Cutting a battery access panel?

[idratherbeboating]

The engine battery on my '18 R29 CB is fried. I went to replace it and realized it is buried deep and all four house batteries need to be removed first. And even then, I'm going to need long arms and a flexible back.

If I eyeball it, it looks to me that you can remove the outdoor fridge and then cut a big access panel in the floor and get at the engine battery from the top.

Anyone do this? Tips? Photos? Regrets?

Or any other ideas how to get better access to the engine battery? Given this is probably the most important battery on the boat, it's a bummer it is so buried.

Thanks,
Austin

 

[BradOwens]

I worry that cutting large holes in any part of the boat could affect the structural integrity. Every part of a fiberglass structure supports every other part.

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Our 29CB came with a hole cut beneath the fridge. I checked with the factory about enlarging it a bit. They said OK, but it will take a stout sawsall to do the job. This does not appear to be a spot that is likely to affect structural integrity.

you have pulled the fridge already, I hope, to see if there isn't a hole? And when you rewire, be sure to put the start battery at the aft end of the bank!

Good luck. Wear a mask!

 

[Hydraulicjump]

One more thing. We swapped out our start battery for a higher CCA battery. The factory battery just lacked the ooomph to start the engine reliably, requiring paralleling the batteries. So consider upgrading if your start battery is truly shot. Seems a little young for that, but the factory batteries are kind of hit and miss.

 

[idratherbeboating]

Our 29CB came with a hole cut beneath the fridge. I checked with the factory about enlarging it a bit. They said OK, but it will take a stout sawsall to do the job. This does not appear to be a spot that is likely to affect structural integrity.

you have pulled the fridge already, I hope, to see if there isn't a hole? And when you rewire, be sure to put the start battery at the aft end of the bank!

Good luck. Wear a mask!

Thanks! did your boat have just a hole or was actually a hatch installed? Mine seems to be solid, unfortunately...

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Just a jagged hole. Looked like the folks at the factory got impatient and just cut in access.

Also, although the batteries sit on a tray made of starboard, I haven't been able to figure out how to slide it out. Of course 300+ pounds worth of batteries would make it hard to slide anything out.

 

[Rocky]

I had to remove the 2 inboard batteries (for project access) last weekend. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
I had both batteries out in about 20 mins. The second two would be easier with more access of the first two missing..

My thought is that is a big hole you'll be cutting to work that battery up through. I think I would avoid cutting that big of hole myself.

I hope that helps.

Rocky

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Right. I did some project work in there too (wired in a Balmar Smartgage that I mounted above the sink). The current hole is not really big enough to get a battery in and out, but it is big enough that I can get to all the forward batteries and take their cables off and/or clean them. Really useful access. You will find that the deck is really thick in there.