Has anyone moved the batteries under the V-berth of a 2320?

[SBH2OMan]

Well, the time has come for a repower, and she's going down to the shop tomorrow for the estimate for all the work. (Honda BF225 that I'm getting a great deal on).

As part of the project, I want to move the batteries out of the transom and up under the v-berth so that my wife and her girlfriends don't have to take off their shoes to stand in the 2" of water in the cockpit during dock parties...

Has anyone moved their batteries forward in a 2320? If so, what location did you pick, did you put them on the sides or along the keel in a line? What brand of batteries did you use (and why?).

I have regular flooded marine batteries in the transom for starting and house, then a separate Optima battery under the "galley" cabinet for running the stereo and electronics.

Thanks,

 

[DaleH]

A poster here once cut open the helm cabin floor and built a tray down in there to house his batteries. Maybe someone else remembers that poster's name or where to find it ...

 

[grouperjim]

My advice would be to save your money on moving the batts and spend it on a motor with less weight. Moving the batts will be an expensive project.

If you do decide to move the batts inside the cabin, you should use batts that don't off-gas such as AGMs.

 

[Megabyte]

If you do decide to move the batts inside the cabin, you should use batts that don't off-gas such as AGMs.

Correct. I would never put flooded cell batteries in the cabin or v-berth.
Hydrogen off-gassing would be an explosion hazard in a confined space with flooded cell batteries.

I have considered using one (or both) of the storage wells in my v-berth for battery storage, especially if I add a windlass sometime in the future.
Those wells are large enough for two batteries once a proper flat floor is glassed in, and if it were my boat, the port side would be the logical place.

I presently have a pair of blue-top Optimas in my stern, but when I replace them next spring (installed back in 2003), they will be replaced with Lifeline AGM's.
The Optimas served me well, but the Lifelines could very well outlast me and the boat.

 

[SBH2OMan]

I'm replacing a 2-stroke so there is no such thing as a lighter engine. Moving to a 4 stroke will add ~100lbs of weight on the stern.

I know about not using regular batteries inside the house. I've actually seen batteries explode several times. It really does happen. ;-)

Glassing in trays was the sort of info I was looking for. How, where, etc. to me it's worth $800 to not have to stand in an inch of water all the time when there are 2 people in the back.

 

[jeffnick]

Might also consider raised flooring to keep the footsies out of the water and give the sand/dirt a place to go.

 

[Parker23]

What year is your 2320? Do you have that useless in floor storage box just outside of cabin door like on the 2002 model? I always wanted to put my batts in there.

 

[SBH2OMan]

Its a 1993 and yes, it has a useless "Fish box" just outside the cabin door. However, it gets REALLY wet in there because the deck door doesn't seal for s**&t. We decided instead to cut a hole in the floor inside the main cabin between the galley and the dinette (unused space) and then glass in a deck for mounting the batteries (three of them - two house, one starting). All the switches will be mounted either inside the hatch or inside the fiberglass box that the helm chair sits upon.

Now I'm shopping for Group 27 AGM batteries... I have one Optima blue top and wondering if I should just add two more of the same.

 

[Megabyte]

Group 27...
http://www.bdbatteries.com/rvflyer.php?id=2

and Group 31
http://www.bdbatteries.com/rvflyer.php?id=3

http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marineflyer.php?id=2

I will be putting Group 31 batteries in my boat in the spring.

 

[SBH2OMan]

Group 27...
http://www.bdbatteries.com/rvflyer.php?id=2

and Group 31
http://www.bdbatteries.com/rvflyer.php?id=3

http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marineflyer.php?id=2

I will be putting Group 31 batteries in my boat in the spring.

WHOA those are 'spensive batteries!!!

 

[Megabyte]

Group 27...
http://www.bdbatteries.com/rvflyer.php?id=2

and Group 31
http://www.bdbatteries.com/rvflyer.php?id=3

http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marineflyer.php?id=2

I will be putting Group 31 batteries in my boat in the spring.

WHOA those are 'spensive batteries!!!

True... But cared for properly, they will probably outlast the boat.

 

[grouperjim]

there was a guy here (i'm thinking a CA owner) who "hid the batts in plain sight" so to speak. there were some great pics to go along with this project but i can't find the thread.

essentially, he put two batts end to end right in front of the step down into the cabin. he built a nice box around them made of starboard. if I remember correctly, the batt cables/wires exited to starboard and then aft along with the rest of the boat wire bundle under the stbd gunwale.

 

[Brent]

Do you have ball scuppers?

http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=55


fwiw I buy Walmart or Sam's Club batteries

 

[SBH2OMan]

Do you have ball scuppers?

http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=55


fwiw I buy Walmart or Sam's Club batteries

I do have the ball scuppers, but a different brand. I need to replace them though - they don't always seal very well as they are "dried out" a bit and brittle.

 

[SBH2OMan]

Update to this thread: We decided not to move the batteries at this phase of the project. My plan is to see how she handles with the kicker motor removed and some new scuppers in place, then make a decision as to whether or not to spend the money on moving the batteries.