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46 Post battery removal and replacement

Discussion in 'Post Yacht' started by RT46, Feb 13, 2016.

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  1. RT46

    RT46 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2011
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    1,058
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Here is a technique that might be helpful to 46 Post owners:

    I recently replaced a weak starting 8D battery on my 46 Post.

    I had been putting it off because it is in tight spot and I struggled to replace the batteries in the past.

    The batteries are centered along the rear of the Engine room and are aft of the forward tank.

    They are almost impossible to lift alone and there is not enough room for a two man lift.

    A friend of mine recommended winching them out with a pair of come along straps attached to the handles.

    I took his advice:
    a quick 2x4 across the E/R hatch as an anchor point and a pair of ratcheting straps had the batteries in and out in no time.
  2. P46-Curaçao

    P46-Curaçao Senior Member

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    734
    Location:
    Curaçao (CW), Hollywood (FL) and Amsterdam (NL)
    Thanks for the advice RT46, I have exact the same problem, but will replace them both...
  3. porthole

    porthole Member

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    Location:
    Jersey Shore
    On my 42 I had a friend who was a machinist make a 1" square stock stainless bar about 4" longer then an 8D. Two grooves were cut about 1-2" in from the ends for the battery straps. An eyebolt was threaded in the center.

    I used a block and tackle made up of sailbote stuff (pulleys, 5 to 1) and attached this to the grab rail that was centered over the engine hatch. I added several supports to the grab rail that were just screwed into the substantial wood framing in the salon overhead.

    I also had an 8D that was outboard of the starboard engine, that was a real pain.
  4. deanpe

    deanpe New Member

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    Apr 19, 2011
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    Location:
    Hollywood, MD
    Ok, so I have a related issue. The 8D battery outboard of the starboard engine finally died (got almost 6 years out of it). The boat is a 1982 42 Post. The battery was new when I bought the boat 5+ years ago so I've never had to replace it. What is the trick to remove it?

    Forward of the engine the a/c compressor, water heater and racor create a challenging obstacle course. Aft of the engine would require getting the battery under the exhaust and over the output coupling of the transmission/shaft log. I haven't looked at lifting the starboard hatch above the engine and removing it straight up. From memory, I don't think there is enough room to do that. Removing it forward or aft has me concerned that the battery will get hung up on something on the way out or possibly the case may get punctured, spilling acid. Any suggestions??
  5. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    That is your genny battery ? Last time I did it, I took a 2X6 or so and laid it over the bilge from the battery platform to the edge of the fuel tank, ahead of the engine, and slid it up the ramp. May even have been a 2X4, a balancing act for sure.
    Once on the center of the motors, I picked it up to salon floor level at the door then picked it from the floor while on the back deck.
    I did not put an 8D back and never had any with a group 31 sized battery for the genny.
  6. deanpe

    deanpe New Member

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    Location:
    Hollywood, MD
    No it's not the genny battery. It's the starting battery for the starboard motor. Genny battery is mounted between the motors forward on the forward fuel tank (group 31 size). Port motor start battery/house battery (8D) is mounted between the motors aft on the forward fuel tank.

    Thanks for the suggestion on sliding the battery across a 2x. I think that may work; although I think I have more room to maneuver the battery aft of the motor.
  7. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    I have 671's and when I bought the boat, the Genny battery was an 8D, outboard of the Starboard engine.
    My engine batteries are aft of the center fuel tank, on the centerline.
    I use the ramp method to remove those also. Much steeper pull, like a rower, grab the battery handle and lean back. I no longer use the 8D's for anything.
  8. porthole

    porthole Member

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    Mar 15, 2016
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    Location:
    Jersey Shore
    I had 6-71 TI's.
    I had the port start battery between the engines and the starboard battery on the outside of the starboard engine. My gen battery was mounted up against the bulkhead next to the water heater.

    To get the starboard battery out.
    I'm 5'9" and about 160. So I was able to crawl around front and to the outside to get to the battery. I cleared everything out and just wrestled it forward and around the front of the engine. Had to lift it again to clear the engine mount.

    If I had help I would use my lifting bar and rope. I'd still crawl around the engine but I would let someone up above do the heavy work.

    I could not lift the 160 pound batteries out of the engine compartment. Standing on the fuel tank I could not lift it high enough. Laying down on the salon floor - I could pick them up but then couldn't get up.

    So I used the block and tackle. That worked great for in and out. Also used it on the gin pole to lower batteries to the ground when replacing.
  9. RT46

    RT46 Senior Member

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    I have thought about putting an extra 8D house battery aft of the engine room bulkhead under the cockpit.

    I usually shut the generator off at night when on the hook and run the inverter.

    Outboard side of the mains would be a great place for extra 8Ds but it would be too much of a pain to maneuver them back there.
  10. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    The outboard weight might throw the boat out of kilter too. There is alot of threads here about golf cart batteries instead of 8D's for the inverter application and I think that is what I'll do when the time comes. Either the 8D's have gotten heavier over the years or, maybe, I am not as young as I used to be.......:rolleyes:
  11. Satterly

    Satterly New Member

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    Location:
    Deltaville, Va
    Get a skinny person to go around the front of the starboard engine and inch it around between the engines. It's a pain in the backside but it can be done.