Relocate batteries to lazarette?

[JonnyQuest]

Hey gang,
Would relocating my batteries out from under my companionway steps and to the starboard lazarette be reasonable? I have to rebuild my steps and moving the batteries would improve the floor space on the main saloon on my ODay 27.

I have two 6v Trojans and one marine start battery. I'd have to build a shelf/box in the laz for them. Concerns are the batteries not being dead center-- possible acid spillage, and possible boat listing. Third concern is the aluminum fuel tank in the shared space between the two lazarettes.

Here is a basic photo looking into the lazarette and a photo of my fuel tank, for visualizing what I'm looking at.

What do y'all think? Reasonable ideas?

Thanks

Jonny

 

[JonnyQuest]

Oh, if I built a shelf we are talking about just the right depth to be able to reach down to service the batteries. Not too deep to make servicing the batteries an accidental Houdini act (no need to climb into the lazarette).

 

[Gunni]

I expect you will induce a list, and raise the bow. You could demonstrate this with a few bags of play sand stacked up in the desired location.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Hi Gunni. I didn't think about the weight raising the bow up, thanks. Dumb question...and as they say, no dumb questions, just dumb questioners...would the bow raising up affect boat handling?

 

[Benny17441]

If you are moving the batteries from a centerline location to one of the sides you may anticipate the boat will tend to list to that side unless you add counter weight on the other side. If you are extending the round trip distance of the battery cables then you might need to move up to a heavier gauge wire (consult a wire sizing chart). batteries do need some ventilation to dissipate gases so make sure the lazarette is not air tight. I would assume you may be talking about diesel fuel as the batteries should not be in the proximity of a gasoline tank.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Maine Sail's treatise on battery placement/orientation

I wanted to add this link in here for anyone following this topic on battery placement. (link at bottom)

Maine Sail has an excellent article on the proper orientation of batteries in order to prevent leakage while heeling underway. Short answer is port-starboard orientation for 6V batteries--as in my case. Thanks again, Maine Sail!

So I don't think I will have any issues to worry about regarding spillage if properly orienting my batteries in the lazarette, however I'm going to measure the proposed height increase just for general knowledge. Raising them from the cabin floor to a shelf in the lazarette shouldn't raise the batteries up too much for concern.

Now the issue of inducing any list and causing the transom to squat will need to be considered. I'll temporarily relocate my batteries to the cockpit some time this week and see how this affects things.


http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/flooded_battery_orientation

 

[JonnyQuest]

Benny...
Yep, its a gasoline engine. Drat, but that's why I wanted to include the photo of the tank, just forgot to mention its a gasoline tank!

I don't think my settee storage areas are deep enough for GC batteries, looks like they will need to stay where they are and rebuild the steps around them after all.

back to the drawing board...:cry:

 

[PaulK]

The other point Benny brings up - heavier gauge wires - might also have given you pause. Battery cables get REALLY expensive when they start getting longer and heavy-gauge. That's why they generally put the batteries as close to the engine as possible. They also put them down as low and as centered in the boat as possible in order not to interfere with sailing performance. Putting them in the lazarette would probably have messed up how the boat sits in the water and slowed you down considerably, besides adding to any hobbyhorsing you'd do in wake or waves.

 

[tommays]

It is very common to have the batteries in the same general area as the motor and gasoline tanks on inboard powerboats and more so as they get smaller

All the ventilation is done with the bilge blower and if they did a 1/2 was good job there will be air flow at speed

On a Correct Craft for example the (hood Scoop) for lack of the marine word ducts air through all the confined spaces and exits the stern

 

[Gunni]

Hi Gunni. I didn't think about the weight raising the bow up, thanks. Dumb question...and as they say, no dumb questions, just dumb questioners...would the bow raising up affect boat handling?

Yes, I am still in process of remedying a genset and 4 D install in the starboard lazarette by a PO (plus OEM location at the foot of the ladder). Messes with the boat's ability to point. Induced a a 2" list, bow high. And on a big boat! Keep your batteries down low, centered, or offset Starboard-Port.