[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by Pascal

I m pretty sure the mariner is a twin engine boat, isn't it? How can there be only 1 batt switch for 2 engines, 2 batteries plus house loads....

Doesn't make any sense. There is no way two engines could be connected to a single batt switch.

My guess is that there are another 2 batt switches in the ER for the engines and that the switch in the saloon panel is a house selector.

Very common on smaller boats that will often not have a gen and all batteries (generally only 2) are used for starting and house. That way you can save one battery while at anchor with the fridge and stereo on.

[Pascal]

So you have no mean to isolate one of the engines or the house loads from the rest of the system? So let say you get a shorted starter or alternator or whatever can happen Your only option is to turn off that single battery switch shutting down the entire boat??

Makes no sense, no builder would set up a boat that way. I have a feeling a prior owner did some creative wiring on that boat

The bare minimum should be one battery connected to one engine with an ON OFF switch. House loads shoudl be connected to one of the batteries with an ON OFF switch or better connected to both battery via a selector switch which would also serves as an emmergency parallel switch.

But to have both batteries going to a single 1 2 B switch powering house and engines is just plain stupid

[Marmot]

Originally Posted by Pascal

Makes no sense, no builder would set up a boat that way.

It wouldn't be the first boat modified that way.


Without a clever regulator to (no pun intended) conduct the duet of two alternators, one will undoubtedly take the day off and let the other guy do all the work but no real harm is likely. I agree that a second switch is the way to go but that doesn't prevent the same issues that a single switch may or may not create.

[sam356]

I have a 2001 carver with gen, 3 batteries one battery is for gen only with it's own switch. The other 2 batteries are for the engines and house usage. I have a battery switch bank 1, bank 2 and both. When switch is on bank 1, or bank 2, it will start both engines and house battery for the boat. Bank 1 or bank 2 the one not being used is isolated so it really on reserve. When batteries are weak you turn the switch to both position battery bank 1 and battery bank 2 are connected in parallel both batteries are being use.This is used when your batteries are weak. It says to switch to either bank 1 or bank 2 when the engines are running. When you are running the engines use bank 1 one day and use bank 2 another day it will keep them charge, of course if you use your gen the charger will be charging both batteries all the time.

[NYCAP123]

No, it's cheap. Remember, you're mostly dealing with day boats, not boats that will be on many extended cruises. If there is a short in a system that requires it to be brought off line (unusual occurance) you simply disconnect that lead. On these boats a gen or even a battery charger is often an option. On several 35 footers your near the top end of a system that is designed for a 16' runabout.

[Pascal]

Unusual occurrence? Sure but it does happen

Having to remove a battery cable to isolate an engine withou disabling the boat is a serious safety concern. The set up Sam described is basic and cheap, yet does what it is supposed to. Yes, two batteries and a single switch is standard on a single engine boat but not on a twin

Don't forget carver (and others... ) call these things "yachts"

If outlaw described the system as it is, the boat has to have been modified Ans i would highly recommend having it checked out. I even doubt it would pass survey that way...

[NYCAP123]

Well, that brings us back to the thread on what constitutes a yacht. The system works. If they were to address every possible eventuality the entry level boater could never afford to get into boating. Start with that many of these boats have a single bilge pump located under the motor where it can't be gotten to without bloodshed. Remember, most entry level boats adhere to a minimum safety standard, not a maximum. Every $100 added to the initial cost equals a potential sale lost.

[dennismc]

Real boats us that battery switch for house loads only, the engine start loads are handled by independent iso switches at ea engine with a parallel switch option, not sure if you may have that without knowing. So, battery charging takes place with each engine running or the gen set charging batt chargers, normal operation would be Batt Sw for house set at both under way, set at 1 or 2 while at anchor, even if the house has dedicated batteries this is good practice.

[sam356]

I guess when your dealing with old boats technolgy is not there. When was your long cruise with your old hatteras, most of the ones I see sit at the dock as condo. People buy what ever they want and thats there choosing. People should buy boats on how they are going to use it.I can say this they sold alot of cavers and sea rays. They all enjoy them very much and I guess it fits there buget.

[Pascal]

I agree about buying a boat which suits yr needs but there is a limit to this reasoning.

Do you need a heavy battlewagon to use in protected waters? No...

Do you need a watermaker to coastal cruise the east coast? No...

Do you need a 1000AH battery bank for week end use? No...

Do you need a $20 battery switch to isolate each engine? YES!!

[Fireman431]

My 2001 Carver is equipped with twin engines, and 4 starting/house batteries (not including the genset setup).

A single 1/2/B battery switch with dual batteries on each side of the switch. There is an isolator switch built into the 6-bank battery charger that is in the engine room. if most owners would bother to read the spec information that came with the boats, they would know this. This is a standard setup for 30'-40'-ish coastal cruisers. Dedicated starting on 1 bank, dedicated house on 2 bank, and an isolater in the charger to keep them all at optimum levels. As a rule, I leave mine in the BOTH position 95% of the time. The only reason I ever switch it to house batteries only is if I'm on the hook for the day without the genset running. If I did kill them all for some reason, the gennie has a dedicated starting battery (...and a switch...) and is also wired to the battery charger.

My Carver manual also reads to not switch battery banks while under power, but most battery switches (esp. Perko) manufatured later than the mid-80's have a "make-before-break" feature which allows the batteries to be switched while running. This is even listed in the wiring diagram/manual. They also have additional lugs for an alternator field disconnect.

[sam356]

Well you have 5 batteries altogether you must have a slow boat. Anyway if yours are diesel mine are gas engines . I guess there is a dlfferent set up. I read your specs and somebody is afraid to use a generator thats why you need so many batteries. Your boat came with the same package mine did 3 batteries.

[Marmot]

Originally Posted by sam356

Well you have 5 batteries altogether you must have a slow boat.

I read your specs and somebody is afraid to use a generator thats why you need so many batteries.

That isn't the way to induce the members of this group to provide much assistance. You are off to a really bad start.

[sam356]

I should have wrote it specs on his boat not him. The specs on his boat is almost the same specs on mine.

[Fireman431]

My boat is not heavier than any other comparable vessel by any means. BTW, it's a gas boat. Carver Voyager 374 (40 LOA), twin Mercruiser 7.4L MPI's, Velvet drive trannys. 675 hours.

The battery set up in my boat is exactly how it was delivered from the Carver factory, I didn't do any alterations on that level. I received it from the original owner this way, who still had all the ORIGINAL BATTERIES(!) after 6 years! Needless to say, I switched them out. The Carver manual also is diagramed for my boat with 4 boat batteries and a gennie battery. 2 additional batteries only weigh in at 105 lbs total, half the weight of one additional adult on the boat. Would my boat be any slower if I took one additional small female on it? Hardly, although my wife would probably have something to say about it...

Regarding the gennie, I run it all the time. Usually 8-12 hours at a time. Summertime A/C, TV for the kids, fridge power, battery charging, hot water, etc. Genset has almost as many hours as the engines do. I think I'm right around 500 hrs on it. It's made to be used, same as the boat engines.

I'm not really sure why your comments were so abrasive. I was just trying to point out that some vessels are factory equipped with a 4 battery set-up and some people don't realize that their charger may have isolaters built in. It was just an informational item for all those reading. No reason for you to start bashing my boat or the way I operate aboard it.