How do you open the engine hatch when batteries are disconnected, for winter

[EDWARD BILLING]

We have a 2008 Sundancer 380 starting plans for winterization, how dou you
A) close the hatch after disconnecting the batteries for the winter and
B) Open the hatch in the spring to hook them back up.

 

[Carver370]

Most marinas will leave the hatch open when disconnecting the batteries for the winter season. I am in heated storage and leave mine connected, but powered totally down at the battery switches and main panel.

 

[Shenanigans77]

We have a 2008 Sundancer 380 starting plans for winterization, how dou you
A) close the hatch after disconnecting the batteries for the winter and
B) Open the hatch in the spring to hook them back up.

I hook a portable jump box to the breaker box (eim) under the helm to lower in the fall and raise in the spring.

 

[Fill Ess]

I have a 12v plug at the helm, and a 12v portable jump pack with the same plug.

This cord connects them:

 

[EDWARD BILLING]

I hook a portable jump box to the breaker box (eim) under the helm to lower in the fall and raise in the spring.

not sure I understand how this will power the lift, are you saying you put a Mobile battery directly onto the Hatch lift breaker, at the helm, I would have thought with all the sea rays in the cold north they would have come up with a manual override, thanks for sharing

 

[Shenanigans77]

not sure I understand how this will power the lift, are you saying you put a Mobile battery directly onto the Hatch lift breaker, at the helm, I would have thought with all the sea rays in the cold north they would have come up with a manual override, thanks for sharing

On my 320 the lift rams are powered off the forward breaker box under the helm. Just clip a jump box on the positive and negative that feeds that box, lower or raise the hatch, then unhook it

 

[Creekwood]

You back feed the 12v system through the “cigarette lighter” at the helm with an adapter that goes from a battery with clips. I made my own.

 

[EDWARD BILLING]

On my 320 the lift rams are powered off the forward breaker box under the helm. Just clip a jump box on the positive and negative that feeds that box, lower or raise the hatch, then unhook it

Many thanks I will give it a try

 

[EDWARD BILLING]

You back feed the 12v system through the “cigarette lighter” at the helm with an adapter that goes from a battery with clips. I made my own. View attachment 133756

Many thanks I will give it a try

 

[boatman37]

Our boat has one of these right beside the battery switch. Shouldn't be too hard to install one. I pull the batteries then hook one up to these terminals with jumper cables then lower my outdrive and hatch

 

[Harleyd558]

We have a 2008 Sundancer 380 starting plans for winterization, how dou you
A) close the hatch after disconnecting the batteries for the winter and
B) Open the hatch in the spring to hook them back up.

Surprising you don't need the batteries. I have a 2005 320. Last year (I purchased it in August) when I went to winterize it, I removed all 4 batteries. However, I plugged the shore power in, and turned both battery switches on (even though I removed all the batteries) and low and behold, the hatch switch up and down worked.

 

[EDWARD BILLING]

Yep that will work but it is hard on the equipment, as it is AC direct conversion to DC, the batteries always provide direct current and there is a slight delay in the conversion from the Charger, giving fluctuating current into the DC side.

 

[Harleyd558]

Yep that will work but it is hard on the equipment, as it is AC direct conversion to DC, the batteries always provide direct current and there is a slight delay in the conversion from the Charger, giving fluctuating current into the DC side.

True, however, you're only using it to close the hatch after winterizing, and opening it in the spring to reinstall your batteries. Utilizing it once every 6 months won't hurt anything. A lot better than trying to hook up external batteries, purchasing adapters you really don't need, etc.