Thanks Dave. I was thinking along how you described. Already have the battery box w/ straps in the existing position. Will have to extend a couple of other smaller wires that are direct wired to the battery (w/ inline fuses). I think I would run all the cables up along the bottom of the V berth aft to the compression post area where the charger and panel reside. I followed your lead on sealing off the aft gas locker a few years ago. Doing a new battery shelf can't be any worse than bending over into that aft locker, trying to get the glass strips up into place without them landing on your face :P Bill On Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 5:08 PM, W David Scobie <wdscobie@yahoo.com> wrote:
Bill:
wondered for your boat as my M17 has a fiberglass pan that goes way forward under the bow with spaces/nooks/attachments for potti, mast compression post, battery and a 'shelf' ... always guessed it was for a water tank.
i say if you are willing to take on the project move the battery on your boat. just build a pad, that you fiberglass to the hull, so you can attach the battery security strap. put it as far forward as you can reach (for both installing the pad and then reaching the battery). i suggest you use a battery box with straps -- secures the batter and a protection against acid spills (if wet cell) and keeps other items from getting in contact with the battery pos and neg posts. be sure that you don't make the pad to high that the battery box will not fit.
getting longer positive and negative leads isn't difficult. west marine may have 'stock' sizes that are long enough. just take your current leads with you to confirm the lugs are the correct size.
moving the battery would free up the port-aft 'locker' of the v-berth for easy access and, like you noted, be a good counter-balance to the crew in the cockpit. IMO the more useable locker space if the greatest advantage.
if you want pictures of how to do the above let me know.
:: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com
--- On Thu, 12/6/12, Bill Wickett <billwick@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks to Skip, Connie and Dave for replying so fast.
I should have explained the existing set up better. The boat already has a factory installed electrical system. with Group 24 battery, main switch, 8 position panel, 12V socket outlet, shore power connection with Guest 2 stage charger and AC outlet.
So I was polling to see if there have been any other battery locations, other than the factory set up, which puts the battery port side. I think I know where it can go, forward. Will involve setting a new battery shelf with tie downs in thickened epoxy over the centerline forward. Will have to be able to access it for seasonal removal, or topping up. Will run new longer battery cables aft to the panel and charger.
Has anyone else done this?
To answer your question Dave about the pan liner. No, it does not extend forward of the aft bunk bulk head. Under the V berth is just the hull, no liner. There are plywood shelves for the battery and under the pottie hatch. We use Wag Bags so use the pottie location for other storage when cruising. Mostly my wife's storage. I have a bin down the port qberth.
Bill
On Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 11:52 AM, W David Scobie <wdscobie@yahoo.com> wrote:
Bill:
Does the 'liner pan' under your v-berth extend forward of the spaces that hold the current battery location, compress post and the potti?
:: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com
--- On Thu, 12/6/12, Bill Wickett <billwick@gmail.com> wrote:
Asking if anyone has their battery mounted anywhere differently than the port side, just inside the bunk bulkhead on an
M17? I was
thinking of the possibility of moving it forward and on the centerline. Would need longer battery cables and a new fuse located close to the new location. The recent discussion on cockpit drains etc, got me thinking about shifting some weight forward, as well as away from the port side, since the main anchor is also stored on that side in the port cockpit locker. Since the boat is covered and stored, I will have to wait a few months to look this over.
Bill Makin' Time M17 #622