they know this boat inside and out

 

[Dan_Y]

Are there any issues with having flooded lead acid batteries in a salon settee? Acid fumes or corrosion of adjacent stuff. I'm considering a battery relocation as well.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Dan, no there isn't. One can provide vent openings into the battery compartment. The only time fumes are present is when charging and they are negligible.

 

[woodster]

woodster, not me, personally. We have a Catalina 34.

opps sorry about that .. i got discombobulated again ....but it's ok they are both good boats