How to Add Water to Ship's Batteries

[Leo MacDonald CD33]

Hi CD’ers (or is that 'Captains Commanding'),

Just finished watering the house (approx. 15-16 oz. each) and engine (approx. 8 oz.) batteries on ‘Evening Light’.

Now after spending half a day with my head down and butt up it dawned on me – I bet someone on ‘The CD BOARD’ has developed an efficient way to water the batteries.

What is a good tool / method for getting DI water into (not on or around) the batteries without overfilling? (The Braille method just doesn’t work here.)

Thanks.

Fair Winds All,
Leo MacDonald
Fast Sloop ‘Evening Light’ CD33
Subase NLon, Groton, CT



macdoreNOSPAM@aol.com

[Mario]

Turkey baster.

Mario
s/v Rhapsody
CD30 #252
Windmill Point, VA

Hi CD’ers (or is that 'Captains Commanding'),

Just finished watering the house (approx. 15-16 oz. each) and engine (approx. 8 oz.) batteries on ‘Evening Light’.

Now after spending half a day with my head down and butt up it dawned on me – I bet someone on ‘The CD BOARD’ has developed an efficient way to water the batteries.

What is a good tool / method for getting DI water into (not on or around) the batteries without overfilling? (The Braille method just doesn’t work here.)

Thanks.

Fair Winds All,
Leo MacDonald
Fast Sloop ‘Evening Light’ CD33
Subase NLon, Groton, CT

capedory252NOSPAM@aol.com

[Hanalei]

Captain MacDonald,

That Sir, is a LOT of water to be replaced in any battery? What happened? Were they continually overcharged, no or very low maintainence? How old are they? Maybe like a new bobstay, one should might consider new batteries for this fine new sailing vessel Evening Light? Hanalei launched at about 0900 hours yesterday, spars set, tensioned today with Loos guage and then bend on the brandy new Mack Mains'l to see how she sets. Ah, it snowed up here last night, crew not inclined to go sailing this day....fair winds....Oh, use a Turkey baster, ya turkey!!!!!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30c

Finally off of half-apy and back to sea.......

[Leo MacDonald]

Thank you Sirs,

As it turned out RA did loan me a 'Turkey Baster' but after the first battery it developed a leak in the rubber. From that point on I used a cleaned out 16 oz. water bottle. Upon returning home she took one glance at it and threw it in the trash - seemed uninterested in finding a new rubber piece(??) I think I'll buy a 'dedicated' Turkey Baster for boat's tools

Dave (Capt. Commanding the Turkey),
Re; " . . . approx. 15-16 oz. each ")
'Evening Light' has 3 Group 31 batteries (for 'cruising'). I am unsure if this is a normal re-watering. 'Heather Ann', with 2 Group 27 batteries, would take 8-10 oz. each at a watering. (She had a low-tech AC/SP Battery Charger that would overcharge if left on, boiling off battery water.)

So how about the 'Cruising Boats' - any thoughts/input on Battery DI Water consumption?

Thanks All.

Fair Winds All,
Leo MacDonald
(Mike T.'s dream boat, or is that 'nightmare') S/Y 'Evening Light' CD33
(in 21 days) Groton, CT



macdoreNOSPAM@aol.com

[Ken Coit]

$2 Turkey baster and a large 2"x3" $10 inspection mirror from Ace Hardware.


Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/36 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Hi CD’ers (or is that 'Captains Commanding'),

Just finished watering the house (approx. 15-16 oz. each) and engine (approx. 8 oz.) batteries on ‘Evening Light’.

Now after spending half a day with my head down and butt up it dawned on me – I bet someone on ‘The CD BOARD’ has developed an efficient way to water the batteries.

What is a good tool / method for getting DI water into (not on or around) the batteries without overfilling? (The Braille method just doesn’t work here.)

Thanks.

Fair Winds All,
Leo MacDonald
Fast Sloop ‘Evening Light’ CD33
Subase NLon, Groton, CT

parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com

[Larry DeMers]

That IS a lot of water to add back to the battery. Were the plates above water? If so, it is probable that damage was done to the cells that were dry, and that is irreversible. Dave's recommendation for new batteries is appropriate here.

A turkey baster is a good way to get the water into the cells, but it leaks a lot on the way to the cells. I use the hydrometer that I use to check the SPG with. It has a fairly large reserve area where the SPG is measured and a squeeze bulb so I use that to transfer the DI water to the battery when necessary (hasn't been needed since mid summer).

Dave..congrats on launching! The motion sure feels good, I bet. We got aboard this past weekend for the first live-aboard weekend of the year, and had to wade thru 3-4 ft. of snow to get to her. But Sunday, it was melting fast, with the ice starting to melt a little on the lake. We installed the "new" to us rebuilt alcohol oven that we bought from Joe Sankey, and it worked perfectly (all new burners, controls and needle valves/generators for this like new stove).
First meal was dinner saturday night..Chicken Parmesan with Marsala sauce over fettucini noodles and cheddar cheese, a good Lambrusco and an enjoyable friend/wife to share it with. Followed by several games of canasta and backgammon, we enjoyed the evening.

Cheers,

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30
Lake Superior

Captain MacDonald,

That Sir, is a LOT of water to be replaced in any battery? What happened? Were they continually overcharged, no or very low maintainence? How old are they? Maybe like a new bobstay, one should might consider new batteries for this fine new sailing vessel Evening Light? Hanalei launched at about 0900 hours yesterday, spars set, tensioned today with Loos guage and then bend on the brandy new Mack Mains'l to see how she sets. Ah, it snowed up here last night, crew not inclined to go sailing this day....fair winds....Oh, use a Turkey baster, ya turkey!!!!!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30c

Finally off of half-apy and back to sea.......

demers@sgi.com

[Chris Schnell]

Don't even remember where I got it (think it was a local NAPA) but some years ago I bought a black plastic bottle used in service stations to fill car batteries that has a compressible nozzle that when the water level gets into the nozzle it shuts down. Again, this was designed for batteries so it basically takes it up to the full mark. When you pull it out you may get a drop or two, but that's it. And you don't have to kill yourself to feel assured you're full. After all gang, I'm 6'5, 240...not an easy fit into a lazarette!...LOL. Trying to keep it simple.

Full Sails & Calm Seas,

Chris Schnell & Dale Hampton
s/v MADNESS III, CD30 #235
Southport, NC



swabbie@compaq.net

[Ken Coit]

Here you go, for a mere $16, no mirrors or strings required if you have the room. I wonder if you can extend the automatic part by adding a hose between it and the vessel.

This could make battery maintenance almost a joy if it weren't for those horrible hold down strap clamps. Does anyone know of an easy-to-use strap and clamp?

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/36 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Don't even remember where I got it (think it was a local NAPA) but some years ago I bought a black plastic bottle used in service stations to fill car batteries that has a compressible nozzle that when the water level gets into the nozzle it shuts down. Again, this was designed for batteries so it basically takes it up to the full mark. When you pull it out you may get a drop or two, but that's it. And you don't have to kill yourself to feel assured you're full. After all gang, I'm 6'5, 240...not an easy fit into a lazarette!...LOL. Trying to keep it simple.

Full Sails & Calm Seas,

Chris Schnell & Dale Hampton
s/v MADNESS III, CD30 #235
Southport, NC

[img]http://www.napaonline.com/images_produc ... l/9928.jpg[/img]
parfait@nc.rr.com

[Randy Bates]

I use a plastic squeeze bottle with a spout that is angled down. I believe they're used in chemical labs to put liquid in test tubes. And an inspection mirror. My next mod will be to attach a small flashlight to the mirror handle.



rtbates@austin.rr.com