Who Has Squeezed The Most Batteries Into A 376?

[robertsapp]

The single 4D battery that makes up the house bank on our recently acquired 376 is totally inadequate for the job. It can only run the refer for about six to eight hours before dropping below 50% charge. We obviously need a house bank that's more in the 400 amp hour range or greater. Before I start ripping things apart, I thought I'd ask how others have approached this problem. There's only so much room in the port settee where the batteries live, and the keel sump doesn't appear to have the room to stash batteries in.

 

[charliegrau]

On my 380 there is a generator platform in the starboard stern locker. The swim step is a separate structure on the starboard side that can be removed to support generator install.. I have no generator, but that looks like a good spot for a bank of batteries. Maybe the 376 is set up the same way.
-charlie

 

[Calif. Ted]

How old is that battery ? What do you mean by 50%? It really sounds to me like the battery is weak if it's that depleted in only 6 hours by keeping the beer cold.

 

[Don Lucas]

The single 4D battery that makes up the house bank on our recently acquired 376 is totally inadequate for the job. It can only run the refer for about six to eight hours before dropping below 50% charge. .

Well you should start by fully charging the battery because it should last a lot longer than that.

 

[Allan Frey]

In my 376, I have two 4D batteries in the port settee. The trash can, in the compartment next to the sink, sits on the starter battery box.

allan

 

[robertsapp]

On my 380 there is a generator platform in the starboard stern locker. The swim step is a separate structure on the starboard side that can be removed to support generator install.. I have no generator, but that looks like a good spot for a bank of batteries. Maybe the 376 is set up the same way.
-charlie

It's not. On the 376, the only place to put a generator is to squeeze it into one of the cockpit lazarettes. Undoubtedly recognizing that many owners of a boat this large wanted a generator, Hunter redesigned the stern of the 376 as part of its replacement, the 380. They reduced the size of the tanks a bit and sliid them to port in order to make room to fit in the generator, redesigned the propane setup, and then changed the fiberglass on the rear end to make it all work. I have thought that dropping a pair of T105s in each lazeratte might help do the trick, but I don't really want the LONG cable runs I would need to reach the battery switch under the chart table.

 

[robertsapp]

How old is that battery ? What do you mean by 50%? It really sounds to me like the battery is weak if it's that depleted in only 6 hours by keeping the beer cold.

It's definitely tired. The broker and/or owner who sold us the boat told us the battery was "almost brand new," which I knew was a lie because the date stamp on the battery clearly said 2009. But I didn't mind, because the overall condition of the boat was excellent, the price was very fair and buying a new 4D is less than 200 bucks. But here's the thing. The specs on a Trojan 4D say it has a 165 amp hour capacity. The highest rating I've seen on a 4D is 200 amp hours, which is probably a manufacturer's exaggeration. That means that leaving the dock with a fully charged battery, I only have about 80 to 90 amp hours to work with. Here in Florida in the summer, the refer runs quite a bit, so it's probably using about 4 to 5 amps per hour. Then there's the stereo, the chartplotter, the instruments, lights etc. Now matter how you slice it, I've run the battery down to 50% in less than a day. Less than 12 hours if we're cranking the tunes and running several fans. So just putting a new 4D in won't solve the problem. I know I need to get our total bank capacity up in the 300 to 400 amp hour range. I just don't know where I'll put the extra batteries. So I'm curious how others have addressed this issue.

 

[robertsapp]

Well you should start by fully charging the battery because it should last a lot longer than that.

The boat always leaves the dock with a fully charged battery. See my description in the above post.

 

[robertsapp]

In my 376, I have two 4D batteries in the port settee. The trash can, in the compartment next to the sink, sits on the starter battery box.

allan

That would get me closer. Interesting idea using the trash can area. Keeps the cable runs fairly short. I was hoping I could build a box in the bilge, but when I measured there just isn't enough room under the cabin sole.

I've seen pictures where people have squeezed four golf cart batteries into the port settee, but I think I'd really like to have six in order to give us some extra capacity.

