I just bought a new water pump for my boat. Has anybody any good ideas on battery storage on board the boat? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

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Sean


>>>>>>>MEMBER OF THE S.S.F.D.<<<<<<<<<

Two questions for you, Seanie:

- Is the boat kept in the water, or is it kept in a cradle or on a trailer?

- Do you intend to use the boat through the winter, or are you laying it up until spring?

In my boats that don't have a dedicated battery compartment, I use plastic battery storage boxes. These boxes include a nylon strap and mounting brackets so that they can be attached to the flat floor (assuming your boat has such) so the battery doesn't tip over on bounce around when on the water or in transport.

The battery boxes also have better handles than just the battery making them easier to carry. They also protect the boat interior in the event that the battery would somehow develop a leak.

In boats that have a dedicated compartment, I just instally a battery tray with a similar hold-down device to keep the battery in place.

If you don't use your boat through the winter, I would remover the battery and keep it indoors. I've found that my marine batteries last an extra year or two since I started doing this.

OK, one word of caution on the pump. I assume you're talking about a bilge pump here?

If that's the case, make sure that your boat does not collect water in the bilge during the winter. If the boat is allowed to collect water because it's uncovered or the cover leaks and then it freezes, that will most likely freeze in and around the pump and destroy it. It doesn't have to get very cold to freeze a couple of gallons of water that's collected in the bilge. One night of -3 or -4 and that's all she wrote for that pump.

Hope this helps.

Grouse

To answer the questions....
---It's kept in the water during the season.
-- The boat will be taken out of the water in Corrib where it is at the moment and stored in a shed until Spring.

Sorry I forgot to mention that the pump I am refering to is a bilge pump and the boat is a 19ft lake boat. Here it is in this tread..Boat care

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Sean


>>>>>>>MEMBER OF THE S.S.F.D.<<<<<<<<<

I guess my main concerns with a battery stored on-board a boat that's kept in the water would be the risk of theft and how to keep it charged and ready for use.

Do you have shore power available so you can connect a charger to the battery, or do you have an electric start outboard with an alternator that will charge the battery when you're underway?

I have seen an increasing number of people who keep boats in marina slips are utilizing those small solar-powered chargers/battery maintainers. In fact, I was just thinking this summer about installing one of these back by my boat parking pad so I could keep all the batteries fresh between uses without hooking up a charger or maintainer. I'm not sure if these are an option in Ireland, but it's worth a mention as over here they are running about $40-60 depending on the power level.

As far as preventing theft (as much as is possible), I'd think you'd have to engineer some kind of built-in compartment, assuming your boat design allows for that. Commonly, these are under a seat or under the front casting platform (which I know doesn't apply in your case).

Thanks for the replies FG. Where I keep the boat has no power available,also my engine doesn't charge batteries.

I do like the idea of storing the battery under the seat. Maybe in a custom made secure box. I must look into that.

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Sean


>>>>>>>MEMBER OF THE S.S.F.D.<<<<<<<<<

Seanie, get onto Basil Shields, he has custom made battery boxes and switches that are fitted under the seat. Just got mine done and its a great job. PM me if you want his number.

Dibbler

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Confusious Say: "Upon seeing the shadow of a pigeon, one must resist the urge to look up"!

i have my battery at the very front of the boat in a seeled tank its a good job as you never see it or have to worry about it.my leeds are underneath the floor of the boat and i never have to take the battery out as the engine charges the battery. its a great way of doing it

Sounds great M8 but its too late for me to think about doing something like that

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Sean


>>>>>>>MEMBER OF THE S.S.F.D.<<<<<<<<<