330 Dancer Battery Issues and Questions

[dpmulvey]

I have a 99 330. Any 330 owners know the batteries on the port side require a contortionist midget to get to them.

As much as I would like to buy a great set of AGM's, I cannot afford them right now and, if my batteries do not load test well in a few weeks, I shall go with wet cells and the quick fillers from Flow Rite corp.

Questions.

What does each battery go to? I think (hope)one is house, one is port, one is starboard, and one is for the gennie.

If that is not correct, is there a way to install a battery directly to and for the gennie alone?

I am making the assumption that the house battery is in the port bilge. Is that the case? If so, I was going to go to twin golf cart batteries for the house and move the second battery from the bilge to under the jump seat behind the helm. This would necessitate going to 3 batteries (P/S/Gennie) that are smaller in size but have as many CCA's as the 2 batteries (no idea what they go to and yes I know I should) that I have in their now.

If moving a battery as I stated above is too convoluted, I saw a group 27 at walmart with the same reserve as if I doubled up GC batteries. Is there a huge advantage to the twin golf carts? I have heard both sides of the argument but I just can't recall the reason. I will be spending a lot of time on the hook this year so I would like the capacity so as not to have to run the gennie except for the real hot days when I want A/C.

TIA

 

[fc3]

Just Ducky has two paralleled 27s port for house and the port engine. A single 27 starboard is for the starboard engine and the other starboard battery for the 4.5 genset. A three bank charger maintains the batteries. A two engine, two bank isolator charges the mains when either engine is running. This is the factory setup with the isolator being a Sea Ray option.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[Alegria]

I have a stupid question too! We just purchased our 97 330 and take delivery next month. I was down last weekend as they are doing some new canvas and fiberglass work on her and was poking around getting familar with some things. Its all new to me!!! I appreciate the battery layout.

My stupid question is, is there a battery switch??? My old sea ray had a 1, 2, 1+2 switch under a forward hatch. Is that where the switch is on the 330?

Also how do those group 27s hold up for you? Are they dual purpose? I have standard cranking ones and I am betting that they will run out quick. I will have to be careful as if I run one down I don't think it take a charge like the dual purposes ones do. I have I think the same install, you are right the only way I can see getting to the port batteries is laying on the deck or twisting myself up under the deck... Does not look fun.

 

[fc3]

There are on/off battery switches for the port engine battery bank and the starboard engine battery. The switches are under the aft facing seat. There is no switch for the generator battery. I get decent life from my batteries of about 3-5 years. Since they're cheap (about $65) that's good enough.

Best regards.
Frank C

 

[Larry]

My port engine/house batteries are under the rear facing helm seat and relitivly easy to access, my starboard battery for starting is located on the starboard side just outboard of the engine. I think my set up is a little different since my boat doesn't have a geny. (boat came from Cape Cod, guess they didn't plan on running A/C while on the hook...)

 

[keokie]

FWIW, I have had very good luck with the flow-rite system for water management and golf cart (6V's) batteries. In my experience the golf cart batteries tolerate deeper discharges and a lot more cycles. Also, they will still start a big block even when very nearly dead.