 

[geek_guy]

I have the older 37. The previous owner sailed the ocean blue. There are two batts in the batt box under stairs. 2 under the floor just forward of the stairs. 2 under the nav station. And 2 far aft behind the aft bunk where there is space for a gen. Not sure if these are the same options for you. But we surely have lots of capacity. The runs weren't that bad, but someone else did them. ;-)

 

[rfrye1]

FWIW.
I have 2 each of 4Ds, plus the start battery.

Bob

 

[robertsapp]

FWIW.
I have 2 each of 4Ds, plus the start battery.

Bob

Where do you keep them all?

 

[seadaddler]

4 D's/6volt

I was so happy and my back when my 2-4D's needed replacing and now have 4-6 volt Trojan's and could have added 2 more but I do have built in gen but even better
is the 2-190 solar panels over my Bimini that keep those batteries charged here
in Fl. and I have 2-ref that run 24/7 and much more battery eating things.
If you can think about some solar on your boat and as others have done get a Honda 2000 for charging and maybe even run the AC.
When we go cruising my solar keeps batteries nicely charged all day and do run Gen maybe 1 hour at night while watching TV.
Nick

 

[John Murphy]

Robert Sapp, I've an H376 ( 1997 ). The generator was placed in the master cabin in place of the single seat next to the bed. It was enclosed in an attractive wood cabinet. I don't miss the single seat when I'm " on the hook " enjoying Air-Cond., cold drinks, etc. Fair Winds......MURPH

 

[robertsapp]

Robert Sapp, I've an H376 ( 1997 ). The generator was placed in the master cabin in place of the single seat next to the bed. It was enclosed in an attractive wood cabinet. I don't miss the single seat when I'm " on the hook " enjoying Air-Cond., cold drinks, etc. Fair Winds......MURPH

Thanks, I think maybe I've seen some pictures of that installation. We had considered putting a washing machine in that location, but it looks like there's no way to get one through the doors into the aft cabin, it had to have been installed during new construction.

So what type of battery setup do you use? Because as nice as a generator would be, we'd much rather live off solar panels once we head out.

 

[ahansom10482]

I replaced the original 4D with two 6 volts (used the same battery box) and then added four more 6 volts under the seats right in front of the sink. Our boat doesn't have air conditioning so there was a perfect spot to add the additional batteries.

 

[Hoomalie]

H376 Batteries

I have 2 8D gels and a starting battery.Under the port settee I have one 8D plus the starting battery I also the inverter/charger. The other 8D is in the port aft lazeret, the long cable runs are not a problem if you use adequate wire.Tom Clark

The single 4D battery that makes up the house bank on our recently acquired 376 is totally inadequate for the job. It can only run the refer for about six to eight hours before dropping below 50% charge. We obviously need a house bank that's more in the 400 amp hour range or greater. Before I start ripping things apart, I thought I'd ask how others have approached this problem. There's only so much room in the port settee where the batteries live, and the keel sump doesn't appear to have the room to stash batteries in.

 

[seadaddler]

Bill

Bill & Mary from Punta Gorda have a older 376 and pretty sure they have
6-6volt batteries and they are going to live aboard so they must have plenty
of good info for upgrades.
A dish washer is not a good idea on a boat needing so much water,I think
solar is a good idea for keeping your batteries charged all day and maybe a Honda 2000 as backup like so many have done.
Nick

 

[Bill1565]

Bill & Mary from Punta Gorda have a older 376 and pretty sure they have 6-6volt batteries and they are going to live aboard so they must have plenty of good info for upgrades. A dish washer is not a good idea on a boat needing so much water,I think solar is a good idea for keeping your batteries charged all day and maybe a Honda 2000 as backup like so many have done. Nick

We took a pair of 6v batteries out after putting 420 watts of solar over the Bimini. We run an A/ B ref and an Engel freezer and only get down 50 or so AH overnight. Fully charged by noon.