Offer is in, hope to join the Hatteras Family Soon!! Battery question?

[rustybucket]

Hello All! We have submitted an offer on an '86 52' Convertible. Looking like the deal is hopefully going to happen so I'm ready to start asking questions.

I'm trying to wrap my brain around the 32v system. I've done A LOT of reading on here and think I have an understanding, just wanted to see if I am understanding this correctly....

The boat has 8v92's, not sure if that matters or not.

There are currently 4 x batteries aft of the genset on the port side. I am assuming these are the house bank?

There are the long battery boxes in the floor of the engine room. I am assuming these boxes will hold 4 or 8 batteries? These batteries were removed, so I cannot just look to see how many there are.

I'm assuming there should be 4 x for house, 4x for port engine cranking and 4x for stbd engine cranking, equaling 16 batteries total. That sound correct?

Would it be beneficial to keep the house bank a true deep cycle type battery and keep the starting banks a true starting battery? Or should all the batteries be the same type/group?

Like I said I've read quite a few threads here on battery choices so I have a good grasp on the pros and cons of going with the rolls vs. golf cart batteries. What I don't have a good handle on is what sizes/groups the batteries need to be....? For instance, if we were to go with the Rolls, what size would we need? If we were to go with the golf cart batteries, what size would we need?

Thanks in advance for answering a question that has probably been answered before. Also if there is any updated battery info please feel free to shed light on it.

 

[Boatsb]

You are missing 4 8 volt batteries outboard of the port engine just forward of its center. They are terrible to get to.


The engines need 4 each 8 volt batteries. Starting those beasts is not for the faint of amperage.

Is the boat running? What batteries did the surveyor find?

 

[rustybucket]

You are missing 4 8 volt batteries outboard of the port engine just forward of its center. They are terrible to get to.


The engines need 4 each 8 volt batteries. Starting those beasts is not for the faint of amperage.

Is the boat running? What batteries did the surveyor find?

Thanks for the reply. The only batteries on the boat are 4x aft of the generator.

The engines are in crates, newly remanned, we are purchasing on the downslope of a re-power. So it would be quite easy to get the 4 port batteries in before dropping the engines in as long as they don't interfere with putting the engines in.

 

[Boatsb]

Where's she located?

Is there a chance to put better engines in her while the Detroit's are out?

They're ok engines but newer technology is so much better.

 

[rustybucket]

Where's she located?

Is there a chance to put better engines in her while the Detroit's are out?

They're ok engines but newer technology is so much better.

We considered it, but after reading quite a bit and talking with several people I think I'm starting to like the Detroits more and more.

 

[rustybucket]

You are missing 4 8 volt batteries outboard of the port engine just forward of its center. They are terrible to get to.

Ouch... yeah, I see the location of them in the pics I took. That is a pretty tough place to access for sure.... Anyone relocated them elsewhere? Not sure where else there is to put them though....

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Ouch... yeah, I see the location of them in the pics I took. That is a pretty tough place to access for sure.... Anyone relocated them elsewhere? Not sure where else there is to put them though....

It's a tough place alright. But on my boat, I've found with a fan blowing and a towel for a pillow that it's not a bad place to catch a nap. I mean while you're back there and all.

 

[SEVEN]

it's a tough place alright. But on my boat, i've found with a fan blowing and a towel for a pillow that it's not a bad place to catch a nap. I mean while you're back there and all.

lol

 

[Boatsb]

Qsm11's would let you walk around the engines to get to the batteries.

I'd not put Detroit's back in if i had a choice. Theyre old technology and heavy compared to the current options.

 

[rustybucket]

Qsm11's would let you walk around the engines to get to the batteries.

I'd not put Detroit's back in if i had a choice. Theyre old technology and heavy compared to the current options.

I'd agree that the QSM's are nice, but they have had their fair share of issues as well. Pretty much all the newer technology diesels have been shown to have weaknesses. They are pushing a lot of ponies out of those smaller blocks and small problems can turn into big bills very quickly.

It's hard for me to argue with two new 8v92 reman engines and engine bays prepped for their entry, new mounts, exhaust all ready to go...etc

To each his own but we will be staying with the detroit iron on this project.

As to the old technology aspect... yeah, they are old, no doubt, but you have to admit they were advanced far beyond their time, roller rockers, common rail fuel system....etc. I kinda like the fact there there is no ECU or injector pump to deal with either.... The 8v92's are a proven solution that the boat is already setup for. To change at this point would be big $$$$$$ and also a big time consumer.

 

[SEVEN]

Welcome to the Hatteras Family and this outstanding Forum.

 

[rustybucket]

It's a tough place alright. But on my boat, I've found with a fan blowing and a towel for a pillow that it's not a bad place to catch a nap. I mean while you're back there and all.

Nothing like a little hydrogen gas to make you have sweet dreams!!

 

[krush]

We considered it, but after reading quite a bit and talking with several people I think I'm starting to like the Detroits more and more.

