Where and How to mount dual Batteries on a 26x

[Demos]

I'm a new owner of a 1996 and in the process of getting it back in shape. One of the projects is to rewire the boat and I'm wanting to add a dual battery system. I understand the electrical aspects, but unsure exactly where and how to mount the 2nd battery. I've found lots of references to the wiring, but I've not found any postings that go into the details of the physical mounting

The existing battery is just left of the stove area (under the seat) which I assume is the factor standard location and bolted to the side. I've seen references to putting the second battery up front for better balance (or both up front) as well as both in the standard location (but that would seem to be a lot of weight off center.

Can someone send me pictures and any guidance on exactly how and where they've mounted 2 batteries ? Did you build a battery box ? bolt them to the side ? or where..

As a side note, I'm also adding a battery charger (ProSport 12 dual marine charger) and will add shore power in the future once I get the basics of the boat working again. I plan on keeping the breaker panel and other switches in the existing location (side of the stove area) as the previous owner already has holes there. I'll also have a 3 way battery switch, using tinned marine grade wire, etc.

Thank you in advance
-Dennis

[ris]

You can mount both batteries in that compartment aft of the galley. I removed everything from around the one battery including the battery holder put in a new floor and installed 2 of our 4 batteries in that compartment. Putting 2 batteries in that compartment will not affect the boat. The water ballest is a great equalizer.

[RGF]

I mounted twin 6v (paralled) 400ah AGM batteries under the forward (starboard) dinette seat strapped to the fiberglass wall under that seat. Just forward of that you will see a "glass" wall separating the flotation foam from the bilge. To that I attached a starboard mounted Magnum Energy 2800 w inverter/ charger with associated switch,fuse, battery monitor etc. I know that is more than you probably want/need but should give you some ideas....

[dlandersson]

Much the same as RGF, except I don't have AGM batteries and my perko switch & charger are just to the left of them. Very handy, all the battery stuff is in one location (pretty much).



and to the right, under the forward seat:

I mounted twin 6v (paralled) 400ah AGM batteries under the forward (starboard) dinette seat strapped to the fiberglass wall under that seat. Just forward of that you will see a "glass" wall separating the flotation foam from the bilge. To that I attached a starboard mounted Magnum Energy 2800 w inverter/ charger with associated switch,fuse, battery monitor etc. I know that is more than you probably want/need but should give you some ideas....

[Tomfoolery]

Two Group 24 12V batts under that tiny seat abaft the galley.



Photobucket rotated the picture on me, and won't let me right it, but if you turn your head sideways, you'll get the idea.

[Herschel]

I have my two batteries forward under the left hatch in the bow berth. The switch and charger are under the seat abaft the galley. I like this arrangement because the switching is near the hatch so I can conveniently check the status of the electrical system as I depart the boat and the weight of the batteries are forward where they help with getting on plane.

[Signaleer]

I have mine starboard in the aft dinnette sette. Lowest part of the boat / closest to the center.

[Demos]

Thanks for all the responses. Any chance I could bother some of you for additional pictures ? I'm specifically interested in how you mount/secured the batteries forward as well as in the more traditional locations. Did you built a platform to put the batteries on ? How are they secured to the boat ?

Thank you
-Dennis

[dlandersson]

As you can see in picture, there are battery boxes for each.

Thanks for all the responses. Any chance I could bother some of you for additional pictures ? I'm specifically interested in how you mount/secured the batteries forward as well as in the more traditional locations. Did you built a platform to put the batteries on ? How are they secured to the boat ?

Thank you
-Dennis

[Starscream]

Two Group 24 12V batts under that tiny seat abaft the galley.
:

Two group 27 12V batts under that tiny seat abaft the galley.

It was a tight squeeze, but they fit in there without cutting any fiberglass. In my boat there was a plywood shelf mounted in the bilge to support the batteries. Don't know if it was original or not, but it's a useful thing to screw the battery holder trays in to.

I had a complete survey done last year, as required by my insurance company. The inspector noted that the batteries weren't in trays and required that I add them.

[Herschel]

Thanks for all the responses. Any chance I could bother some of you for additional pictures ? I'm specifically interested in how you mount/secured the batteries forward

Roger that. My X is in a slip 45 minutes away. I expect to get up there this Thursday. I'll take the pics you requested.

[tlgibson97]

I had two batteries (a 24 and a 27) mounted as Tomfoolery above for a while. The boat had a bad list to port-aft due to all the weight on that side of the boat. I went against what many would probably recommend by removing the foam from under the v-berth and installed the batteries and charger in there on a shelf a built. I also added a 33 gal water bladder up there and that brought the boat level. A bit of a pain to get to though.

[Tomfoolery]

I had two batteries (a 24 and a 27) mounted as Tomfoolery above for a while. The boat had a bad list to port-aft due to all the weight on that side of the boat.

As does mine. Two batts, an 8 gallon water tank, and miscellaneous junk (like tools) on that side certainly don't help. So I try to balance it with other miscellaneous junk under the table.

[Bilgemaster]

Two Group 24 12V batts under that tiny seat abaft the galley.



Photobucket rotated the picture on me, and won't let me right it, but if you turn your head sideways, you'll get the idea.

Not that my hamfisted efforts to sort out the half-installed electrics left me by the previous owner should serve as a model for anyone, but for the record, my own 2001 Mac 26X's provisional dual battery layout is pretty much like Tomfoolery's, except I believe I have a Group 24 and a 34 side-by-side, both in Group 24 battery boxes still without lids for now (for handier testing with a nice little freebie Harbor Freight multimeter).

In short, they both rest on a found length of 4"x4" pressure-treated fence post wood that's maybe 2 or 2½ feet long with a sort of curved cut I made along one of its corner edges to better accommodate the curve of the hull. I painted the wood for a bit more resilience to any bilgedamp, and then just laid it lengthwise in the bilge, not quite flush against that somewhat higher "hump" that runs along the length of the bilge. The wood's maybe 2 inches or so from the hump. Together they make for a nice solid platform for the batteries in their boxes, while the gap between the hump and wood still allows any bilgewater to flow hither and non, as it will. The trick was to get the battery boxes situated first, and then lower the batteries into them from above. Both batteries just fit through that hole. Once it was all arranged and hooked up, I also jammed a nice hunk of styrofoam with a recessed bit in it from a shipping box I just happened to have around between the battery boxes and port hull. This keeps it all nice and snug for now, and the recessed bit in the styrofoam makes for a handy tray for the multimeter.

As I said, this arrangement is all quite "provisional", so nothing's permanently attached or strapped down just yet, until I see if all that weight causes any undue listing. So far everything seems just fine, but then I've only ever had her out twice. Once I'm satisfied, I may make more permanent secured arrangements. By the way, my Perko battery switch is installed on the nearby aft-facing wall of that "seat compartment"...handy, but not too handy.

Pretty straightforward, and I hope this description suffices, but short of pulling it all out to show the layout of the wooden base piece, I might add pix later, especially if anyone thinks they'd be helpful.

[Herschel]

quoting myself:

My X is in a slip 45 minutes away. I expect to get up there this Thursday. I'll take the pics you requested.

Here are some pics of my battery placement in the forward V berth port side and the control switch and charger in the compartment just aft the galley on the port side. the cables run just inside the ballast tank ridge on the port side. I especially like having a battery meter that plugs into a 12 volt receptacle---what we used to call a cigarette lighter! Hope this helps; it may take multiple posts to get in the relevant pics. Enjoyed a rum and coke followed by shrimp alfredo at my favorite restaurant near the marina.