Pearson Wanderer batteries

[Wanderer138]

The batteries in my Pearson Wanderer are jammed all the way up against the main bulkhead in the starboard cockpit locker. The battery box isn't securely mounted and let's not mention the wiring. Checking the fluid level in the cells or adding water is a nightmare. I have to twist sideways while hanging head down in the cockpit locker like a bat.

I bought a Guest charger just so I could remove the old charger (it's the big red box to starboard) and move one battery into the engine bay but there's no room for the second on that side. There's room on the port side, but I'm concerned about the length of the wires. I'd like to keep the weight as low in the hull as possible but the bilges are narrow because of the centerboard and the settees are low and too far forward. Any location must be accessible so battery fluid can be checked regularly. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

 

[onecoolair]

The batteries in my Pearson Wanderer are jammed all the way up against the main bulkhead in the starboard cockpit locker. The battery box isn't securely mounted and let's not mention the wiring. Checking the fluid level in the cells or adding water is a nightmare. I have to twist sideways while hanging head down in the cockpit locker like a bat.

I bought a Guest charger just so I could remove the old charger (it's the big red box to starboard) and move one battery into the engine bay but there's no room for the second on that side. There's room on the port side, but I'm concerned about the length of the wires. I'd like to keep the weight as low in the hull as possible but the bilges are narrow because of the centerboard and the settees are low and too far forward. Any location must be accessible so battery fluid can be checked regularly. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

First thing I see besides suspect wiring and not being properly secured is batteries facing the wrong way.

 

[Merlin Clark]

You could build a box in front of that engine cover panel to house the batts, keeping the weight centered and low and the cables short.
The box could be used for a bottom step.

 

[Wanderer138]

First thing I see besides suspect wiring and not being properly secured is batteries facing the wrong way.

Thanks for responding. That's how the area used to look when I bought the boat. Things are a little bit better now. The batteries are leveled and secured but the wiring still looks the same. It's on my "hole in the water" list. I'll have to check but I think the batteries face that way because the heavy grounding wire from the batteries to the engine block is short.

 

[Wanderer138]

You could build a box in front of that engine cover panel to house the batts, keeping the weight centered and low and the cables short.
The box could be used for a bottom step.

Thanks for responding. I was thinking along those lines but the engine cover panel would be obstructed. Here's how it looks in place. The hinged doors open into the cabin to provide access to the raw water seacock and fuel shutoff. That's why I was thinking of putting the batteries in the bilge.

I also thought about building a long battery box in the bottom of the cockpit locker directly below the locker opening with the batteries in tandem instead of side-by side. However, the wire to the aft battery will have to be very long and the batteries would have to be at two different levels because the locker floor rises rapidly at it goes aft. Here's a drawing.