More ER space needed

[N4712]

Originally Posted by On The Rocks

I'm in the process of turning the aft bench of the dinette on my 36MKII into a battery box. I took the top off and made a hinged lid that seals with a gasket and vented the area through the bulkhead into the ER. Am now glassing the inside of the bench. I can get 6 or 8 golf cart batteries plus switches and busbars in the space.

What about the gasses that lead/acid batts give off?

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by N4712

What about the gasses that lead/acid batts give off?

Vented into engine compartment per OP

[N4712]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Vented into engine compartment per OP

Oh ok, that makes sense.

[Billylll]

Originally Posted by On The Rocks

I'm in the process of turning the aft bench of the dinette on my 36MKII into a battery box. I took the top off and made a hinged lid that seals with a gasket and vented the area through the bulkhead into the ER. Am now glassing the inside of the bench. I can get 6 or 8 golf cart batteries plus switches and busbars in the space.

Are you talking about the dinette seat that is in the forward cabin across from the galley? I assume the one that backs up into the vertical raised floor where the engine room is?
I guess this could be a good alternative but I wanted the weight centered and lower above the belly diesel tank forward near the ER's bow facing wall.
Bill

[richterpooh]

Bill,
I used 5200 to attach a 2' length of 2x2 spruce to the side of my aluminum fuel tank. This 2x2 supports a plywood shelf on which I often stand while climbing in or out of the cockpit locker. Mounting your 3/4 ply baseplate to the top of your fiberglass tank is easy. You won't need the screws. Just be sure you want that ply there FOREVER.

[Billylll]

Originally Posted by richterpooh

Bill,
I used 5200 to attach a 2' length of 2x2 spruce to the side of my aluminum fuel tank. This 2x2 supports a plywood shelf on which I often stand while climbing in or out of the cockpit locker. Mounting your 3/4 ply baseplate to the top of your fiberglass tank is easy. You won't need the screws. Just be sure you want that ply there FOREVER.

Thanks Mark, I agree now I'm wondering if I can 5200 the dual 8D battery box directly on top of the FRP belly tank? I wanted the 3/4 marine plywood to spread the load out. I may have answered my own question....
Bill

[On The Rocks]

Originally Posted by Billylll

Are you talking about the dinette seat that is in the forward cabin across from the galley? I assume the one that backs up into the vertical raised floor where the engine room is?

I guess this could be a good alternative but I wanted the weight centered and lower above the belly diesel tank forward near the ER's bow facing wall.

Bill

Yes that's the location I chose. You are correct that it isn't on the center line. I'll put the batteries as close to center as I can. It is about the same level as the top of the fuel tank. My generator is mounted on top of the fuel tank.

[Billylll]

Interesting my generator is mounted at the rear wall of the ER against the bulkhead to the aft cabin, locker and aft head. It's mounted sideways with the weight on dead center.
Bill

[Bay Pelican]

BillyIII

Do I understand this correctly? You are thinking of mounting two 8-Ds on top of a fiberglass fuel tank.

If that is correct I am concerned that the tank is not designed to hold that amount of weight on its top, and second that by putting that amount of weight above the hull level you may affect the stability of the boat.

Can you move something else to the top of the tank, say fresh water pump, racors, anything that wouldn't have the weight of a battery bank?

[Billylll]

The weight would be spreadout using an oversized 3/4" piece of marine plywood painted bilge coat gray. The tanks very thick there's no way 4 DEKA Unigy 1's spread out over a large area could compromise the thick FRP belly tank. I'm also told by another owner of the same model that there is a thick FRP cover over the area I want to install the battery bank on. I want the weight dead center of the boat. Another Gulfstar owner has his generator mounted where I want to put the house bank. It's a relatively small house bank 420AH's but because I'm using solar and wind alternative charging I shouldn't need a larger house bank. The cover over the tank is where everyone stands who has ever worked in the ER.
Bill

[On The Rocks]

Originally Posted by Billylll

Interesting my generator is mounted at the rear wall of the ER against the bulkhead to the aft cabin, locker and aft head. It's mounted sideways with the weight on dead center.
Bill

They are all just a little different. I have a workbench where your genset is. It works well because there is a hatch directly above the workbench where I can stand without having to stoop over.

Regarding the other post about the strength of the tank, that won't be a problem and if you place the batteries any lower they would be in the bilge, not a good place for electricity 😛

[Billylll]

The batteries wouldn't fit in their container in the bilge. Plus there is only enough room for the bilge pumps down there and I believe some raw water intakes.
There is a hatch directly above my generator. In fact there are 2 larger hatches for the enines and at least 2 possibly 3 smaller hatches as well as access if I remove either set of (the galley or aft cabin) stairs.
Thanks,
Bill