Posted by Fred Goldman (152.163.204.187) on May 23, 2000 at 20:51:10:
I own a 1990 42 for about three years. It came with a 5KW Genset in the port lazarette. It sits low and to port by a few inches. I put 200 lbs of lead in the anchor locker and it helped a little. I didn't want to add any more. Moving the water line is an option. Any other suggestions out there? Is it possible to move batteries forward? -FredPosted by Jerry Kiehne (63.23.227.50) on May 25, 2000 at 06:39:44:
Nick-
I also have a 90 - 3 cabin and have gone to 6 golf cart batteries. I did consider the bilge when I installed the new batteries but shyed away from the bilge
for two reasons. First, I was a little worried if I ever had a major leak on the boat and the bilges filled up with water, the batteries would short out and
render my bilge pump inoperable. Second, I installed my inverter in the port lazarette on the shelf (in place of the factory installed battery charger) and I
would have had to relocate the inverter near the batteries which presented lots of other problems.
To install 6 golf cart batteries in the original battery box only required a minor modification to the size of the box and worked out well with the inverter.
I am still debating the issue of enlarging my fuel capacity. If I do opt to increase capacity I have decided to remove the aft holding tank and install a fuel tank in that location as many others have done. That would compensate for the extra two batteries on the port side and the connections for fill and vent are already there. My only concern is that we will be cruising mainly in the Bahamas and Caribbean where fuel seems to readily available. If I do not need the extra capacity, then I would not want to have extra fuel onboard that will just grow algae due to low or non usage.
Jerry
