Do marine batteries NEED to be in a plastic box??

[corey4631]

I have a kind of stupid and odd question.

I have a 99 Bayliner with a 4.3L V6 in it. I want to parallel two batteries together, which I understand.

My question however is, the compartment that holds the battery is just big enough to hold both batteries with literally NO wiggle room. The batteries are NOT in plastic cases. Do the batteries NEED to be in the plastic cases?? I understand the point of having them in there to not get wet, but this compartment is totally dry to begin with.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Do marine batteries NEED to be in a plastic box??

no they don't, the purpose of the plastic boxes is to contain battery acid that spills out of batteries causing further damage, there are ways to combat spills other then boxes like regular maintenance and dry or gel cell batteries, I don't have battery boxes on either of my batteries but I must warn you to take good care of the batteries, lack of maintenance can make a mess of things

 

[shrew]

Re: Do marine batteries NEED to be in a plastic box??

No they don't need to be in battery boxes. However they do need to be retained with a battery tie down of some kind:

http://www.iboats.com/Marine-Batter...3608215--**********.142144361--view_id.216581

The terminals will need to be covered with a batery terminal boot of some kind:

http://www.iboats.com/Marine-Batter...3608215--**********.142144361--view_id.374310


I hope this helps.

 

[corey4631]

Re: Do marine batteries NEED to be in a plastic box??

Thanks for the info!!! I pretty much just placed the batteries in together, strapped them down and then ran them parallel.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Do marine batteries NEED to be in a plastic box??

The newer style sealed batteries and a properly functioning alternator should not produce any spillover hence no need for containment.........but things can go astray.

Mark