I have an '88, and I too have just two batteries in the port locker. Although I had no serious problem installing or removing my two AGM batteries back in 2006 or so, I found myself kneeling on the cockpit floor, one hand on the edge of the locker edge, and one hand hauling the ridiculously heavy batteries into place.
That said, when it came time to work on the battery cables (or anything dealing with the engine compartment, the engine instrument panel, or a crazy desire to replace all my instruments) I had to crawl inside the locker. Even though I'm in my upper 30's it was still a challenge, and uncomfortable. I assumed the batteries were placed for balance reasons, but I love the idea of putting the batteries next to the fuel tank below the starboard berth. It would make me a bit nervous to have batteries next to an aluminum (read: conducts electricity) diesel tank but it'd certainly be convenient. Alas, I have taken over the space to house electronics for my new instrument kit. (Raymarine ST60 core kit with the SeaTalk interface box for 0813 and serial for eventual computer hookup.) Good luck, David On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 5:53 PM, Sonshingle <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I'm only 5'11" and 165# so it isn't too bad for me except that I'm a little > "long in the tooth". > > Been to Cedar Point in your fair city. > > Dick Schmidt > Greenville, NC > > > > --- On *Sat, 4/10/10, [email protected] <[email protected]>* wrote: > > > From: [email protected] <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [IC27A] Inconvenient battery installation on Catalina 27 > To: [email protected] > Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 10:10 PM > > > > At 6 feet and 200 pounds I am reluctant to get down into the locker to > deal with batteries. I have visions of seeing myself on the 11 o'clock news > watching them use the jaws-of-life to get me out. > > Andy Dalzell > C-27 #6298 > Sandusky Bay > > > >
