wthree3 Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 The forward battery box on mine was cracking in the corners and nothing I tried would stop the cracks from slowly propagating. Ended up sketching a replacement that had extended flanges to better distribute the weight on the compartment floor. Had it fabricated out of 3/16" thick aluminum and anodized at local shops. Lined the bottom with starboard and rubber sheet. Installed footman loops for battery straps. Made a thin starboard cover and used the original latches. Turned out very nice and much stronger than the original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmetto1 Posted March 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 Wow that is nice work wthree3. Mine is below. The white "floor" of the compartment is a lightweight piece of plastic so as you say the box that is hanging from it with heavy batteries seems to have no chance to hold up over time. What year is yours? The bottom of your compartment looks like its molded fiberglass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 Thats a sweet box, now I really gotta check on mine. I removed the latches and just velcro'd the lid down. The latches got in the way of the tackle storage box I have in the hatch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulligan Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 Do you guys have supports under the battery box? On my Hewes I have the same box but with stringer like support under it to hold the extra weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wthree3 Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 Mine is an 05. The original battery box looked like the same one in Palmetto's pic. The front compartment is the same plastic material as the battery box; it's not fiberglass. Just the battery box was cracking. The recessed lip or ledge that supported the old battery box was fine but I figured it was better to make wider flanges on the new box to distribute the weight over a larger area. I shimmed the recessed ledge up to be level with the compartment floor and the put a neoprene rubber sheet gasket under the aluminum box flanges to make sure I didn't put any point loads on compartment floor. Overkill I'm sure, but I use the open checkbook approach on this boat. When you do the math, the loads on the bottom of the compartment are not all that high. A 100 lbs. of batteries supported by 25 square inches of flange area (of the original box) is only 4 pound per square inch. Not too bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 1 hour ago, mulligan said: Do you guys have supports under the battery box? On my Hewes I have the same box but with stringer like support under it to hold the extra weight. Been awhile since I had the battery box out on my boat, but I kinda remember a support underneath. I'm gonna take a look next chance I get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wthree3 Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 There was a cross support located under the battery box but the bottom of the box is spaced several inches above it. So on a MA18 there is no support from underneath. Hewes may be different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmetto1 Posted April 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 I did not see where box was supported. Looked like it could be on a cross member if you raised up that cross piece. Maybe could mount something on top of it. Where is everyone's battery chargers, console? Sounds like most put TM batts in front, run leads there from the console and then keep the house batt and charger in the console? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitz Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 I almost forgot. TH Marine hatch for bilge access. what a great upgrade over the pie hole! http://thmarine.com/designer-series-hatches-removable ill have to measure which size though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 On 3/31/2017 at 9:29 PM, palmetto1 said: I did not see where box was supported. Looked like it could be on a cross member if you raised up that cross piece. Maybe could mount something on top of it. Where is everyone's battery chargers, console? Sounds like most put TM batts in front, run leads there from the console and then keep the house batt and charger in the console? My TM batts are in the front hatch, along with the charger. My house/starting batt is in the console. Since one of TM batts is wired to batt switch as the #2 batt. I can charge my house batt by putting switch in the both position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmetto1 Posted April 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 You mean charge one your TM batts when switch on #2? You have a house and starting batt or one doing both? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 I have 3 batts onboard, 2 TM and one for starting/house. I have a 2 bank charger in the front hatch. One of the TM batts is connected to the #2 position on the switch, as a back up starting battery. If I put the batt switch in both, the charger will charge the one TM and the starting batt. I don't do this often, but once in a while just to top of the one starting battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmetto1 Posted April 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Makes sense. What drain plugs are you guys using for the cockpit drains? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wthree3 Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Rod holders seem to be 30 degree versions. 4"from the outside edge of the cap, 39"from the back edge. Remember to check the install location while your pushpole is installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmetto1 Posted April 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Very helpful! Wthree, yours were no trouble to install? Cut out floatation and drain to the bilge? Mitz said his rear ones were a bear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Wthree, thats the stuff right there. Im saving these pics, and soon as I grow a pair, Ill be drilling! Thanks for doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wthree3 Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Mine were factory, not sure if that area is foamed or not. Just glad I didn't have to do the cutting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveC Posted April 5, 2017 Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 On 3/30/2017 at 9:52 AM, hurricane said: Haven't seen any issue with mine, wonder if they made some changes in the years. I would say fix it up, maybe a nice starboard floor and lid. Its a great place for the batts and it helps balance the weight. I will check on mine. They did make changes some time back, I can't remember the actual year but they changed from a "vac formed" tub to glass. My 2000 has "vac" formed ABS tubs so I think (not sure) that they changed to molded glass sometime between 03' and 06'.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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