CD 28 battery relocation?

[Jack Schuhmacher]

I would like to relocate the batteries in my CD28 to rebalance the boat, Currently it sits a bit low in the stern. Rather than add balast forward it seems like it would be better to redistribute the heavy items on the boat. I have thought of moving the batteries or some tanks to the bilge, to do so would mean removing or modifying the shower sump or dry bilge that is over the main bilge. From looking at the dry bilge I do not think that it is structural due to it's shape, a U atached at the tops of the U would seem to act more like a spring than an actual load carrying part of the boat. Even if it carried some load it seems that it could be replaced with more efficent stringers. Any thoughts from those who have done or thought some about this project would be appreciated.
Jack



jschuh@wt.net

[Kurt]

I relocated the battery on my CD26 from the cockpit locker to the aft end of the vee bunk locker and added a 2nd battery and selector switch at the same time. I am very pleased with the weight re-distribution that resulted. Now I don't have to keep the water tank full in order to get the boat to sit on it's waterline. I should add that because the vee locker is not ventilated, I only use sealed, gel type, deep cycle batteries.



kjlgpw@aol.com

[Mike Thompson]

Why does it matter that the boat is low in the stern?
I haven't noticed any effect on the sailing.

I do however keep full the water tank in the bow.
Also the previous owner moved the edge of the bottom
paint and the boot strip UP by one and a half inches
and that was a great idea. Topsides now don't get
stains from oil, grass etc.

Mike
HAVEN CD-28

I would like to relocate the batteries in my CD28 to rebalance the boat, Currently it sits a bit low in the stern. Rather than add balast forward it seems like it would be better to redistribute the heavy items on the boat. I have thought of moving the batteries or some tanks to the bilge, to do so would mean removing or modifying the shower sump or dry bilge that is over the main bilge. From looking at the dry bilge I do not think that it is structural due to it's shape, a U atached at the tops of the U would seem to act more like a spring than an actual load carrying part of the boat. Even if it carried some load it seems that it could be replaced with more efficent stringers. Any thoughts from those who have done or thought some about this project would be appreciated.
Jack

tmiket@ma.ultranet.com

[Ken Cave]

You might try adding weight to the pointy end of the boat-like lots of chain for your anchor!

The former owner of my Cape Dory 28 intended to do some blue water sailing off the coast of California-but only with cold beer. So he installed a frig system (among other things) and five batteries (one in the bilge) To counter the weight, he also added 300 feet of 5/16th high tensil chain and a Maxwell 500 windless.

Boat looks it is floating just perfectly-and the extra weight really makes it sail great! (of course he added a whole new set of sails with a roller furler, etc.-but that is another story!)

Ken Cave
Cape Dory #227
Dragon Tale



bcave@whidbey.net