Battery tray recs? (group29)

[Cigars n scotch]

What's everyone using for a battery tray to hold down your batteries?

I found this doing a quicks search http://www.iboats.com/mall/image/view/9/4/232-nbh31sscdp_2.jpg

And wondering if it's ok. I had a g24 with a tray but just replaced it with 2 group 29's.

[MLA]

Here's how I decide between a tray or box. If the battery is located in a usable storage are, I use a box as I prefer to have the terminals covered to prevent an accedental shorting if something metel inadvertantly gets laid across the top. If the battery is in the engine bay and out of the way, then a tray like you have linked is perfectly fine.

[sandm]

I prefer the peace of mind having the battery in a box, but mla has good advice there...

[ian ashton]

I built mine out of starboard to hold 2 batteries and save space. A little more expensive, but way cooler, IMO.

http://img.tapatalk.com/18c01843-c71f-7175.jpg
During install.

[Cigars n scotch]

My battery is in my observers Seat storage area so stuff gets placed on it all the time. I'm going to have two of them in there now.

Man Ian, that is not a cheap option. Starboard is expensive.

[AJones]

My boat came with a battery tray with 2 long bolts with nuts holding a bar across the top. But I didn't like the idea of having my storage stuff accidently come in contact with the battery posts. I never thought a battery box held the battery securely enough. My solution was to keep the tray and modify a battery box top to cover the battery posts. I use a bungee cord to hold it in place.

[jmvotto]

Fwiw, Wally world has battery boxes.

[Cigars n scotch]

Fwiw, Wally world has battery boxes.

I have two group 29 boxes, now I just need a tray to secure them to the floor.

I'm simply trying to not have to take time to build something, buying it for this case is just easier.

[sandm]

The supra came with 2 "plastic" trays with the straps ran under them that held down the 2 factory batteries. I tried like heck to find that same setup when I added the 3rd battery but could not. they were nothing more than 4 pieces of 1/2" composite that were stapled together like a picture frame that the battery boxes set in. very simple, but very functional. interstate battery dealership looked at them and told me that they had to have been made by skiers as they had not ever seen anything like them. I finally just used the 2 small plastic clips that hold the battery tray strap to the floor and secured it that way. never had an issue. most of the boxes come with a strap and 2 plastic clips to secure the strap to the floor.

[Cigars n scotch]

Yes sandman, my supra only came with one battery but I have that same "frame" screwed down to the floor and stapled together. It only fits g24 though.

I wonder where I can get composite material like that. That would be simple build.

[sandm]

I was going to get some acrylic material and make my own, but decided the effort really wasn't worth it after just using the 2 plastic strap holders. it held my battery just fine and if you measure/install the plastic pieces correctly, they fit the small indents in the bottom of the battery box and give you a guide to get them set in correctly..

at the end of the day, I decided that with them installed in the passenger cubby out of the way and buried behind towels/purses/etc, those frames were more cosmetic than functional and no one would see them anyway :)

[moombadaze]

That would be simple build.

wonder if this would work. Take a cutting board thats about 1 inch longer and wider that the group size battery box and cut out the inside to make the "picture frame". Simple and cheap and easy to make.

Any thoughts on this

[cab13367]

Guys,

You are on the right track. When I added a second and then a third battery, I just duplicated the factory "frame" using left over King Starboard I had from my walkway project and used little galvanized L brackets from Home Depot. See pics below. The frame on the left is the one I made, the one on the right is the factory one. If you don't have easy access to starboard material, you could just go buy a white cutting board and cut it up as needed. The frame not only keeps the battery from sliding around but it also gives you a way to secure the hold down strap.


http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg276/cab13367/Boat%20Pics/3rd%20battery/IMG_2585.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg276/cab13367/Boat%20Pics/IMG_07592.jpg