battery location ?

[ALX357]

Have 2 batteries in hole aft of galley , boat heels to port, would like to move them fwd and closer centerline for better lateral balance and front weight, plus gain some prime storage area ? Any potential probs with carrying them in those plastic battery boxes, strapped to the forward flotation bulkhead just to the right of the ballast vent and near the centerline ( on 2000 model X) .... thinking if boxes were strapped to the fiberglass bulkhead after batteries were in and connected, they would be adequately restrained in the box and by the hull liner above , but accessible by unstrapping. Is there a constraint against this idea ?

[Frank C]

Many have mounted one or both under the forward dinette or adjacent to the ballast vent without problems. I'd sure want a stable platform, and then strap or bolt them to the flotation bulkhead. Some drawbacks are:

1. Much longer wiring run to the panel.
2. Ideal placement of permanent ballast - as close to center as possible

Doesn't seem that those two batteries should cause listing to port. Mine are both same spot, Galley-aft, with no listing. Any other gear that could be causing the list?

[jklightner]

I also have my 2 batteries in the same location. The weight is offset by a 20 gal water tank on the starboard side.

[Scott]

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... highlight=

Yo, Adrian

[ALX357]

List to port. well yes, i carry the boom in the portside aft berth, the clew end suspended from a bracket near the transom, and the tack end from an eye, strap and hook over the galley. it passes over the battery compartment and behind the deck post - the only place i found to keep it where it is mainly out of the way. the aft berth is no longer a place to sleep, i removed the cushions and filled the "floor" with large shallow plastic storage bins for life vests, sails in bags, etc. stuff that doesn't fit well into the built-in lockers. what a miserable place to sleep on a X anyway, with the control and steering cables, low overhead, difficult access and poor ventilation flow.
As for the battery extension, would "4-gauge" jumper cables stranded copper wire carry the current ok for the extra 12 or 15 feet. ?

[GARY WEEKLY]

I solved the same problem by cutting out a piece of plywood
and adding blocks to make it level and secure,, and than mounted my battery boxes to it,,this was in the forward hold on the center line.. I than went to the tractor supply store and bought 35 ft of there generic black battery cable and re wired everything to the isolator switch. I connect the charger to the contacts on the isolator switch still located in the port aft compartment,,works for me,,get the boxes at wal mart there the best i have found about 6.00 each with straps and everything.

[deacm]

I moved my 2 battteries up under the v berth as well, but ended up having to replace my battery cable run because it wasn't thick enough for that distance to be able to start the engine. I ended up using 'ought 2' cable..........but then again I had a 70 HP Evinrude with a big alternator so it needed to be a thick buggar. Worked fine then. I did the same thing over this past winter with my Mast 28 (Odin 820) to get the weight out of the rear transom area and more forward. Powersailing Center glassed in battery holders for me up front. The fat cable of couse is just for the engine cranking battery. My house AGM battery does not need that kind of overkill

[Catigale]

what a miserable place to sleep on a X anyway, with the control and steering cables, low overhead, difficult access and poor ventilation flow.

Ive slept in the port aft berth, but agree its a dark spot.....but read on, cruisers with kids...

ITs all in the eye of the beholder...when I wired up two nightlights it became the cave of choice for my twin girls, aged seven, which freed up the mid bunk and V berth for the Admiral and Captain...which led to near boating Nirvana..we still keep one big rubbermaid tub back there which divides the space into two caves (which they can cross between at the dark end though!!)

Inspiration for the cave concept came from this board (Duane, was that you and your amazing crew maybe?)