Battery location

Kevin Kaldenbach · Post by **Kevin Kaldenbach** » Feb 4th, '10, 22:34

Has anyone ever removed the floor of the cabin. If so is there room for mounting batteries under it?

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Feb 5th, '10, 07:59

Maybe, there is but do you really want to reduce the water carrying capacity of your bilge?

I have always felt like there wasn't much volume in my bilge as designed. Raven has her holding tank in the aft end thus reducing the volume of water that could enter the bilge before it reached the cabin sole.

The other factor is that if you did have a flooding situation and needed your engine and or bilge pump, your batteries might already be flooded by sea water.

If there was room and the above factors were not a concern, you should at least go with sealed batteries. It would be great to have the weight in that position but there are other factors to consider.

It's hard to find room for everything, Steve.

tartansailor · Post by **tartansailor** » Feb 5th, '10, 08:08

I think it is a good idea.
Just be sure to tape over the vent holes in your battery box COVER so that you have an air pocket in case of a flood, and the boxes are secure.
That way your terminals will not short out.
It is an accepted practice.

Dick

Klem · Post by **Klem** » Feb 5th, '10, 09:20

I am doubtful that you will get batteries to fit but I don't think that it would be a bad idea if they did. As to the concern of the batteries going under water, it is common practice to put a dedicated starting battery somewhere else(like in the stock location) and echo charge it.

Kevin Kaldenbach · Post by **Kevin Kaldenbach** » Feb 5th, '10, 09:59

The idea came from a LaFette 44 I sailed across the gulf of mexico on. There were 4 8D batteries under his cabin floor. I was wondering about the possibility of flooding the batteries, especially since on that trip we were taking on 30 gallons of water every 4 hours.

I am certain that once I start setting my boat up for cruising larger battery capacity will become an important factor. This and the ever re accruing topic of the CD31s tenderness got me wondering where would be the best place for the extra weight of batteries.

cbrenton · Post by **cbrenton** » Feb 5th, '10, 10:32

I buiIt a teak battery box and secured it to the cabin sole at the bottom of the companion way. I cut off the companionway ladder and the battery box now is the bottom step.

Charlie Brenton
Carol Anne
CD 33

tmsc · Post by **tmsc** » Feb 5th, '10, 18:27

Charlie,

Would it be too much trouble to ask for some pictured of your battery storage modification. I have considered doing something like that. Thanks.

cbrenton · Post by **cbrenton** » Feb 5th, '10, 18:55

I don't have any pictures handy but I will be on the boat in a couple of weeks. I will take one and try to post it

Charlie

Duncan · Post by **Duncan** » Feb 5th, '10, 19:24

I haven't heard of any sailboats blown up by the hydrogen their batteries produce, but I'm still leery of flooded lead-acid batteries in the cabin, because of outgassing.

I'm also tempted by the advantages in boat trim and access, but I think that providing for undoubted ventilation to the outside would be a seamanlike approach?

tmsc · Post by **tmsc** » Feb 6th, '10, 10:57

Thanks Charlie. I am curious to see them.

Forrest · Post by **Forrest** » Feb 8th, '10, 20:41

Just listened to a great webinar on the subject. The title of the session was called "Advanced Charging System, Battery Bank, and DC Wiring Design", by Steve D'Antonio, produced by Pro Boat E-Learning. Excellent !

To see it - follow the link. https://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=euuj6o

To read more about the author - follow this link - http://www.stevedmarineconsulting.com

To read about other Pro Boat webinars - follow the link - http://www.proboate-training.com/

There will be other webinars that should be of great interest to CD Owners.

Forrest

Kevin Kaldenbach · Post by **Kevin Kaldenbach** » Feb 8th, '10, 22:25

Forrest,
Is this the weekend for the gulf fleet meeting?

Forrest · Post by **Forrest** » Feb 8th, '10, 23:04

Hi Kevin

The meeting is scheduled for 2/20 (the 3rd Saturday of the month), at 10:00, at the Pier 7 Club House.

The SSCA also meets on the same day.

"The Houston/Galveston SSCA Cruisers' Luncheon will be held at Joe Lee's Seafood Kitchen at 1108 Marina Bay Drive in Clear Lake Shores on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 1230 Hrs."

Hope to see you at both !!

Forrest

eb1smith · Post by **eb1smith** » Feb 9th, '10, 14:26

There is room under the table in the CD-31. Now is it big enough for batteries, I do not know, yet. One of my project is to cut an opening in that location to utilize the extra space for storage. I too would like to put a couple of T-105's down there if possible.

To answer a couple of issues.

1.) Reduction of bilge capacity. Two T-105 is equivalent to 12 gallons of capacity, the bilge in the 31 huge so this is not a big concern. Also you should have a high water alarm so that water does not get to that level.

2.) Batteries work even under water. Even so I have a starting battery that is up high in a locker.

3.) Hydrogen Gas rises and doesn't sink so gas build up is not a concern. But that being said I am still going to making sure the batteries are vented. I am thinking of running a vent tube up the side of the hull.

Now I just have to get the time to do the project. I will post pictures when this is done.

Cheers,

E Smith
s/v Larissa

Kevin Kaldenbach · Post by **Kevin Kaldenbach** » Feb 9th, '10, 15:31

Cathy, I found a post where you put hatches in the floor of your CD32 and it was nice to see all of the room under there. My questions now is do I need to remove the entire floor to cut the holes or can I do it with the floor installed? I am not a carpenter so any help would be greatly appreciated.

The Cape Dory Board

Battery location

Battery location

Batteries in the Bilge

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The importance of ventilation

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Room under table.

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