Battery Location Nonsuch 26c

[Thor Powell, Nonsuch 26, Victoria BC]

I currently have 2  wet cell golf cart batteries in a box located in the starboard lazarette.  Easy to keep an eye on.  

I am thinking of changing to carbon - lead.  Better performance and less maintenance. Given I will not be checking the water levels I was toying with relocating these house batteries.  

I could use one of the storage areas under the quarter berth.  However  I was wondering if anyone has placed batteries in the area under the steering quadrant.  If so how did you install the containment box.  

I am looking at 2 6V batteries . 380 - 400 amps and each weights 125 lbs.  So I am not moving on and off the boat LOL. 

[Tom Schoenhofer 26C#28 North Star Penetanguishene]

Hi Thor

My two old 100ah lead acid batteries are under the Starboard quarter berth. This is where they were installed at the factory. Two group 31 just fit.

If the batteries were under(near ) the quadrant, how would you get to the shaft coupling and rear of the engine?  If you had to , you would need to move those batteries.

Timely discussion because I was researching replacing the lead batteries with Lithium. However this idea appears dead in the water because my insurance company's rules about lithium batteries make it impractical to use them.

Tom

26C #28

Penetang

[Thor Powell, Nonsuch 26, Victoria BC]

I like carbon-lead as they are pretty much a drop in for the way the boat is run electrically and we're happy with that set up.  AS well they offer a step up in performance with out the issues of Li.  I thought of AGM's but I know too many folks who found their life span was very short.  Couple of folks I sail with have used carbon  for a few years and are happy with them 

I have access panels to the stuffing box in each of the quarter beths so I a not using the lazarettos.  I can nearly fit down there to the engine in any event and getting back out would be a nightmare. 

Since the carbon batteries are  sealed there is no real reason to visit them. I'd need access to the battery fuse.

[Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C.]

Thor,

 on La Reina the area under the quarter berth is not high enough to take a golf cart style battery. My group 31s are located there. They weigh about 68 lbs a piece. I wold not like to try to maneuver 125 lbs batteries in there. I seem to recall seeing pictures of batteries located just in front of the quadrant but I can't remember where I saw the photo. 250 ponds would require a well fastened base and boxes. Lifting the battereis up into the boxes would require a very strong agile person. And no I am not the man for that job.

Mark Powers

[Thor Powell, Nonsuch 26, Victoria BC]

I have two choices,  Go with 4 batteries @ 230 amps each.  OR two at  430 .  The 230 amp one will be 65 lbs each, so 250lbs the 430 are 127 each.  For handling I may use the smaller ones and just have two banks.  I have one battery box, just need to make another one.  I am heading to the boat today to scope out, what how and where to secure them. You are right not a simple task.  

I am disappointed you decline to lift my 250 lbs of lead...