Storage Compartments

[jpmurphy]

Referring to a post by fishrdan on 2/2/09. He posted a pic of a storage compartment that held both his batteries as well as the gas tank. Although the batts and tank are serperated by a "wall", the batt boxes have no lids.

I'm working on the floor plan for my rebuild and I would like to incorporate this same storage concept. Batts and gas together. Think it should be on the port side at the transom to help balance the boat when I am the only one in it. (Starboard side console).

I'm having the Coast Guard inspection done and I'm wondering about the effect of the combined fumes from the Batt and Gas tank being in the same compartment. The inspector doesn't want to answer any "pre-inspection" questions and I am unable to find the answer on their web site.

Any guidance or suggestions on this ?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Storage Compartments

Here's the pic,

The compartment has to be vented if it contains batteries or a fuel tank. The black holes in the lid and bulkhead are to vent this compartment (there is another you can't see on the forward facing bulkhead also). USCG has specs for this,,, and I don't have enough open air space to properly vent my compartment, it's on the to-do list. From what I remember I need to double the hole sizes.

I didn't put in battery hold downs since I'm not taking this boat into rough water, but on my new project (18' fishing boat) all batteries are going onto trays that hold down the batteries.

It's kind of odd as I looked up the USCG specs for venting a compartment and my new project boat doesn't have sufficient compartment ventilation for the bow battery... Didn't come with a battery hold-down either, battery was just sitting in a compartment that is practically sealed when closed,,, and it was designed this way from the manufacturer

Like you mentioned about balance, I have my batteries on the port side to help balance the boat since I sit off to the starboard side. I didn't just pick the location for the batteries and fuel tank and luck out with a balanced boat. I first took the new boat with all my gear to do some testing on the water, placing the batteries and fuel tank in different locations to make sure the boat would be balanced properly, port<>starboard, bow<>stern and that it would plane easily. Luckily, the location I wanted to place the heavy items was a good choice, then I commenced to chopping up my boat.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Storage Compartments

Looking at the pic from fishrdan, I think he's borderline legal because that's not a permanent tank... although it would depend on the inspector. The problem is that the vent on that portable tank vents into the compartment space, not above decks like a permanent tank would.

I know the rule of thumb is an 18 inch separation for electrical and fuel systems, and personally I would never put the batteries in a common vent system with the fuel tank, even if both are adequately ventilated.

The reason is that although fumes have to build up in a confined space in order to explode (that's why we have vent fans) but even without build-up the vapor can ignite with a spark. So if you have your tank vent in the same space, a puff of vapor coming out can reach the battery and ignite when it drifts by, which might only cause a brief flash, or might ignite something else. Once flame gets to your tank, you're probably going to lose the boat.

If you really want to put a fuel tank in the space with the batteries, make sure it's a permanent tank and that the vent line for it goes up and out of the compartment. Also make sure you have power venting and you run the fan a few minutes before generating any sparks, to make sure you get rid of any standing fumes.

If you want to be sure you pass the CG inspection, don't put your fuel and batts in the same compartment, but if you do, make sure they're separated by a partition and vented separately.

Erik

 

[jpmurphy]

Re: Storage Compartments

Thanks for the input. Just to be on the safe side, I will use two different compartments. Probably best for balance to put the batt box at the Transom on the same side as the console (starboard) and the gas tank (being Heavier when full) on the port side. I'll probably vent both compartments with 2 vents for each one as in "intake" and "exhaust". Using two seperate boxes will still leave access to the motor/transom area without having to kneel on anything.

I'll do it !

Thanks again...

 

[buckeyboy]

Re: Storage Compartments

Please seperate batteries fron fuel. thats just looking for trouble vents are not Adiquate. Not truing to make trhings hard but safety first.

 

[zach103]

Re: Storage Compartments

i have two 6 gallon portables on one side and batteries on the otherside..

 

[zach103]

Re: Storage Compartments

alright.. on the left side is my batteries.. right side two gas tanks.. their not there but maybe this will help you in some way