Battery Replacement 43 DCMY

[gbharrington]

Does anyone have specific knowledge regarding battery replacement on a 43 DCMY with Cummins 903s. The batteries are located adjacent to and outboard of the engines. They are 8Ds and short of partially disassembling the engine I can't figure out a way to R&R them.

 

[sgharford]

I've got a 43DC with 903's - It's a sucky job, but sure you realized that by now. I guess that goes for anyone with 8D's. This is my two bits on doing it singlehanded:

To remove old batteries - tie a rope to each handle. You use the 2 ropes (one for each handle) to first pull it out of the battery box, then walk it around like a marionette until you can pull the square end of battery (using just 1 rope at this point) thru the largest square opening you can make. Do the same rope trick for installing new batteries.

On starboard side, you should be able to drop battery down using just one rope near front starboard side of engine hatch with starboard floor engine access hatch out of the way. I remember it slid down valve cover with room to spare. I kept the port access floor hatch down on starboard engine to stand on. As you slide battery down, the battery will be 90 degrees to position it normally lays, I did this with the Rolls 8D's (Big Reds) Lead/Acid at 185 lbs each, none of the acid spilled out. When it hits the floor and/or something solid, take up the other line attached to other handle and 'walk' it over and into the battery box.

On port side, I either loosened the alternator and pushed it all the way back or I took the coolant SCA filter housing off the port raw water heat exchanger side to make room - this was 3 years ago.

Ideally this is a 2 person job, one person to take 1 line for each handle. I would not attempt this job with a bad back.

 

[gbharrington]

Thanks for the info. I thought that it would be something similar to that. I was concerened about acid leaking out.
I am considering replacing with golf cart batteries. If the boxes were just slightly longer I could get 3 in each.
Either way, I think it's defintely a two man job for me.

 

[REBrueckner]

You can tip an 8D way over without acid spilling....

I used ropes sometimes as described above...and sometimes tied the rope to as long a 2" x4" as I could fit where needed...used the wood as a lever....as on the salon floor over the battery....always did it myself but as I got into my later 50's and then 60's it seemed to get a lot harder!!!!! That's when I started begging a nearby boat owner for a lift!

 

[Bill Allen]

Don't forget the other fun part, move all the furniture to one side lift rugs and hatchs. My least favorite part, horseing the batteries out just bull work, ropes, straps and someone to guide them away or keep the straps short enough since you may need to tip them some to get them to clear. On the port side on my boat it's a little tighter since the icemaker sits there. I lift them then walk them foward and up. Not a fun job but not the end of the world. Bill

 

[Trojan]

I used the rope trick and stood the batteries on end getting them in on the starboard side. The short time there on end no acid leaks out. It's not a one person job. Just put 4 in my boat last month.

BILL

 

[gbharrington]

What engine components did you move or remove on the port side?

 

[sgharford]

From 2nd post

On port side, I either loosened the alternator and pushed it all the way back or I took the coolant SCA filter housing off the port raw water heat exchanger side to make room - this was 3 years ago.

 

[Trojan]

I have 6-71's and I removed nothing.

BILL

 

[Bill Allen]

Except for furniture and rugs, moving it from one side to the other (lol). Bill

 

[Trojan]

Except for furniture and rugs, moving it from one side to the other (lol). Bill

Sometimes BILL I think just moving the furniture and lifting the hatches is the real work. 2 people, 2 ropes and 2 minutes each and the batteries are in there boxes.

BILL

 

[Finalee]

I have 6v92's with stabalizers. I built a make shift slide to get them over the stabalizer heads. Managed to do it alone. No need to remove any engine accesories.

 

[gbharrington]

I have 6v92's with stabalizers. I built a make shift slide to get them over the stabalizer heads. Managed to do it alone. No need to remove any engine accesories.

Fred,
Is that a repower or was 6v92 an option?

 

[Finalee]

It was a repower. Original owner had it done while the boat was being refitted by Hurley Hatt.

 

[Bill Allen]

When I moved my floor bracing around it was the best improvement I've ever done to my engine room as lifting the rugs and moving furniture is one of the jobs I hate the most. Stacking chairs on the couch, sliding that stupid hatch out from under the ice maker etc. But when it comes to replacing those old 8d's it's the only way to get at them. The rest of the jobs even the starter and checking water on the batteries I can do without lifting them. Like Trojan mentioned I think thats the worse part of the job. Bill

 

[sgharford]

Cummins 903 are really big for the HP they make (V-8's at 903 cubic inches, 3200 lbs each, most stock blocks max at 425HP or less). I believe the 6V92 is around 2100 lbs. Definitely no getting around to batteries without removing floor boards on mine. gbharrington - you are the only other member I've seen on HOF with 903's in a 43DC. It was a 'premium' option back in the day. Mine's a 1976. Shoot me a PM and I'll email you some fun stuff I've accumulated (manuals, reviews, etc) in electronic format.

 

[eze2bme]

My 1979 43DC has the batteries located between the engines on top of the water and keel fuel tanks ... makes for a much easier job of replacing batteries as well as checking fluid levels ... this is a change made by Hatteras in the 43 series but not sure when it happened. If you're going to keep your 43 and can make this change I'd definitely do it ... you might call Steve at SAM's to check on the possibility ... might be only longer battery cables and some floor reinforcement.

 

[sgharford]

I wouldn't relocate batteries to center, at least with 903's, that's sacred ground. I would lose way too much access to engine components without that alley way cleared. With nothing in the way, you can scooch down the center aisle with all the floor boards down thru the door under the stairs to the galley. Guess you could crawl over batteries, but things tight enough, and asking for a short with my luck (been there once with 8D's, Rolls 8D's no less). It's also a great place to stand with just the center hatch open (I have cutout in carpet for this), all your tools, parts, and beverage of choice are at bar level when standing there doing your work. Too high a price to pay to just check water level twice a season in my opinion. Besides, where would the kids sleep?