Battery Advice Wanted

All, Winter Project.... one of many to come.... Magic (1979 Cal 2-27) currently uses two group-31 deep-cycle flooded batteries wired to a #1, #2, or both selector switch. Yes, we race, but we also cruise so battery AH capacity is warranted. Both are vertically mounted below the cockpit forward of the fuel tank and aft of the engine. I am looking at relocating the batteries to move weight out of the aft end of the boat. Since a "standard" group 31 battery will not mount in a vertical position in the salon lockers, I am thinking of using AGM batteries mounted on their side. At the same time, I am considering adding a "small" dedicated starting battery. Any experience others have had on such an endeavor will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!Michael

Michael, My batteries are in the same position as yours but on previous versions of the 227 they were installed under the two burner alcohol stove. In that version there was no cabinet door and the batteries could be accessed by lifting out the stove. The downside of this location is the loss of the cabinet for storage and the change in weight distribution. An additional change in fore and aft weight distribution fore and aft will also occur. When I originally purchased my boat in 1987 we had 3 Cal 227’s at our club, I found that my boat was three inches lower in the stern while sitting at the dock and correspondingly higher in the bow. John B CAL 227 #650 From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Monday, November 02, 2015 12:20 PM To: Cal_Boats Subject: [Cal_Boats] Battery Advice Wanted All, Winter Project.... one of many to come.... Magic (1979 Cal 2-27) currently uses two group-31 deep-cycle flooded batteries wired to a #1, #2, or both selector switch. Yes, we race, but we also cruise so battery AH capacity is warranted. Both are vertically mounted below the cockpit forward of the fuel tank and aft of the engine. I am looking at relocating the batteries to move weight out of the aft end of the boat. Since a "standard" group 31 battery will not mount in a vertical position in the salon lockers, I am thinking of using AGM batteries mounted on their side. At the same time, I am considering adding a "small" dedicated starting battery. Any experience others have had on such an endeavor will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Michael

This has always been on my "to-do" list, for the last 15 years. When I think about the process, I find more changes than simply relocating the battery boxes. - Relocation of the batteries may require changing wire size for the length of run. - AGM charge at a different voltage than wet cell. - replace the alternator? And wiring size change? - replace the shore power charger, same caveats above. - what are the current ABYC standards for wiring, switches. Bottom line is the original design worked for 12 years prior to our purchase. It has worked for us for the last 15. I have yet to have anyone provide sensible reasons to "fix" the original design. We don't race, we don't make extended cruises, I like to think we spend more time enjoying our sailing than working on the boat. YMMV John Raxter 336-210-8073 (m) > On Nov 2, 2015, at 12:19 PM, Michael D md… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > All, > > Winter Project.... one of many to come.... > > Magic (1979 Cal 2-27) currently uses two group-31 deep-cycle flooded batteries wired to a #1, #2, or both selector switch. Yes, we race, but we also cruise so battery AH capacity is warranted. Both are vertically mounted below the cockpit forward of the fuel tank and aft of the engine. > > I am looking at relocating the batteries to move weight out of the aft end of the boat. Since a "standard" group 31 battery will not mount in a vertical position in the salon lockers, I am thinking of using AGM batteries mounted on their side. > > At the same time, I am considering adding a "small" dedicated starting battery. > > Any experience others have had on such an endeavor will be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks! > Michael >

Michael, I have taken some weight out of the ends of Nemesis by moving the two group 24’s that came with her from under the V berth. Since I cruise occasionally, I have placed 3 Group 29 deep cycles for the house, and a single motorcycle battery under the starboard settee. That may have been the batteries original location, but when I got Nemesis the space was taken up by a 20 gallon auxiliary gas tank, which I eliminated. The batteries are controlled by a Blue Seas combiner and are wired into a 15 amp charger. This has worked well for me for the past 5 years, although the m/c battery is showing it’s age. The set-up offers over 250 amp hours to the house and provides a tremendous back-up to the start battery. Obviously you don’t need that much house power, but the concept of a minimal start battery and a larger house, when controlled by the isolator/ combiner seems to have some merit. When I do race, I switch out the 30# CQR for an 8 # Danforth anchor on the bow. The 8#er is my kedge anchor in cruising season, and it lives in the lazarette on 150 feet of nylon and 24 feet of chain. That rode and the CQR go on the dock, and I run 100 feet of chain from the anchor locker along both sides of the v-berth. I need to figure out a way to permanently store at least the 200 feet of 1/4” bow chain under the v-berth, but have not figured out the mechanics of routing it. I have no easy way to get into the area below the v-berth to deal with a tall chain pile, and wonder if anyone out there in Cal list land has thoughts on the matter. Fred Haas 3-30 Nemesis Tacoma On Nov 2, 2015, at 9:19 AM, Michael D md… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > All, > > Winter Project.... one of many to come.... > > Magic (1979 Cal 2-27) currently uses two group-31 deep-cycle flooded batteries wired to a #1, #2, or both selector switch. > Thanks! > Michael > >

hey guys thanks I have been crawling through Starboard lazz. to hook up jumper leads to run Garmin GPS ..those who know me know that its a TIGHT FIT ...went to.. boat and open door under cooktop and found the shelf that lifted out voila three batteries right there !! Cal 2-27 ...I love this list...edward On Monday, November 2, 2015 10:16 AM, "Fred Haas ca… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Michael,I have taken some weight out of the ends of Nemesis by moving the two group 24’s that came with her from under the V berth. Since I cruise occasionally, I have placed 3 Group 29 deep cycles for the house, and a single motorcycle battery under the starboard settee. That may have been the batteries original location, but when I got Nemesis the space was taken up by a 20 gallon auxiliary gas tank, which I eliminated. The batteries are controlled by a Blue Seas combiner and are wired into a 15 amp charger. This has worked well for me for the past 5 years, although the m/c battery is showing it’s age. The set-up offers over 250 amp hours to the house and provides a tremendous back-up to the start battery. Obviously you don’t need that much house power, but the concept of a minimal start battery and a larger house, when controlled by the isolator/ combiner seems to have some merit. When I do race, I switch out the 30# CQR for an 8 # Danforth anchor on the bow. The 8#er is my kedge anchor in cruising season, and it lives in the lazarette on 150 feet of nylon and 24 feet of chain. That rode and the CQR go on the dock, and I run 100 feet of chain from the anchor locker along both sides of the v-berth. I need to figure out a way to permanently store at least the 200 feet of 1/4” bow chain under the v-berth, but have not figured out the mechanics of routing it. I have no easy way to get into the area below the v-berth to deal with a tall chain pile, and wonder if anyone out there in Cal list land has thoughts on the matter. Fred Haas3-30 NemesisTacoma On Nov 2, 2015, at 9:19 AM, Michael D md… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: All, Winter Project.... one of many to come.... Magic (1979 Cal 2-27) currently uses two group-31 deep-cycle flooded batteries wired to a #1, #2, or both selector switch. Thanks!Michael