T&T: ABYC and Canadian TC1332 spec

[Mark Richter]

> The following is what drove the search for the standards.
> I have a 1989 65' Stardust Houseboat that I purchased in 2000 and 
> installed
> an inverter and batteries in the hold under the living area. It was 
> surveyed
> 2 years ago with no major problems. The same surveyor inspected the boat
> next to mine. It is a 1991 model with self installed inverter system in 
> the
> same location. Now the surveyor says the batteries are unacceptable in 
> that
> location and must be move from under the living area to the hold area 
> under
> the front deck.

Did the surveyor say what his concern is?  Most all trawlers have the 
batteries installed in the engine room, under the living space, and this is 
not against the standards.  There should be ventilation to remove the 
hydrogen gas given off during charging of flooded cell batteries.  Hydrogen 
is lighter than air, and could collect in pockets up under the deck without 
sufficient ventilation.  Then a spark could ignite the pocket of hydrogen. 
But few boats are built so tightly as to allow this to happen.

Mark Richter, m/v Winnie the Pooh, homeport Ortona, FL on the Okeechobee 
Waterway
Mark's Mobile Marine, electrical system design, installation and repair.
NEW PHONE NUMBER:   AT&T 863-517-1152, old one with area code 772 is 
disconnected.