Lock a battery to a dinghy?

[Sailing Vermont]

Has anyone figured out a clever way to lock a battery for an electic motor to a dinghy? I have a rigid Watertender dinghy, and just bought an electric motor. The motor's light enough to carry, but hawling the battery from the parking lot down a steep flight of steps to the water will get old quickly. All ideas welcome!

 

[Ross]

Just a padlocked cable through the carry handle and around a seat.

 

[justsomeguy]

Or maybe a battery box?

 

[capta]

Why don't you bolt, screw or glue a battery box to the transom (back seat?) and secure the cover w/ a bit of cable w/ a lock?

 

[pogo2]

Locked battery/ bilge pump box

I have a WM RIB 10' and a Nissan 9.8 electric start, it takes a small lawn tractor battery to start, how ever I use a regular size battery box. I epoxied a piece of 1/2 plywood and sealed the entire plywood with epoxy into the box creating a space for my battery. I also drilled 1/2 holes in the edges of the other compartment and installed my automatic bilge pump, and plumed it thru the transom about 4" from the top. Now so the battery and box don't walk away I've bolted the box thru the transom and used a strip of 2x 1/4 aluminum as a back up inside the box. Then I cut strips of aluminum and drilled and glued to the end edges of the box and installed 2 master locks, sounds like a lot, but my pump and battery have been with me now for 2 years

 

[All U Get]

The PO of our boat fashioned a small wooden frame under the dinghy seat with a ratchet strap holding the battery box and fuel tank. I have a roll-up solar panel (that I usually have tied to the top of the seat) to keep the battery charged when not in use. Since I take the outboard off when hanging on the davits, it takes some time to connect the wires. I got lazy once and did a pull start. The OB ran fine but bare terminal ends of the electric line found their way to my exposed fingers. Quite shocking as you may know.

All U Get

 

[Sailing Vermont]

Thanks everyone. I think we'll lug the battery for the rest of the season, and bring the dinghy home to fashion a lock box over the winter. Pogo2, I like you're description and don't think it's overkill at all. Wouldn't want to head out for the weekend only to find fast fingers had visited my dinghy. Pictures welcome if anyone's inspired to post. Thanks again!

 

[Merlin Clark]

How about one of these to take the weight? http://www.harborfreight.com/110-lb-capacity-foldable-hand-truck-55663.html

 

[Ray Bowles]

We had a Watertender 9.9 and had the same problem. I mounted my battery in front of the middle seat. I drilled 2 holes horizotally through the seat with the rear hole being 3/8 inch in diameter. The front hole was larger so I could slide a 3/8" pipe nipple through the seat. I put large fender washers on the bolt before placing the bolt in. I installed the pipe nipple in from the front hole. I then put a thin board over the two bolts sticking out with fender washers over these. I installed a small barrel nut over the last threads on these bolts with a eye bolt in the end of the barrel nut. The battery box fit between these eye bolts where the lock was installed. There are parts I've not included here but you will figure it out as you go. I forgot some of the details over time.
Somebody that truly wanted the battery could get it with some work but it took a little time to do it. The main advantage was that the battery couldn't fly around in the boat.
Ray

 

[Benny17441]

Well, you can always use a smaller and lighter battery that could be carried with ease to simplify the recharging. I have seen folks use motorcycle, lawn tractor and even battery power packs to power trolling motors. When using an electric motor always beware of wind conditions as they may not have the thrust necessary to push against it.

 

[jviss]

Is theft really that big a concern?

 

[Ron20324]

Maybe use a beat-up cooler as a battery box instead of the real thing? Hopefully, would deter theft. But I guess the electric motor itself might be a dead giveaway there's a battery somewhere?