Hernia Batteries

[John Dickson]

I current have two 8d case size batteries (1400 cca each) for my 671 TIs etc. I am considering replacing them so I do not have to have surgery every few years at replacement time. Do any of you have any suggestions as to what to replace with, size, ccas, what has worked well, how to connect? thanks

 

[bigbill]

I spoke to my battery salesman about this same idea, he suggested 2 group 31 batteries to replace each 8d, my 8ds are 1300 cca, two group 31s will give me 2000cca, i will lose about 60 minutes of useable life between chargings, not a big problem in south mississippi since i have to run my genset most of the time for ac, or heat,we dont have much of a spring or fall down here, we go from summer to winter. bigbill

 

[Boatsb]

I would (have before) get some young guys to haul the batteries in and out for a few bucks and keep the 8D's. Surprising what a case of beer will do for labor rates around a boat yard.

 

[bdewar]

The manufacturers requirement for my engine is 1800 CCAs. I installed 3 group 29 deep cycle batteries. It gives me over 2000 CCAs.They can be handled with one hand, not eaisly but one fat 53 year old like me can do it.

 

[jim rosenthal]

An 8D case will hold, set crossways, three group 24 or 27 batteries, I forget which. This is what I have. Two of them easily crank my Cummins 370B diesels. One is for the genset (and is larger than it needs to be). The only downside is the additional wiring to parallel them. They are a lot easier to change in and out.

 

[fissioneng]

I agree that 3 Group 24 batteries will fit in the 8D case. I am also considering 2 Group 31 (fewer cells to constantly maintain), but can't find any battery case to fit them. Has anyone solved this problem?

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Oh C'mon guys those 8D batteries provide a good challange. I have learned to swing them from the ground to my truck, downhill to the cockpit, (some swearing), but in the salon to the engine room hatch. From there it is all downhill and only requires a small bit of foul language. Now I con my son into lifting the old ones out, off the boat, and into the truck. I graciously volunteer to unload the beasts. If anyone cares, they weigh 133 lbs. God we have fun with these Hatterases eh?

 

[Angela]

We just got rid of what was left of the OEM battery boxes and replaced them with a very thick plastic battery box that is designed to hold 2 8d batteries. These aren't like the plastic boxes you put one battery in, like you find at West Marine and like what my genny battery sits in. They are very thick and sturdy. They also had an option called "extra height". Since overhead room was not an issue for me, I got the extra tall ones. I, I mean Ed, very nicely fit all four golf cart batteries in there, and at last our batteries are secured to the boat! The box was $95. I just can't see paying the price for the OEM boxes and I would have needed to buy FOUR of those. I only needed one of these double 8d boxes for each side; total of 2. I saved several hundred dollars, if not over a thousand, versus buying the OEM boxes.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

I fully love the fact I replaced my 8D's with group 24's, 3 small MANAGEABLE batteries instead of one 8D. So does my back.

Have four 8D boxes, pulled all 4 out, only replaced two with the group 24's

And the boat hasn't missed a beat.... So have two spare boxes for future use.... as with an inverter...

 

[SKYCHENEY]

We just got rid of what was left of the OEM battery boxes and replaced them with a very thick plastic battery box that is designed to hold 2 8d batteries. These aren't like the plastic boxes you put one battery in, like you find at West Marine and like what my genny battery sits in. They are very thick and sturdy. They also had an option called "extra height". Since overhead room was not an issue for me, I got the extra tall ones. I, I mean Ed, very nicely fit all four golf cart batteries in there, and at last our batteries are secured to the boat! The box was $95. I just can't see paying the price for the OEM boxes and I would have needed to buy FOUR of those. I only needed one of these double 8d boxes for each side; total of 2. I saved several hundred dollars, if not over a thousand, versus buying the OEM boxes.

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I just went through the battery box ordeal last winter. At that time Sams did not have the 32v boxes and I could not find another box that would work. They were all too short. I ended up rebuilding my OEM boxes which took hours of work and $$$ in resin and cloth.
So, maybe you could post the source of those boxes, Angela. That might keep someone else from going through what I did.


And, just to keep this on subject, I hate those 8D's as well. The worst was on our 43DC where you had to get them outboard of each engine. Never again!

 

[Angela]

Yeah, Sky...but look how good yours look.

Here ya go:
http://www.nautical-outfitters.com/91-2339.html

You can buy them online for $100 plus shipping, I suspect. I bought mine through a local marine supplier where I have a wholesale account. I paid just a few dollars less, but I didn't have any shipping added to it.

 

[fissioneng]

This is a Todd Enterprises product that is widely available. Many distributors carry them. http://www.toddusa.com/productdetails.aspx?id=45&f=27