Doug,
While I was sailing as the Engineering Officer on a square
rigger years ago, we had a massive battery bank (large number of BIG batteries)
in the engine room to take care of hotel loads. These were raised about
3-4 feet above deck level in lead sheet-lined heavy wooden boxes. The
lead contained any spilled sulfuric acid or if a battery cracked. We had
a raw water suction line rupture once and flood the engine room. The top
of the battery boxes were above the water line so no battery flooding occurred
thus no chlorine gas issue or batteries ruined by saltwater intrusion. Based
upon this you might still consider placing your batteries higher up than the
bilge in the large sailboat you are getting ready to build.
R/Jay
Respectfully,
Jay K. Jeffries
Andros Is., Bahamas
As scarce as the truth is, the supply has always been in excess of
the demand.
-Josh Billings
Yea, I think
that is a really good point too. But when I think about putting them in
the bilge on a boat, I keep thinking about the horror stories of chlorine gas
in WWII subs. --Doug