Batteries-n-Tanks

I’d like to move my TM batteries to the back of my boat. My boat is essentially a bass boat layout, but the entire back end is one large hold, in which there are two portable gas tanks. Maybe tomorrow I can put up some pictures to make it more clear.

Anyways, the batteries are both in plastic battery boxes, Is there a risk of fire/explosion from placing them in the same hold as the tanks? It’s not just when they’re running, but charging, etc. The only time I’m really worried about it is when I’m fueling the tanks, as I assume there are plenty of fumes that build up in there.

Hey Gianni,

My thoughts would be not to do that…because:

Your battery terminals are on the outside of those plastic boxes(?)

The vents for the tanks are always open.

It’s a closed area.

I going to guess that there may not even be a vent for that compartment as all boats must have if they have a built in gas tank. If it does, when your moving it shouldn’t be a problem…but without a breeze, you’re going to have a gas fume build up. Even with chargers that have a on/off switch…you know your going to have a spark there sooner or later….

If you can somehow vent the tanks to the outside…you should be ok…

That worries me a bit too G-man. I’d be really careful. We’d kinda like to keep you around here ya know…

Dang, I’ve kept my batteries at the back of the boat for years, along with the gas tank. I do have the tank vented to the outside and there is also a “general” vent in the back. I do have the batteries in enclosed boxes. I have a canvas for an enclosure.

Honestly, I’ve worked alot with fuels. To each their own…….but my OPINION is that as long as it is vented, there will not be a problem. At worse, if a spark caused a fire, there would not be an explosion due to the tank being vented (I’m talking a hose vent, not the screw type in the cap). With that said, a typical fire extinguisher would put it out quickly………..again, my opinion……..

Don’t take this word to heart. It is just my opinion. I’m an old aircraft mechanic and dealt alot with refueling aircraft. As long as you can avoid “serious spark” on an enclosed (low vented) tank, there shouldn’t be a problem.

Besides…………that is what fire extinguishers are for, right!!!

Where I would gain concern is if you had an enclosed compartment with a gas tank and battery inside, with no vent to the outside. At this point in time, the fumes would probably choke you out of the boat every time you opened the door. At this type of scenario, if you did have a spark because of crossed battery cables, you might have a fire…….

Keep it well ventilated and you won’t have a problem.

I did some more thinking about this today as well. The hold is vented on both sides of the boat to the outside, but the tanks are only vented by the screw-in cap vents.

It has to be okay, I think, because the bilge pump sits in the bottom of the hold in a divot behind the tanks. The motor would have brushes that spark constantly when it is running. Now granted, the bilge pump is supposedly sealed, but I can’t believe that they would bet your life on that seal.

On my Skeeter, I have 2 tanks and 3 batteries all in the back compartment. I have not had any noticeable fumes or any concerns of fires. The two vents coming out the back of the boat vent the compartment very well. Just my .02

G-

The only concern that I have is this:

do you fill your tanks in the boat or take them out? I would take them out……….

Also, what I would probably do is run a small gas line tube from your vent cap screw to the outside of the boat hatch. This could be done by tapping in a nipple on the gas cap, running connecting a hose, then running the hose to the hatch or somewhere else conspicuous, where you can place another nipple fitting to attach the hose too. With that said, and having the batteries in enclosed boxes (strapped shut) you should not have a problem at all.

Getting the tanks in and out is a lot of work, more than normal due to the odd shape of the hatch doors. I snapped some pictures so that you guys could see what I was talking about:

Here’s one of the tanks & doors, you can see the side vents (beige plastic in the first pic), also, the front is open behind the seats.

Basically I’m thinking about putting the batteries 1/side right behind the seats, which is the corner of this picture.

I wouldn’t fill gas next to an open battery (even if it was in a box)………….I wouldn’t feel that comfortable about it.

For a few bucks, you could probably get a remote filler tube and mount it outside the compartment………

I’ll agree with Gary, as long as the tank and the compartment is vented I wouldn’t worry. As a precaution I would use a on-board charger so you don’t have sparks when you charge the batteries. If you can smell fumes use your better judgment. The fumes have to be in a narrow range to ignite, too rich or too lean they won’t ignite, just like a engine it just won’t go !

Well, I decided after much deliberation and input from lots of people that I would go for it. Yesterday I stopped in and got a length of 6 awg wire big enough to re-route, tonight I stopped and got the splices and battery connectors I needed.

Mounting the batteries behind the seats wasn’t a problem. Nothing to worry about there. Everything looks to be secure, safe, and sound. Now the wiring. Man, that 6 gauge wire is plenty hefty, no? What a pain working with that stuff… oh well, I get it all spliced and run, only to realize that I bought the wrong terminal connectors.

It wouldn’t bother me that much, but I was hoping to work in a fishing trip tomorrow (heard that pool 14 was hot hot hot ). Now I’m sitting here, 11:00 at night, church allready done, thinking about the fact that nobody who carries the terminals will be open until almost noon tomorrow.

Such is life… I’ll get ‘er done and see what kind of mood wifey is in. Maybe an afternoon trip will still work out.

Well, I got it done this morning. For those who don’t already know, Menard’s opens at 8, and expect there to be about a dozen guys peering in the door at quarter ’till, then walking around looking at grills.

Hit pool 14 this afternoon, and what a difference. The porpoising is gone, I picked up about 3-400 RPM’s, putting me back into the right range at WOT. The ride smoothed out unbelievably as well. Now the bad news… I polished off what was left in one of the tanks and now I’ve got to get it out to fill it. Oh well, I did remove them for the first three years I had the boat… just been lazy as of late.

If you never remove your tanks, why not buy a larger single tank and mount permanently with a top fill and vent?

I’ll do some surfing tonight and see if I can’t find one. Depending how much they cost, that might be just the ticket.

Any ideas on who might have one? I suspect Overton’s is about the best bet.

Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops have them in severval different sizes and configurations. I think that you could probably be done, turn key with gas gauge for about $200 max!!! Maybe cheaper……