Exploding Battery almost strands us in the Keys! E144

We leave Key West with plans to anchor at Marathon Key but a generator problem and an exploding battery force us to cruise through the night to Fort Lauderdale. We take the opportunity to provision and visit some favorite bars and restaurants.
Find us on
/ trying-not-to-sink-134...
/ tryingnot_tosink
/ tryingnottosink
Our Story:
My name is Ed, I am an ex-musician, turned politician, turned tax account, who now imagines himself a sea-captain. Lyn, is an ex-model, turned photographer and the love of my life.
We have spent the last three years traveling on our 65' Hatteras Yacht and it has been terrifying. We have faced down storms, been stranded at sea, towed off shoals and run aground by careless boaters.
But it has been magical as well. We have explored places known only by those who travel by water, met incredible people along the way, and learned so much about boating - and even more about ourselves.
And to think - until three years ago, Lyn, and I, never even owned a boat.
We met when we were 21. I was a starving musician, on my way To Los Angeles to starve some more. Lyn was a model, waitressing tables and dreaming of adventure. We went on our first date to the Jersey Shore, and spent the night on a boat her father was restoring. That date has never ended.
We traveled the country together, and settled for a few years in Hollywood, where she discovered her love for photography, and I discovered that music was not going to be my career. We put down roots in Bucks County Pennsylvania. We built a house together, raised three children and became your typical American family. She opened a photography business and I opened an accounting firm.
On a vacation to Key West, we met a woman who lived on her boat. She had been an emergency room nurse for many years but decided she had had enough. She sold everything, bought a boat and sailed to Florida. We were fascinated. It seemed so romantic, so us. The seed was planted.
Flash forward a few years and the children are grown. Lyn retired from photography and sold her business. And me, well, I was only working three months out of the year and looking for a new adventure.
So, we bought our first boat. A Carver 355. No experience, and completely clueless. We hired a captain to bring us to our local marina and we were determined to learn how to operate her. We practiced in an empty marina for a couple of days and then, we just went for it! We figured, if we liked boating as much as we imagined, we would trade up to our dream boat. Two years later we did just that.
This video vlog is our story. Boating has become our passion. We invite you to share this journey with us, as we explore the waterways of the Atlantic and Caribbean, having the time of our lives, while "Trying Not To Sink."
Cheers!
Ed and Lyn.
#hatteras
#yacht
#boat
#trawler
#keywest
#hatteras

[@Drebo1971]

I always appreciate how you show the reality of boating. And more importantly perseverance and problem solving.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

What, it's not all bikinis and free diving! Thanks. We try to keep it realistic, even when we look like idiots.

[@PepeDeezNutz]

💯

[@eyeconspiracy]

I highly recommend buying a portable gas generator as backup. (No need to pay the Honda price, especially for a backup.) I bought a Wen 3800 for about $700. It can run my AC in aft cabin for a full night sleep on its 2.2g tank. This way you don't need to beeline for a marina when your main gen gives you a problem. Maybe you have plans or friends on board, and don't want to devote your time to fixing the main gen at the moment. No rush!...just use the portable. Also depending upon the size of your diesel generator, you may find it's more efficient to run the little gas gen when you just need to charge batteries.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

That's a good idea. We are planning to add more lithium batteries to our boat this winter. I could have run the inverter to charge the batteries as well but I had discharged them while we were running from Key West. More lithiums would solve that problem.

[@LiveTheStreetLife]

You don’t need a small generator, especially a gasoline one. What you had overcame the problem in an emergency situation. It all worked.

[@eyeconspiracy]

@@LiveTheStreetLife Except they had to drop all plans and run overnight for a marina at which only a couple nights for a boat that size would eclipse the price of a cheap gas generator. Yacht snobs like to turn up their noses at those little portable gas generators, but they are an awesome value.

[@LiveTheStreetLife]

Except it turned out that they didn’t need to go overnight; their existing generator did fine. They could have turned around and gone back to Key West, Marathon, or a few other places to get a replacement battery. And not needing a piece of equipment that will never get used, needs maintenance, and additional gasoline storage doesn’t show that I’m a yacht snob. It shows that I’ve lived aboard for 19 years and have experience.

