Having just added 4 Trojan T-105s to the startboard aft seat on [I]Blown Away[/I] to support our new Isotherm refridgeration upgrade, my brother has 4 additional golf carts from his boat he wants to give me. These are also near new.
I feel I could happily do with the extra capacity since with the kids computer games, DVD and TV we seem to need more legs when at anchor.
The 2kw Heart Freedom charger /inverter and new 100amp alternator should be able to handle the charging load.
Question is where to add the golf carts?... I put our Group 27 starting battery in the forward salon seat.
Has anyone put golf carts under the aft berth and if so, are there any tricks to doing that?
Triatica (GlennF)
s/v Blown Away
Sammamish, Wa
Hull #971
1989 Catalina 36
Universal M25xpb
As for putting batteries under the berth, I caution you not to smoke in bed as you could live up to your boats name Blown Away. I am surprized that our battery compartments do not have vents to disipate the hydrogen gas that may build up during high charge and discharge of the batteries.
Another issue with batteries under the berth (I assume you are speaking of the V berth forward) is that is moves a fair amount of weight forward. You want to keep the weight centered on the boat as much as possible so as not to increase pitching moment. As for other locations since you took up the space forward of the game table for a starting battery you could relocate the start battery behind the seat back at the aft game table and put a couple of the T105 in the forward position. If you look at some to the pictures of Tom Sokoloski's boat modifications he located his starting battery in this location.
I just recently upgraded to four T105 house batteries and installed a new charger, in looking for a good location for the charger I noted a ton of empty space under the chart table. The drawers under the chart table only go back about half way in this space, if resourceful you may be able to make a shelf and install a couple batteries there. I chose not to locate my charger there as I wanted access to it to check the charge status lights. A access door could be placed in the knee area under the chart table to service the batteries as the only other access would be to remove all the drawers and the facia they go in.
If you add four more T105's on the starboard side it will certainly get rid of any port list you may have, with a total of eight T105's and a group 27 you may be nearing the point of not needing a keel.
Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas
Steve - you're a blast, I love your humour. Thanks for the comments.
We are thinking about using the area under the aft cabin berth, but your point about the hydrogen explosion risk is rather sobering even though we don't smoke.
I've put our Freedom 2000 high up under the chart table, but we could put two Trojans on the floor behind the chart table seat... not pretty but functional... unless I make a teak box so it looks like it belongs there.
Triatica (GlennF)
s/v Blown Away
Sammamish, Wa
Hull #971
1989 Catalina 36
Universal M25xpb
Remember also that the gas from the batteries does not care if the source of a spark is a cigarette or an electrical spark!
Laura Olsen
Past Commodore
S/V Miramar
hull 938 (MKI 1989, TR,WK, M25xp)
Edgemere, MD
Glenn,
I've heard of some owners putting a few batteries under the galley sink. You would have to fiberglass some sort of mouting pad to the hull, but you can't get much better for a location. Low and centered. Also, it's a relatively short wiring run. Just a thought.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
Thanks everyone. Some good ideas here to explore / consider. Much appreciated.
Triatica (GlennF)
s/v Blown Away
Sammamish, Wa
Hull #971
1989 Catalina 36
Universal M25xpb