Moving battery over to Port side?

[henryb]

With no one aboard, my boat tilts slightly to the starboard side. I have tried to counter balance this by swapping the tool/fire extinguisher storage bin from driver side to passenger side, leaving the empty cooler bin on the drivers side. I'm sure it helped a bit, but not really enough.

I have heard that some people run with 2 batteries, and mount the extra on the port side, near the large oil tank. What I'm thinking of doing is just move my single battery from the standard location on the starboard side in the engine bay over to the starboard side somewhere.

But I want to ask what is the best way to accomplish this and keeping the battery mount plate secure to the floor? Then what to do with the heavy gauge battery leads? Do I go back to where they start and run new cables or just add extensions?

All suggestions are welcome! Thx in advance.


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[Dr Honda]

I've added a second battery to the 1800 with the Rotax engines... but not with the Merc. (but I did add one to my Merc Islandia)

Post a few pics of your bilge, and I'll let you know what I think.

 

[henryb]

For sure, I will snap up a couple photos this weekend for you.


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[henryb]

Here are 2 photos, one of the starboard side of the bilge, where the battery is; and the port side, where the blower, oil tank and muffler take up the space.
It looks like there is a nice flat platform where the blower hose is mounted, but we would need to put that somewhere else to fit the battery in there?


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[Dr Honda]

I would move the breather hose... and mount it between the oil tank, and the muffler. (I'm assuming that black cyl is one of the muffler)

 

[henryb]

Yes, that black cylinder is the muffler. I'm thinking that maybe removing the blower hose and have the blower take air from its mounting... Which is only about 1 foot difference... But I know some people have strong opinions about pointing the blower hose right at the carbs?


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[Dr Honda]

It doesn't need to be at the carbs... but it does need to be at the low point of the bilge. The reason is... gas fumes are heavy, and sink. SO... you need a suction point that is low in the hull to get them out.

It's not a "Strong Opinion" thing... it's an "Exploding Boat" thing.


With that said... the duct hose can be as long as needed. SO... if you cut back the blower tube some... you could put a hunk of flexible tube up around the oil tank, and down behind the fuel tank. (between the tank and the engine)



****EDIT***


Is the white tube the actual blower?


If that's the case... then if you move the battery... move the blower to the other side.

 

[henryb]

Exploding Boat thing seems to be fairly important! So a bit of re-routing with a new flex tube should do the trick... Excellent point about it having to be low in the bilge, I would have not guessed that one.


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[henryb]

Is the white tube the actual blower?

If that's the case... then if you move the battery... move the blower to the other side.

Yes that white tube is the actual blower motor housing.

Ah yes, that would be a fantastic solution, as there is a round vent hole on the other side above the battery, exactly the same as the one where the blower is mounted to!

The only thing that is a bit different is where the blower housing is mounted to the side of the hull, on the port side, there is a "raised plate" to hold rivets for the housing clamp, there is no "raised plate" on the starboard side? How would you hold the housing bracket to the side of the hull? Possibly with a strong marine adhesive instead of the rivets on that bracket? I'm not sure I would feel comfortable drilling holes in the side of the hull to put screws in? Your thoughts?


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[Dr Honda]

You could epoxy a block of wood in place to hold it. BUT... it's not that heavy, and you could just hang it in the flex tube. The one in my islandia isn't mounted to anything. (Just dangling from the deck lid, in a vent hose)

 

[henryb]

Yes, that's what I was thinking, it's not very heavy (I actually have a spare blower... since exploding boats are no fun)... So maybe epoxy or some type of water and oil resistant adhesive would do the trick?


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