I want to add a bank of batteries for various electronic goodies and wonder where people have put their batteries, other than the one to turn over the motor? I don't have a diesel engine so I have tons of room under the cockpit, but it doesn't vent anywere. Has anyone vented this area for battery use? I'm thinking of a number of golf cart batteries.
Where to put batteries on a Cat 27 - 1975 vintage
- Thread starter rsn48
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Under 1/4 berth
I have group 24's under the forward end of teh 1/4 berth. There's lots of room there, and while it doesn't "vent" in the traditional sense, in an outboard powered 27 (which it sounds like you have), any fumes have lots of room to move back under teh cockpit, since the underside of the 1/4 berth is open to the "garage" under the cockpit (where an IB would normally be - it's where I keep the inflatable and extra sails) the 1/4 berth has lots of room for any fumes to dissipate. Only problem is weight distribution. With the 27's OB all the way aft (85lbs), two 8-gal fuel tanks for the main OB (180-200lbs when full), the radar and mast (70lbs), dink under the cockpit (75lbs), the dink's OB on the stern rail (30-60lbs depending on which OB I bring), anchors & rode in the cockpit locker (50lbs), and 3-4 200-pound crew in the cockpit, I'd rather the battery weight was further forward. Some have put them under the V-berth, but then they're harder to get to, and cable runs are longer.
I have group 24's under the forward end of teh 1/4 berth. There's lots of room there, and while it doesn't "vent" in the traditional sense, in an outboard powered 27 (which it sounds like you have), any fumes have lots of room to move back under teh cockpit, since the underside of the 1/4 berth is open to the "garage" under the cockpit (where an IB would normally be - it's where I keep the inflatable and extra sails) the 1/4 berth has lots of room for any fumes to dissipate. Only problem is weight distribution. With the 27's OB all the way aft (85lbs), two 8-gal fuel tanks for the main OB (180-200lbs when full), the radar and mast (70lbs), dink under the cockpit (75lbs), the dink's OB on the stern rail (30-60lbs depending on which OB I bring), anchors & rode in the cockpit locker (50lbs), and 3-4 200-pound crew in the cockpit, I'd rather the battery weight was further forward. Some have put them under the V-berth, but then they're harder to get to, and cable runs are longer.
My set up.....
My 2 Group 27's are under the after settee, I have a 1977 dinette model, outboard, so there is tons of room under the cockpit. Unlike Peter, I keep my ground tackle amidships adjacent to the head for better weight distribution. I also keep my spare sails in the "garage" (vee berth) unless I have overnight guests then I stick 'em under the cockpit. The charger, combiner and switches are built into the outside wall of the seat. See the pic. Access is through a lift up panel under the cushion. I think this would be in the same general area as Peter's quarter berth location on the standard layout. Anyway the weight is pretty close to the middle of the boat and near the keel, and is offset by the fresh water tank and galley on the opposite side. Venting is through the large area under the cocpit. I think the starboard side is the best choice no matter what layout you have, because the galley and freshwater tanks are on the port side. That offers adequate balance to the batteries, holding tank and head on the starboard side.
My 2 Group 27's are under the after settee, I have a 1977 dinette model, outboard, so there is tons of room under the cockpit. Unlike Peter, I keep my ground tackle amidships adjacent to the head for better weight distribution. I also keep my spare sails in the "garage" (vee berth) unless I have overnight guests then I stick 'em under the cockpit. The charger, combiner and switches are built into the outside wall of the seat. See the pic. Access is through a lift up panel under the cushion. I think this would be in the same general area as Peter's quarter berth location on the standard layout. Anyway the weight is pretty close to the middle of the boat and near the keel, and is offset by the fresh water tank and galley on the opposite side. Venting is through the large area under the cocpit. I think the starboard side is the best choice no matter what layout you have, because the galley and freshwater tanks are on the port side. That offers adequate balance to the batteries, holding tank and head on the starboard side.
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