[@DriveSafeDon]

Ed & Lynn I definitely enjoy your videos being an ex auto mechanic I can tell you that if the battery didn’t pop from being shorted out it’s possible it pop because it overheated usually overheating the battery is from overcharging please check your voltage regulators and make sure when your batteries are fully charged they’re not being overcharged. Stay well your friend and fan Don 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@DriveSafeDon]

@@Baba3756-n2o Cliff the problem with batteries that take distilled water is as they charge the acid boils which creates evaporation this is why we add distilled water in those types of batteries. better off getting a closed battery system this way no one has to worry about adding water so yes I would suggest upgrading to better batteries on both engines and generator and replace if needed the voltage regulators 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@tryingnottosink9107]

We suspected the battery needed to be topped off - not dry. We had topped them off when we left on the trip and we were topping them off again at the halfway point. It was probably about a pint low, as that was roughly what the other batteries were. We'll never know now. In past years, I only had to top batteries off every 4-6 months but I am suspecting that as batteries age they may eat water faster. The charger is a March "constant voltage charger." It is what Hatteras supplied when the boat was new. They are not smart, which is bad for longevity of the batteries, however, the charger can run everything on the boat, even with completely dead batteries. That is why the generator acting up was such a concern. I can start the boat off the charger if the generator is running. One thing I have never tested is using my lithium batteries to operate the charger and having the charger start the boat. Not sure if it will work but that would be an additional redundancy.

[@bidask123]

That McDonald Hardware Store. Iconic. They carry 10mm sockets.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Reminds me of the hardware stores when I was a kid. The guys at the counter knew where everything was located.

[@vresor]

Whew, always an adventure. Smart move moving on up the coast!

[@MooreFishing-ky3wq]

I’d get a portable backup generator .

[@redhorse554det1]

should not charge a lead acid battery when the electrolyte(water) is below the top of the plates. add water(any) to the level above the top of the plates. or gases can form and the possibility of over charge and explosion may happen. distilled water is prefered but when you are out, use drinking water. drinking water will not kill your battery.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

I did not notice where the water level was. It is very difficult to see because of the battery placement on the boat. I would need a mirror. In any case, the other batteries were about a pint short so I believe that is how low this one was. I could be wrong.

[@markeast9221]

I saw a video last month where you changed over the batteries ?

[@festerofest4374]

Yes, I thought so too? I’m confused. Maybe this is old footage from last year??

[@tryingnottosink9107]

This footage was shot in July. I am slow at editing. The batteries were replaced last month and I did a video as part of our "This Old Boat" playlist.

[@notboeingnotgoing5483]

I have a Sea Ray 63' I have had a battery explode from overcharging before....anyone ever told you that you look like a present day Michael Andretti the famous ex racer and current IndyCar team owner? He is youre doppelganger ...love youre videos

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Never heard that one before. I used to love watching his father race when I was a kid.

[@PepeDeezNutz]

lol

[@edwardc.3710]

As bre rabbit said please strand me in Key West !!

[@franktaraso2067]

“ Stranded in Key West” sounds like an oxymoron and definitely a first world problem. BTW, excellent fun and informative videos.

[@lgriestra]

Life is an adventure and in a yacht even more. Nice video and I am glad everything went well.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Yes! Thank you!

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

That battery was domed either way with putting tap water in the cells. It may have gotten you a little more time, but it would fail. Chances are one of the plates most likely shorted. It was a blast from the past to see the Quarter Deck I spent many hours there studding the McDonald Douglas DC 9 manuals there. 😁🛫

[@tryingnottosink9107]

The batteries were 5 years old so it was time. We like that Quarter Deck as well. We can only go there when we have a car.

[@billjeffery2419]

as captain Ron would ,if its going to happen its going to happen out there, very fortunate.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Ain't that the truth.

[@anthoneyking6572]

Hi well I'm still left Not Knowing what was wrong with the Generator or do you think it was the Broken Batt that caused the Genni to pack up >? Great Vlog you both really needed that rest for sure Especially the Wife thanks for sharing

[@tryingnottosink9107]

The screw that controls the governor is broken so I have it rigged. It needs to be set at the correct rpm or the generator does not produce electricity. I seemed that I was just having a hard time getting it set correctly.

[@anthoneyking6572]

@@tryingnottosink9107 thanks m8 I kinda Guessed you had it Sorted thanks for the reply good of you

[@allenharttrading5573]

wow what an exciting adventure... cant wait till me and my fiancé are living the same life on the water ... love you channel ... keep em coming !!!

[@tryingnottosink9107]

You can do it! Thanks for watching!

[@johnmarschalk1977]

Exploding Battery video - Just watched a video from James Thomas Listings on electrical systems. Mostly showing boats, but have seen some boat maintenance videos. Talked about how to tell if alternator actually charging and battery health. Said they're normally in hard to reach places, but need to look at the every few weeks to see if there's an issue. Lots of information on charging and how to know if it's actually running the boat instead of the batteries

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Thanks. We'll check it out.

[@festerofest4374]

Two excellent and appropriate applications of Roger Out during the circumstances!! Duly noted!

