battery/bilge pump storage question

[unbusted67]

Hello,

I am leaving my boat on the hard in Green Cove Springs Florida. Usually we will just charge and disconnect our batteries and leave the bilge pump off for the 6 months we are on the hard. The bilge will collect a bit of rain water and non tox which we just pump over in the spring.

Since we are in Florida now and plan on leaving the boat for a year we are very worried about moisture. I've decided to leave our start battery hooked to our 80 watt panel to run the bilge pump with. Is my battery going to get cooked if I leave it charging on that panel for a year? I haven't really had to top up electrolyte on that battery but I'm wondering if it will boil off in the heat?

[Nicholson58]

If you want to do this, suggest you get an appropriate AGM for the job.


We also leave all floor boards on edge and remove all sails & cushions, open all cabinets and drawers. I prop all hatches open with 2X4 on the flat so that there is a crack all-around. We are under a winter tarp. I also leave the summer screens in the companionway.


One other option we do I the north where water gets hard. Drill a hole in the hull at the lowest point and install a bronze fitting with an internal pipe thread for a socket hex drive and simply let it drain. Or - install a through hull and leave it open.

[unbusted67]

I will be leaving all of the hatches cracked and floor boards up as you suggested. I don't think I'm going to go out and buy an agm tomorrow! I can't afford it!


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[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

I will be leaving all of the hatches cracked and floor boards up as you suggested. I don't think I'm going to go out and buy an agm tomorrow! I can't afford it!


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For the number of hours it might run, one automotive size battery instead of your house banks. You could also hire the oversight of maintaining your banks.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

For the number of hours it might run, one automotive size battery instead of your house banks. You could also hire the oversight of maintaining your banks.

Your logic flawless sir!

[HopCar]

I don't suppose there's a garboard drain plug? You don't see them on boats much these days. It sure would be nice to have one if your boat is going to be on the hard for a year.

[DeepFrz]

I hope you have read this thread.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...on-145783.html

also a recent thread, this past week, on storing batteries. Google custom search doesn't seem to be working for me right now so can't look up the link.

[unbusted67]

Oh come on! Don't show me that right before I leave.


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[DeepFrz]

Just a reminder to get it right.

[unbusted67]

Roger that. It's just been so unbelievably humid on the boat the last few days while we have been packing up. It's hard for me to see how it's not going to get moldy. There are hundreds of other boats here and they seem to be doing fine so it can't be all bad.




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[DeepFrz]

Tea Tree oil works. Ventilation and dryness. Tape and cover all your on deck hatches but you need something like Dorade or Mushroom vents or Solar powered vents that will ventilate the boat but not allow moisture in.

You might want to try the SunPac stuff. Never used it but seems to be well thought of product. There is also a Dry something (damp rid) that absorbs moisture. Make sure nothing is closed up and air can circulate everywhere. Good luck.
SunPac kills mold and mildew spores

[Old Swampy]

A dish of vinegar low in the boat will keep the mold at bay until it evaporates.

[Paul Cyre]

I have put my boat up on the hard for a year now and will leave it for another two years. After one year I visited my boat to see how it was holding up. It was great, no mold, no water in the bilge. It looked the same as I day I left it. It is on the hard in Virginia, lots of heat, rain and humidity. The boat is not covered. Here is how it was prepared for for long term storage as it related to moisture and mold.
1. Batteries were removed
2. Lowest part of the bilge had a hole installed with a fitting and plug.
3. The plug was removed and placed in the galley sink for storage.
4. Solar powered rechargeable fans installed in two hatches 1 intake 1 exhaust
5. Placed a 12v fan in rear stateroom hooked to a solar panel (runs during the day)
6. opened all drawers and cupboards
7. Stacked all cushions so as to have air circulation around them.
8. removed all floor boards (placed them cross ways to allow air flow)

The advantage of the hole in the bilges, eliminates the need to rely on batteries in the event water does enter the boat for some unknown reason.

[Cheechako]

[QUOTE=Nicholson58;1821792]If you want to do this, suggest you get an appropriate AGM for the job.


We also leave all floor boards on edge and remove all sails & cushions, open all cabinets and drawers. I prop all hatches open with 2X4 on the flat so that there is a crack all-around. We are under a winter tarp. I also leave the summer screens in the companionway.


One other option we do I the north where water gets hard. Drill a hole in the hull at the lowest point and install a bronze fitting with an internal pipe thread for a socket hex drive and simply let it drain. Or - install a through hull and leave it open.[/QUOTE]

THIS. and be sure to devise ventilation for the boat. See the thread "Refurbish or ......" currently running.. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...54#post1819354


PaulCyre's list too....

[Paul54]

It is possible that your charge controller for your solar panel will properly take care of your battery. Some do some don't. Lead acid cells always like to be charged. If your charge controller will go into a trickle mode you should be fine.