28 TE Flush deck

[dgetswet]

I purchased my 2005 Albin last year end of season so I ended up not using it. Had the yard take it out, winterize it and change the oil. The guy that did the survey was completely the wrong guy as I am finding out now. I spent a lot of money on him and he really did nothing. Anyway the boat is mine and I have a lot to learn on it.
I found a battery box under the deck on the starboard side. Unfortunately I was not able to get to the box and open it until later this week. So I was wondering would anyone know why there is a battery box here? I have 4 deep cell batteries 2 in the bilge behind the shaft and 2 on the port side right above the shaft.

So does anyone know why a battery would be up there?

[rcwhite]

This location is where the starting battery (bat 1) usually is. The house would be above the shaft. It sounds like the house battery’s have been expanded but following the wiring is the only way to be certain of the current layout.

Unfortunately surveys are often poor but they are required for insurance. I think buyers would be better served to start with someone who actually knows about boats and hire the survey once it checks out.

[Norseman]

Pictures of all batteries and battery boxes would be great..
In the meantime, how many batteries do you have? Total and house/start?
The bow thruster may have a separate battery, perhaps the windlass does too?
Got an inverter? Maybe previous owner loved to run his microwave and hair dryer, then added House batteries here and there?
(I am thinking of doing the same so I can sit for anchor and run the fridge and lights for 4 days instead of 2 days before I go below 50% on the House Bank, solar panels next)

Older boats tend to be modified to suit previous owner, heck I bought a brand new boat (GB 2770) 39 months ago and the first thing I had the dealer do was to add a house battery, would have put in more batteries, or a solar panel, if I kept the boat, but sold it 18 months later, the present owner is probably scratching his head about the extra deep cycle battery that is not part of factory specs.

[dgetswet]

The single battery is under the deck behind the captains seat. In the 2nd photo the batteries are on the port side and behind the shaft. The single battery appears to be tied into the batteries behind the shaft.

[RobS]

Those Interstates banks are 6V golf car batteries in series. Spend some time taking apart the connections and clean/lube and check/add water (distilled) to them if needed.

[dgetswet]

Those Interstates banks are 6V golf car batteries in series. Spend some time taking apart the connections and clean/lube and check/add water (distilled) to them if needed.

Rob
Spent 2 days cleaning the bilge and took off every cable wire brushed them clean and put some Dielectric Grease on each of them. The last thing I want is an electrical problem.
Thanks
Don

[RobS]

Sounds good, don't forget the water level.

[catalina_mike]

My 28 has a starting battery of proper size for the engine and the house is a 8D. I will change all that around after they get old as they are 4 years old now. So I'm starting to plan.

Albin 28 battery layout.pdf

[dgetswet]

So I spoke with the old owner he said the battery was new 2018 and is for the bow thruster. He told me he had a marine electrician check the system and he made it 2 batteries in one series for the house 2 batteries in series for the engine. The 5th battery is for the bow thruster. which is connected to the batteries for the engine. I questioned it but he said that is the way they had it. I figure I'll talk with other that know more than I do about it. I would like to change the batteries out before I go in. So I will have to see.

[RobS]

So 2 of the Deep cycle golf car batteries are for engine starting. those are all about reserve, not CCA, so not ideal. Maybe consider changing out the start bank to starting batteries and then you'll have two spare house batts as long as they check out okay.

[MerryKate]

Don - I don’t see how anyone can hoss an 8D battery in & out of a 28 TE. 6V golf cart batteries wired in series (like you have) are a much more manageable option. Although, they are optimized for deep cycle applications, they are more than capable of starting a big diesel engine. For house bank applications two 6V golf cart batteries in series have as much capacity as an 8D and weigh just over 60lbs each.

I replaced the two Group 31 batteries supplied by the factory that failed after one season with two Trojan T-105 golf cart banks (one for starting; one for house). I think these lasted 8 or 9 years. Maybe 10. Recently I switched to a single Group 31 for engine starting and a single golf cart bank for house - all AGM.

Unless you’ve serviced them recently I guarantee your batteries need water. When running the flooded T-105s I used to keep a gallon jug of distilled water onboard and used probably half of it to replenish four 6V batteries, with very poor access (motor box model). Access to your flush deck configuration looks much better but the AGMs were well worth the investment for me.

[dgetswet]

Don - I don’t see how anyone can hoss an 8D battery in & out of a 28 TE. 6V golf cart batteries wired in series (like you have) are a much more manageable option. Although, they are optimized for deep cycle applications, they are more than capable of starting a big diesel engine. For house bank applications two 6V golf cart batteries in series have as much capacity as an 8D and weigh just over 60lbs each.

I replaced the two Group 31 batteries supplied by the factory that failed after one season with two Trojan T-105 golf cart banks (one for starting; one for house). I think these lasted 8 or 9 years. Maybe 10. Recently I switched to a single Group 31 for engine starting and a single golf cart bank for house - all AGM.

Unless you’ve serviced them recently I guarantee your batteries need water. When running the flooded T-105s I used to keep a gallon jug of distilled water onboard and used probably half of it to replenish four 6V batteries, with very poor access (motor box model). Access to your flush deck configuration looks much better but the AGMs were well worth the investment for me.

You seem to know a lot about the way my batteries are set up. Besides the 2 sets of batteries wired in series which are on a battery switch 1 & 2 a 5th battery is connected to one set of the batteries. This battery is for the bow thruster. I was told by the previous owner he had a marine electrician check out the batteries and it was good. I don't understand it at all.
Anyway any suggestions for replacing the batteries. They are old and I am a new owner so why take the chance. Figured I would replace 2 this year and 2 next year. Any suggestions on the batteries to get?

[Ben423]

Sounds like you have an interesting battery arrangement. On my sailboat I changed out the house bank, a pair of 8D wet cell batteries for 6v AGM golf cart batteries. Swapped the Grp 31 wet cell starting battery for AGM. This arrangement worked well for us.

I would change all the batteries at once instead of two at a time. Mixing old and new batteries will reduce the performance/lifespan of the new ones.

[MerryKate]

Hey Don - if you feel you need to replace them I’d recommend staying with the series 6V golf cart setup, at least for your house bank for the reasons I said, plus your already set up for it.

I always used Trojan T-105 6V deep cycles as they are sort of the standard for the application and affordable. But... they are old-school flooded lead acid and require regular checks and watering. Access with your flush deck installation looks so easy!

When I replaced my T-105s I used the Trojan T-105 AGM because service access is so atrocious in my motor box installation ( under the helm seat). More expensive but if you get in the habit of checking them every few weeks the flooded batteries are a great value.

I’d service yours and see how they do. Interstates are good quality and if they haven’t been run dry there’s a good chance they have some life left in them.

[dgetswet]

Hey Don - if you feel you need to replace them I’d recommend staying with the series 6V golf cart setup, at least for your house bank for the reasons I said, plus your already set up for it.

I always used Trojan T-105 6V deep cycles as they are sort of the standard for the application and affordable. But... they are old-school flooded lead acid and require regular checks and watering. Access with your flush deck installation looks so easy!

When I replaced my T-105s I used the Trojan T-105 AGM because service access is so atrocious in my motor box installation ( under the helm seat). More expensive but if you get in the habit of checking them every few weeks the flooded batteries are a great value.

I’d service yours and see how they do. Interstates are good quality and if they haven’t been run dry there’s a good chance they have some life left in them.

Yeah I ended up picking up 2 new interstate batteries and going to see if the other 2 are good. When I spoke to the people at interstate he explained the benefit s of having them for the house batteries. Thanks for the information I appreciate it.