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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Battery Access and charging.

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/13/2006 : 09:28:02

Yesterday I went to pull the original battery out. I knew it would be tough (tried before and failed), I figured out why.

Using the hold down strap that passes under the battery box in the stern trunk, I was able to raise the battery so that the terminals hit the top of the space (the underside of the fuel locker/cockpit floor). But the battery box needed to rise an additional 3/4 of an inch, not going to happen.

My solution was to cut down the fiberglass battery bay front so I could pull it out by just lifting it 3/4 of an inch and sliding it forward.
Now I'm effecting a repair of the area, I'm going to leave the front open so future servicing is a breeze, I'll relocate the holddown strap to the new front edge of the holder.
Plan is to fill the voids with expanding foam (can), trim off the excess, then fiberglass the exposed surfaces, when all done, a nice spray of white paint to make it look pretty.

Now why?
I can only think of two things that would create this issue.
1. The battery was installed prior to the cockpit being mated with the hull. (Possible, but unlikely)
2. The battery holder molding was originally installed too far aft, effectivly raising it as the hull rises towards the transom.

Note: we have wheel steering, so the push pull cables run above the battery, but the terminals hit the deckhead before the battery hit the cables, so I'm pretty sure that having wheel steering was not the issue.

Ok, now that the batteries are out, I charged the original battery overnight. this morning it reads 12.54v and an SG of 1.145.
According to Casey, it should be around 12.63volts and an SG of 1.265. Something is wrong. The SG would appear to be low.. need to add battery acid. What's the best way of doing that? (I have a bottle of battery acid that has a neat pouring system, but do I just add a few drops to the cells, or should I dilute it before adding?)

Using Casey's formula V = SG + 0.84

V = (6*(1.145+0.84))
V = (6* 1.985)
V = 11.91volts.

Doesn't equate!
Paul.

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2006 : 11:12:04

Every article I have ever read states that you NEVER add acid to a battery. Water only (preferably distilled). I've had a lot of luck rejuvenating batteries with some of the new 'smart' chargers like the Battery Minder. They supposedly desulfate a battery and restore it. I have actually seen this work with a riding lawnmower battery and a truck battery. Here's a site with a lot of good battery information:

http://www.solar-electric.com/deep_cycle_batteries/deep_cycle_battery_faq.htm#

Edited by - on

britinusa
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Response Posted - 08/13/2006 : 18:22:49

Update,
Now that the battery bay is open for inspection, I measured from the top of the battery bay to the deckhead, it is 8.5 stbd side and 8.75 port side.
The battery is over 10" tall!!!!!! I just cannot see how they installed that battery after build.

Paul.

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 14:18:11

Paul,
My battery was a tight fit, but I was able to remove it last spring.
Here's what worked for me.
1-Remove the hold-down strap from the battery holder.
2-Remove the battery holder lid.
3-Check for a tight seal on the battery cell covers.
4-Tilt the battery forward on it's side.
5-Slide the battery out.
6-Hope acid doesn't leak.

Since removing the battery was such a hassle, I added 20 feet of #8 wire and mounted it on the battery terminals.
The wire was in my garage after a hot tub project.
Now, the wire is always connected and I keep it coiled in the aft berth (with insulators so they don't short).
After each trip, I put a battery charger in the cockpit and connect the wires.
This was a temporary solution because I wanted to remove the bulkhead and mount a connector near the outboard, but that's another project.

Russ (#793)

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 18:36:46

Russ,
I was able to raise the battery easily by just pulling on the strap, but as you pointed out, it would require tilting the battery fowards and you know acid would spill out. Not good. My mod makes it really easy yet will hold the battery in place firmly.
BTW, is your battery in a container box?

I have installed a Guess dual battery charger on the stbd side above the trunk bulkhead, in the past all I had to do was run an extension cord into the Q-berth and connect to the plug on the end of a pig tail connected to the Guess charger. However, now that I have a 110v panel in the bathroom I'll run a cable directly to the charger so that I can charge from shore power. (I have already made up an adapter to connect a standard household extension lead to the shore power connector).

Paul.
Paul.

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 19:07:36

Paul,
Yes, the battery is in a container box.
Both the battery and the container box are original equipment.
The good news was the battery didn't leak when it was turned on it's side.

I have a portable 3-stage "Smart Charger".
It was on clearance when the Boat-US store closed (after the West Marine buyout).
Someday, I have a dedicated charger and shore power.

Russ (#793)

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 21:12:22

This must be related to WB models, I have tons of room to move my batteries around. In the picture below I mounted the plywood on top of the existing single battery tray and then mounted two 27 deep cycles on the plywood. Its hard to tell in the picture but the plywood is about 3 inches up off the hull on top of the tray. No problems taking them in and out.

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2006 : 01:01:11

My battery solution is to remove the wet battery and install a maintenance free gel battery. Costs more but hassle free; no acid to worry about. A gel replacement for a Group 24 is about 190 bucks at WM.

Edited by - AADIVER on 08/24/2006 11:11:31

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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2980 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2006 : 12:04:06

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Update,
Now that the battery bay is open for inspection, I measured from the top of the battery bay to the deckhead, it is 8.5 stbd side and 8.75 port side.
The battery is over 10" tall!!!!!! I just cannot see how they installed that battery after build.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I'm thinking that a laborer at Catalina installed a group 27 battery rather than a group 24. Perhaps the WK is getting a group 27 because it has more headroom and the laborer wasn't paying attention.

At any rate, my WB will only take a group 24, which is about 8.5 inches tall... the height noted in your post between the box lip and ceiling. The specs list a group 24 for the boat.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2006 : 13:16:02

Ah! you may have it Arlyn, I'll check the boat this evening (while I'm putting on the new tarp that I'll buy after work :(
Paul.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2006 : 13:19:38

Arlyn, there was a 24 in my WK when I got her. Not sure if it was the original equipment or not. It was one of those "Dual Purpose" starting/deep cell batteries. If I remember right the 27 would not fit in my stock battery tray.

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britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/24/2006 : 19:31:32

Just checked the battery:
It's a "NAUTILUS MARINE/RV DUAL PURPOSE - STARTING/DEEP CYCLE BATTERY"
NC-24 Height = 9.5"! The modified battery tray just requires a bit of sanding then a coat of spray paint.

Paul.

Edited by - on

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