relocating the battery

[Neil]

OK! My F235 is on it's trailer again and now I'm making my 'to do' list for the winter. I've seen posts before stating that the F235 is stern-heavy and starboard-heavy (motor+heads+battery). Sure enough, in it's slip this summer, mine had an obvious stern-down/starboard-list tendency, so I'd like to move my battery forward and/or to port. One F235 I inspected while looking to buy, had its battery mounted under the aft end of the forepeak berth - is there a better place for it? I appreciate that this will only address the boat's fore-and-aft trim, but it's a start.Can anyone tell me from experience what wiring problems I should expect. Also, is there a prefered route for the wiring (I want it accessable, but not exposed)?, what type or wire do I need to get?, and what's the best way to re-connect the existing wiring from the switch panel, once I've moved the battery?There is probably no subject about which I am more ignorant and less confident than electrical wiring - simply converting a light switch to a dimmer at home is a major undertaking for me, so any advice will be valuable.Has anyone found a creative use for the small space under the chart table that's vacated when the battery is moved (without adding significant weight)? Perhaps installing a helium balloon there would be a good move ;-)Thanks,Neil

 

[George]

Battery relocate

I do use the aft berth for it's intended use -- I take out the cushions and veneer plywood and store life jackets, spinnakers, and other light weight items. Soooo, I got the idea to move the battery into this area. It is just a matter of drilling a small-ish hole in the divider between the battery area and the aft cabin to run the wires through. I put the battery in the forward starboard corner of the aft berth, although I thought a better place would be outside the aft berth, behind the companionway steps, to port as far as resonable without blocking the entry to the aft cabin and without looking too much out of place. Of course, this should involve having the battery housed in something that would look decent.I put new wires (believe #12 stranded) to run to the battery, but I was installing an additional switch/fuse panel at the same time, so I am not sure if I replaced the wires for the new panel or to reach the new battery location. The wiring on DC voltage is fairly straight forward. But to keep it simple, if you need the wires longer just splice some additional wire into the existing length of wire. Make sure that the new wire is 'at least' the same size diameter (#14, etc.) as the original.I use the space were the battery was for kid's life jackets. If you put a balloon there, hydrogen is about twice as light as helium. But be careful with sparks and flames -- remember the Hindenburg??!!! Also, if the helium escapes, everyone will be talking funny!!!George