Water in Battery Compartment

[Mactacaddy]

Just curious to find out if water accumualtion in the battery compartment of my 1987 Sorrento S24 is normal? The compartment is about 3 inches deep and currently has about 1 inch of water (see photo). There doesn't appear to be a drain into the bilge. If you look closely in the top left corner of the photo you'll see an open scupper drain. I've had various opinions on whether it should be open or closed but I prefer to leave it open as it's intended to drain the deck. If I closed it water could still accumulate in the battery compartment when it rains.

Is this normal and should I just expect water to accumulate there and eventually overflow into the bilge?

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Sitting water is not good for the long term.
If it were my boat I would add a drain to get the water flowing into the bilge for the pump to remove.
I'd dry it out real good and drill a drain hole through the stringer close to the bottom and near the transom.
Then epoxy a fiberglass tube in the hole to allow the water to drain. The fiberglass tube helps keep water out of the stringers.
You probably have a similar situation on the other side.
Just my thoughts. :huh:

 

[Bob & Sue]

My biggest concern would be draining battery acid into the bilge if you had a battery fail it would do a lot of damage. I would put the batteries in a self contained battery holder to keep them dry first then work on a remedy to remove the water. Just my opinion I'm sure someone has had this problem that will respond.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

My biggest concern would be draining battery acid into the bilge if you had a battery fail it would do a lot of damage. I would put the batteries in a self contained battery holder to keep them dry first then work on a remedy to remove the water. Just my opinion I'm sure someone has had this problem that will respond.

I have to agree with the addition of battery boxes too - cheap "just in case" insurance.

 

[Tonka Boater]

Are you sure the batteries are not leaking? Is there a rotten smell in the bilge? I opened my hatch last season to find the battery trays filled with water too...along with a rotten smell. Both batteries were leaking and the water was actually acid. Some of the acid sloshed outside if the tray too. I carefully removed the batteries and sprinkled baking soda on all of the wet areas to neutralize the acid. I could tell it was acid by the way the baking soda sizzled as it hit the water. I have a burn mark etched on the engine cover where some of the acid dripped when I removed that battery....nasty stuff.

 

[Mactacaddy]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't think of the battery acid concern. I'm sure it's water because I just installed them new last week. They sit in shallow trays that would catch small leaks.

So if I drill a hole at the rear I presume I'm going to cut into a wooden stringer? Anything else to watch out for?

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Anything else to watch out for?

Not drilling through the bottom - :grin:

The big thing is to be sure you seal the walls of the hole to prevent water damage.
Drilling the hole will also let you know if there is any existing water damage in the stringer.

The picture below is of my transom rebuild showing where I added weep (drain) holes.
(1) in the existing stringer and (1) in the rebuilt side structure.
They are shown covered with fiberglass - I opened them back up after.
Pictures usually help - :huh:

 

[Ike]

ABYC Standards for batteries requires a means of containing electrolye spills. Batteries have to be fastened down so they won't move, and have a means of containing spills. A battery box fulfills these requirements. So does a shallow tray and a strap or other means of restraining the batteries. In the photo there appears to be metal restraining bars holding the batteries in place. Also the compartment must be ventilated. That is, some means of venting Hydrogen off when charging the battteries. No there should not be water in the compartment. If I were you I would want to know how the water is getting into the compartment more than anything else. I would then fix that problem so that water doesn't get into the compartment at all. It may be coming in through the vent. Some kind of loop or p trap would fix that.

 

[Mactacaddy]

Thanks again for all the replies. I think I've figured out the problem. It appears as though the flapper valve on the starboard side scupper drain isn't working properly. There's an identical drain and sub-floor compartment on the port side and it's as dry a bone even with all the rain we've had lately.

It looks something like this http://www.discountmarinesupplies.com/Seadog_Round_Scuppers.html

 

[KC_Sundancer]

There should be a hose that connects the scupper to the hull fitting?
That hose may be loose, damaged or plugged too?

 

[Mactacaddy]

I'm not aware of nor have I seen a hose. I can put my finger in the hole and feel the flapper valve. It looks to be flush mounted to the hull without a hose.

And I'm not so sure it was plugged after all. I checked the boat out last evening and the battery compartment was pretty much full (re: about 5 inches deep). It was raining at the time and because the batteries are on the starboard side the boat naturally lists in that direction. I also noticed that none of the rain water was running toward the rear port side scupper drain.

If you have a look at the picture in the link below it looks like the scupper drain is pretty much at the water line and inside the boat there's always a small amount of water sitting there. What appears to be happening is rain water sheds to the rear starboard drain but can't get out so it empties into my battery compartment. Looks like I'm going to have to add a weep hole in the battery compartment so it drains into the bilge. That's the way I see it unless someone else has any other thoughts or theories on how to fix the problem?

http://s1061.photobucket.com/albums/t472/bobgarland1/?action=view&current=IMG00464-20120626-1823.jpg

Thanks

Bob

 

[Frank Mendez]

It’s happened to me. Btw does anyone know a reputable parts place. I have a few things I’d like to fix. Sink isn’t working

 

[techmitch]

It’s happened to me. Btw does anyone know a reputable parts place. I have a few things I’d like to fix. Sink isn’t working

Welcome aboard Frank. Mactacaddy's post was from over 11 years ago.

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

Frank, i have a 88 240s. Most parts i get are from e bay or certain other on line marine stores. What are you actually looking for

 

[Frank Mendez]

Frank, i have a 88 240s. Most parts i get are from e bay or certain other on line marine stores. What are you actually looking for

I’m looking for

 

[Frank Mendez]

I’m looking for

I’m looking for

I’m looking for a plug for my ice cooler, latch for my glove compartment and my bar light isn’t working...

 

[Frank Mendez]

Frank, i have a 88 240s. Most parts i get are from e bay or certain other on line marine stores. What are you actually looking for

I’d like to replace many of the little things that are either worn or old. Things like latches, water fixture pump, a plug for my ice cooler

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

Frank. This is the plug i use, this push button, and light should work for you.

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

I pretty much rebuilt my entire 88 240 sorrento.

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

Also. Not sure of the gph pump you need but this should work. Its a 12v and you only feeding the sink.