[C320-list] Battery boxes

[Chris Burti]

I have studied this question previously and subject to someone
providing me an authoritative interpretion that I am not aware of, the
following is my  interpretaion of the question. There is no such
requirement or recommendation and it is a misinterpretation by the
surveyor. Not all surveyors are qualified. My good friend Karl may
have fallen into the same trap as the surveyor by reading more into
the recommendations than is there. a Box is an acceptable arrangement
but the controlling provisions are :


"10.7.2 Provision shall be made to contain incidental leakage and
spillage of electrolyte."

 Note the use of the word "incidental". This is not synonymous with
"all" and thus, does not call for "leakproof"

10.7.7.3 is in a differnt subsection and calls for "installing the
battery in a compartment specially designed only for the battery(s)."
I believe the ABYC battery installation requirements have been
complied with by Catalina with the design of the segregated
compartment with trays and complying hold down frame.

What I suspect has occurred is the surveyor has read 10.7.7.3 without
considering the disjunctive 'or' at the end of the sentence as
follows.

 10.7.7.2 installing the battery in a covered battery box, or.

10.7.7.3 installing the battery in a compartment specially designed
only for the battery(s).

Even more incorrect is that this requirement is in the section dealing
with electrical contact, the electrolytic leaking requirement stands
alone in its wow subsection 10.7.2. the battery box provisions are in
10.7.7 and the surveyor has combined the two different subsections as
one requirement.

10.7.7 To prevent accidental contact of the ungrounded battery
connection to ground, each battery shall be protected so that metallic
objects cannot come into contact with the ungrounded battery terminal
and uninsulated cell
straps. This may be accomplished by means such as;

10.7.7.1 covering the ungrounded battery terminal with a boot or
non-conductive shield, or
10.7.7.2 installing the battery in a covered battery box, or
10.7.7.3 installing the battery in a compartment specially designed
only for the battery(s).

I believe that our boats come with a certificate that they comply with
the American Boat & Yacht Council, recommendations.

Your surveyor need to re-read these recommendations and revise his
opinion or provide some authoritative guideline that he has relied
on...if they want to stay insurer's approved list they can't make up
their own standards.


My need to study this came from a discussion with a CG Auxilliray
member's interpretation for the requiremnt for a boot on the
terminals in order to earn a sticker. when I showed her the standards
her answer was.."well. you might put something in there that could
contact the terminal"...I pointed out she was making up her own
interpretation since there was nothing else in the compartment...the
discussion stalled when I also pointed out that her hypothetical
'something' could dislodge the stupid, ill designed boot she was
calling for.
.


On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 10:52 PM, Karl Mielenhausen _/)
<C320 at suddenlink.net> wrote:
>
> I have also heard that boat owners were getting dinged on surveys for not having their batteries in boxes. Depending on your insurance company, you may be forced to fix such an observation made in the survey report.
>
> Here is what I have been able to find out:
>
> 1/ There is no USCG requirement for battery boxes as such.
> Reference 33 CFR 183.420:
> http://tinyurl.com/2f4dyg7
> There are specific requirements, such as to constrain motion, vent hydrogen gas, prevent shorting of terminals, etc.
>
> 2/ ABYC standards call for a method to contain electrolyte leakage, which might include a leakproof compartment dedicated to batteries only, boxes, or trays.
> Reference E10:
> http://tinyurl.com/2abujku
> Note that these are industry standards, not specifications or requirements. As such "a waiver" seems to be marketing-speak.
>
> ABYC Technical Board Rules provide that all reports, including standards and recommended practices and technical information reports, are advisory only. Their use is entirely voluntary. They are believed to represent, as of the date of publication, the consensus of knowledgeable persons, currently active in the field of small craft, on performance objectives that contribute to small boat safety.
>
> Unfortunately, most insurance companies require periodic surveys (usually every 4 or 5 years) in order to insure "compliance" to some standards of safety and structural integrity. More and more recognized marine surveyors are inspecting and reporting their results to ABYC standards. As a result, it is becoming virtually impossible to not adhere to the ABYC standards and still carry decent insurance coverage and, therefore, such "recommendations" have become a defacto standard for us boaters. Like it or not, we cannot obtain a boat loan without it being secured by insurance coverage.
>
>
> Karl
>
>
> On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:58:15 -0400, <LOCALJG at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> In April I bought a beautiful Catalina 320.  During the survey, the
>> surveyor noted that the Catalina's three batteries were not in battery boxes.  The
>> broker said that Catalina has a waiver for the 320 and the boats come
>> without battery boxes from the factory.  The surveyor had never heard this and
>> didn't believe it.  The surveyor believed that the Coast Guard would have a
>> serious problem with a boat that had its batteries that were not in battery
>> boxes.
>> So, who's correct?
>> Due to the age of the batteries, it is time for me to replace all three
>> batteries and this would be a great time to place the batteries in boxes if it
>> is truly required by the Coast Guard. Just for the sake of safety, I believe
>> I should place the batteries in boxes but I am curious as to the broker's
>> veracity on this subject.
>> Is there anyone out there who can state categorically and without a doubt
>> who is correct, the surveyor or the broker?
>> If the Battery boxes are truly required, It appears I will be somewhat
>> challenged due to the space available to me.  The group 27, starting battery is
>> up in the front of the starboard settee and just behind it is the first of
>> two Rolls, 4Ds.  The second 4D is in the compartment just behind the other
>> two batteries.  I think the problem is going to be getting the group 27
>> battery in a box due to its location at the front of the settee.
>> So, how do the rest of you 320 battery box people do it?
>> Thanks for any input you care to share.
>> John.  #329
>>
>
>
> --
> Karl Mielenhausen
> Catalina 320 Hull 690



--
Chris Burti Farmville, NC
Note the word "incidental" that is not equivilent with "all". Nor, as
Karl has interpreted, does it require the compartment to be "leak
proof".