"Listen...Do you smell something?"

Scene 1: 7. Jan. 2013 - Today. Exterior shot of sky. A cool, overcast, winter Monday morning in the boat yard of Green Cove Springs Marina, Florida. Pan downward to boats in yard on jackstands. Sideways pan to ladder leaning against Gallant Fox. Our heroic duo have just climbed into The Fox's cockpit and have unlocked the companionway hatch, ready to begin another day of work before splashing the boat 72 hours later, on Thursday morning.

"What's that smell?"

"It's either teen spirit, or...THE BATTERIES HAVE COOKED!!!"

Scene 2: Seconds later. Interior shot of boat as seen from companionway. Mad scramble to remove all objects, including cushions, from saloon where battery box is located at base of mast while "Yakkity Sax" soundtrack plays. Gingerly removal of planks and battery box lid.

"Whoa, the batteries are toast, all right."

"Totally fried. Sizzlin' and bubblin' like three rectangular conjoined mini-volcanoes."

How did this happen? The sequence of events went something like this:

Our boat's house bank comprises three 4D gel batteries, a bit over 11 years old - GB installed them November of 2001. Gel batteries do not typically last 11 years unless, like GB, you treat them right: regularly monitor their charge and output; occasionally discharge them very deeply instead of always topping them off, etc. We knew these batteries were beyond their useful life but they were still serving us well, although during the past couple years GB saw they were beginning to discharge more quickly, and recharge more slowly, than they had done when they (and we) were younger. We intended to replace them before we left the US again. GB had already made inquiries and knew where he would get new batteries, and when. It's nice, having all one's ducks in such a tidy row.

We had put The Fox on the hard in Green Cove Springs and spent an unprecedented 9 months away. (Details to follow!) The batteries, of course, were fully discharged when we came back. One of GB's first jobs was to re-engage our Xantrex battery charger, which welcomed us by immediately setting itself on fire. Stupid Xantrex. (Details to follow!) So, we bought a replacement Mastervolt battery charger, which started up just fine.

GB noted that the batteries were not accepting a bulk charge very well from New Mr. Mastervolt, but it appeared that they were still alive and charging. Our plan to replace them at a later date still looked solid. Until, that is, GB left the charger on overnight last night. And left the battery temperature sensor turned off.

The sulfur/ammonia smell of a fully-cooked gel battery is unmistakable. One of the three is still boiling, and it's been almost 4 hours since we shut that whole thing down. I allowed as how we were lucky the batteries packed it in here, in a boat yard, as opposed to out there on the water somewhere. GB said first that we were lucky the boat didn't burn (agreed); next that he guessed he should have at least reconnected the temperature sensor before he left last night, which might have saved the batteries by shutting off the charger (agreed); and lastly he said that none of this was his fault and the batteries were ready to be replaced anyway (agreed, but with qualifications: if your batteries are close to death, have your replacement plan ready because they may die sooner than you expect and/or for different reasons - including user error).

Paraphrasing Mark Twain's remark about the man who tried to carry home a cat by the tail, frying a set of gel batteries is a lesson that will never grow dim or doubtful. <Cough.>

"Now, where can we find a spare $1600 to pay for a complete set of new batteries, a year ahead of schedule?"

Slow fade to black. Finis.

m

Comments

[Traveller]

I'm glad that batteries cooking was the only serious damage.

Good luck with the replacement.

[sailnmuffin]

Thanks, Traveller - nice hearing from you! We got the replacements, GB connected them without incident, & they seem to be working like they're supposed to -- although we are NOT leaving them plugged in to shore power overnight until we get somewhere we can personally monitor them.