Securing Batteries on my H34

[WasabiRush]

I'm planning to install battery boxes and looking for ideas and opinions. I'll keep the batteries in the starboard cockpit locker by the fuel tank. My plan is to first replace the plywood a PO installed under the batteries, then secure the battery box straps to the plywood. I need a good method for securing the plywood down to the fiberglass. Will wood screws suffice?

Thanks.

 

[markwbird]

Yes. You can attach the battery box to the plywood with screws.

 

[WasabiRush]

Yes. You can attach the battery box to the plywood with screws.

Thanks, but that is not what I'm asking. I'm asking about attaching the plywood to the fiber glass. I would never secure the battery boxes to the plywood with screws. That would put holes in the boxes and allow any battery spillage to leak out. I will attach the battery box strap bindings to the plywood with screws.

 

[dmax]

Screwing into solid fiberglass is ok for light loads - I don't think batteries qualify as a light load. If you are unable to through-bolt, you could overdrill the holes, fill with epoxy and drill and tap some threads in the epoxy for some bolts or, if you have the height, epoxy some hardwood strips to the fiberglass and screw the plywood into the strips.

 

[Davidasailor26]

You could use thickened epoxy to adhere the plywood to the fiberglass. You could also consider just putting the batteries directly on the hull, depending on the surface shape.

For the tie downs, consider Maine Sail’s advice in the Mounting section of

Installation & Orientation of Flooded Batteries on Boats - Marine How To

Port to Starboard Orientation This photo is simulating a sailboat heeling with flooded batteries. For years I’ve wanted to write this article, but until my friend Dave let me shoot this polycarbonate cased UPS battery, it was going to be tough to explain. As

marinehowto.com

 

[WasabiRush]

You could use thickened epoxy to adhere the plywood to the fiberglass. You could also consider just putting the batteries directly on the hull, depending on the surface shape.

For the tie downs, consider Maine Sail’s advice in the Mounting section of

Installation & Orientation of Flooded Batteries on Boats - Marine How To

Port to Starboard Orientation This photo is simulating a sailboat heeling with flooded batteries. For years I’ve wanted to write this article, but until my friend Dave let me shoot this polycarbonate cased UPS battery, it was going to be tough to explain. As

marinehowto.com

Thanks. Good thoughts. I may test putting some wood screws into the fiber glass and see if it holds.

 

[Benny17441]

You could do screws in conjunction with epoxy if there is adequate surface area to adhere to.

 

[Capt Robbie]

not 100% sure but I believe hunter originally used spry high density foam. Cleaned hull and used marine plywood, drilled hole thru plywood and leveled it, then sprayed the foam thru the hole in plywood until it squeezed out of the sides. Don’t know it that is the best way, however I believe that was how the factory did it. The foam is the same foam used around the sides of the icebox. Looks just like the can of stif stuff spray foam to fill door jams, sold at Lowes and Home Depot.

 

[jviss]

The best battery tie-down solution I ever saw was on a Nonsuch 36. The had vertical threaded rods secured to the pan, and machined G10 FRP blocks that fit across the top of the batts with holes for the rods, and washers and wingnuts securing the G10 blocks. This boat could roll and those batts were going nowhere!

 

[Capt Robbie]

WasabiRush,
If you have not installed the boxes yet, now would be a great time to try to relocate them to the aft port side locker. This as I understand we’ll help with the starboard list that all h34 are plagued with. Moving the batteries to the aft locker also will make servicing them so much easier then climbing into the starboard dungeon that they are located in currently. This has been on my to do list for 38 years.

 

[WasabiRush]

not 100% sure but I believe hunter originally used spry high density foam. Cleaned hull and used marine plywood, drilled hole thru plywood and leveled it, then sprayed the foam thru the hole in plywood until it squeezed out of the sides. Don’t know it that is the best way, however I believe that was how the factory did it. The foam is the same foam used around the sides of the icebox. Looks just like the can of stif stuff spray foam to fill door jams, sold at Lowes and Home Depot.

Are you saying that what appears to be the fiber glass base is actually fiber glass over plywood?

 

[WasabiRush]

WasabiRush,
If you have not installed the boxes yet, now would be a great time to try to relocate them to the aft port side locker. This as I understand we’ll help with the starboard list that all h34 are plagued with. Moving the batteries to the aft locker also will make servicing them so much easier then climbing into the starboard dungeon that they are located in currently. This has been on my to do list for 38 years.

I have seen some re-purpose a portion of the aft berth for the batteries. I'm not ready to give up that space.

 

[Capt Robbie]

I have not been in the dungeon in awhile but as I recall the batteries sit on a plywood shelf that might be laminated with Formica along side of the fiberglass fuel tank well that the fuel tank sets in
I believe that battery shelf is part of the ice box counter top that extends thru the bulkhead and if my memory is. Correct spray foam fills the hull contour and secures it to the hull and also acts as support. Again I believe that on my boat some of the foam has squeezed out along the side.
the shelf is not fiberglassed over.
my battery boxes are lose and I screwed battery hold down straps directly into the shelf. The tie down straps I used don’t really work well, vibrations from the engine I believe causes them to constantly become lose, again this is another reason why it’s on my to do list to move to the aft locker. If I were to do straps again I would look into a small ratchet type instead of the buckle type at west marine.