You've been talking to the wrong people. Anybody that runs a boat for money or puts lots of hours on the boat would be a fool to keep detroits. First off, the same speed, you'd likely get at LEAST 20-33% reduction in fuel burn.

I have same boat as Boatsb.....but mine has cummins. His WOT is my easy cruise...and I burn much less fuel doing it.

With that said, since I'm spending somebody else's money, I think m11 is a little small for a 52c.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Nothing like a little hydrogen gas to make you have sweet dreams!!

It really is a nice spot unless you've been running. I'm usually over there to check the batteries, so the charger is ALWAYS off. It's tight going around the front of the port motor, and the PO evidently also found that to be true. On my first day on the boat I added four gallons of distilled water to four 8D Dekas.

You have to be willing to go where no previous owner has gone before, and you need to make sure you NEVER run out of bandaids.

 

[Boatsb]

I've been in the engine room of a members 53c with 600 hp qsm11's and it was sweet. He also cruises faster than my old Detroit's can push my 41 so I'd love them in a 52c unless it was for very high hour usage.

Then maybe the 750 hp 18 litre cummins.

 

[rustybucket]

You've been talking to the wrong people. Anybody that runs a boat for money or puts lots of hours on the boat would be a fool to keep detroits. First off, the same speed, you'd likely get at LEAST 20-33% reduction in fuel burn.

I have same boat as Boatsb.....but mine has cummins. His WOT is my easy cruise...and I burn much less fuel doing it.

With that said, since I'm spending somebody else's money, I think m11 is a little small for a 52c.

I agree with you 100%. If the boat were going to be a high hour vessel the decision would be much easier to make. However, when you're putting 300hrs/yr on the mains the cost of fuel is cheaper than the cost to upgrade the engines.

 

[rustybucket]

It really is a nice spot unless you've been running. I'm usually over there to check the batteries, so the charger is ALWAYS off. It's tight going around the front of the port motor, and the PO evidently also found that to be true. On my first day on the boat I added four gallons of distilled water to four 8D Dekas.

You have to be willing to go where no previous owner has gone before, and you need to make sure you NEVER run out of bandaids.

lol, yeah, you guys talk about cramped spaces... I feel you 100%, we are currently in a 38 Ocean with 3208's. I fee like a contortionist changing the belt on the generator!!

 

[Avenger]

I agree with you 100%. If the boat were going to be a high hour vessel the decision would be much easier to make. However, when you're putting 300hrs/yr on the mains the cost of fuel is cheaper than the cost to upgrade the engines.

Exactly. I think the point they're missing is that the DDs are paid for. You'll never recoup the cost in fuel savings.

 

[bobk]

I agree with you 100%. If the boat were going to be a high hour vessel the decision would be much easier to make. However, when you're putting 300hrs/yr on the mains the cost of fuel is cheaper than the cost to upgrade the engines.

Welcome to the forum. I thought I was the only guy running serious hours. How do you plan to use the boat?

Bobk

 

[rustybucket]

Welcome to the forum. I thought I was the only guy running serious hours. How do you plan to use the boat?

Bobk

The boat will replace our 38 Ocean. We have had the 38 for about 4 years now. I purchased the 38 in a state of dis-repair. I spent about 6 months going through the engines and every single system on the boat and updating all the electronics and various systems. I'm very much a DIY type person. It's not that I have a problem with mechanics or am too cheap to pay somebody, but rather I actually enjoy working on my boat (I know lunatic crazy right?). Doing my own work has paid dividends in the past when something goes wrong offhsore and being able to repair/replace in a short amount of time to get us back going b/c of my familiarity with the systems.

Our boat has to serve a dual purpose. It has to be able to be a condo for the wife and I. We like heading down for the weekend and escape to our own private beach, cove...etc. The flip side of it is that the boat has to be able to fish the oil rigs in the gulf of mexico 4 or 5 times a year for marlin, tuna, wahoo...etc. I need at least 140 miles of range on the boat, to do this with the Ocean we had to carry several barrels of diesel on the deck as well as bladders. We do enter into a couple of offshore tournaments each year, but we are not hardcore tournament fishermen.

I will be getting a tender for the bow, most likely a fiberglass, something like a Whaler.

The only time we get in a hurry is to get out of the way of a bad thunderstorm. We are happy and content comfortably cruising 16-19knts.

We stepped up to the 38 from a 26' center console as a way to affordably step into a convertible to see if it suited our needs. As it turns out we have thoroughly enjoyed it and the last couple seasons I've found myself looking at larger vessels for longer extended trips, more storage space...etc.

Bucket list item is for us to take off work for a month or two and cruise the Caribbean. So I guess that is the end goal of all this.

Here are a few pics of how we use the boat
The wife wanted to catch a yellowfin on her birthday.... thinking I delivered!




I even threw in a white marlin for her!



Weekend trip with the guys!