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Roger that!

[@zaclee8200]

There is no Marathon key. You’re going to Vaca Key. Marathon is a city on Vaca Key. Just saying.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

You're right, I shouldn't be saying Key. However, to be even more accurate, we anchored outside Boot Key, not Vaca.

[@leonard7736]

So a question if I may, at about 12:30 into the video, Lyn is at the front of the boat and she has her arm pointing in different directions is she letting you know where the chain and anchor are located? TIA Lenny from Arizona City. I am so hooked on your videos and learning a lot. You guys stay safe

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Sorry for late reply. Yes, she is using her arms to tell me where the anchor is so that I can bring the boat closer as she raises the chain. That alleviates stress on the windlass.

[@andrewhaag8112]

Pirate Republic is one of my favorite restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale. Ate there twice when I was working on an opera over at the performing art center.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

The food is surprisingly good, considering it looks like a tourist place. We usually stop there every time we are in Ft Lauderdale.

[@paulkelly4731]

ps, Faro Blanco, in Marathon, is a WONDERFUL place to stay.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Looks like a nice marina. We'll have to check it out.

[@johnjerman510]

Why you not using gel, maintenance free, or similar batteries?

[@tryingnottosink9107]

They were the batteries that came with the boat and have since been replaced. Also cost.

[@foreverfixin]

Glad y'all made it back okay you can expect stuff like this to happen on these older boots for sure good video girls

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Even on newer boats things like this happen. Although probably more often on these old girls.

[@foreverfixin]

@@tryingnottosink9107 I'm restoring a 1983 Carver Monterey 26 a trailerable cabin cruiser it sleeps four wet bath and a half kitchen more projects on that boat right now than I can count knocking them off one at a time though

[@buzzydeft]

All is well that ends well...great video as usual.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Yes! Thank you!

[@joeglenn1480]

Suitcase generator for emergency backup?

[@tryingnottosink9107]

We actually have lithiums and an inverter on board that we would have used if we needed.

[@danlintz4120]

Thanks for so many informative vids. My wife and I are going to give it a go in a few years. Love the seeing the hats when growing up on a tollycraft as a teen. Still want one but from all the DIY vids you and other hat owners do is it consuming or just once and a while? Handy myself but rather not spend our first years in retirement working 20 hours a week on the boat. Wife is also worried about getting stuck. Should we look at a newer boat? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

I spend about 3-5 hours each week working on the boat. But it is mostly improvements. Right now I am adding a new head, a second power amp for the stereo and two new lithium batteries. Keeping it clean is probably the most time consuming thing we do. Actual repairs on our 3 month trip probably came up to about 8-10 hours.

[@danlintz4120]

@@tryingnottosink9107 Thanks that's not so much after all : ) It's a hat then. Really like the 54ED with the upper galley. I hear only something like 13 made. Also looking for the 56 and 52 CY that was made until 1999.

[@gerhardvanwaltsleben8944]

Lekker man lekker

[@12000Jetlag]

An exploding battery must have been scary! Glad that turned out ok for you. I heard it mentioned about adding plain water to a battery, please never do that. Only use distilled water or the minerals in the plain water will cause the battery to short. I learned that the hard way! Love following you on your adventures, thanks for sharing.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

We always use distilled water. Thanks for watching!

[@Big.Ron1]

True but in an emergency it is better to ad tap water and get in to land than it is to be dead in the water. It would sooner or later the battery would die but with hindsight it would have been better than the battery exploding and spraying acid. Hindsight is always better and you are correct. Only in an emergency or extreme urgency use tap water.

[@ysesq]

try dakora lithium dl135+

[@tryingnottosink9107]

We currently have 4 lithium batteries onboard, but they are for the inverter.

[@dandeclerck6742]

Y'know, similar electrical systems are installed in Long Haul Trucks (Peterbuilt, White/GMC, International, etc). You might be able to find replacement batteries at reasonable prices at Large Truck repair establishments.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

We replaced all the batteries about a month ago. It is in a recent video.

[@redhorse554det1]

did you say " your alternators were charging at ' 40 volts'? ..that's way too much. 14.3 to say 14.6volts.. or did you mean 40amps?

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Our boat has a 32 volt system. Still, I believe I misspoke and it was actually 38 volts.

[@MrAE2780]

In the early part of the vlog between 7 and 8 minutes you mentioned that you were charging at 40 volts which equates to around 2.5 volts per cell,16 cell battery bank, which IMHO is too high for a 32 volt lead acid system and the number of hours that you run for on your long journey or crossings and the temperature of the battery compartment. At 2.5 volts per cell your liquid use (distiled water/electrolyte) could approach 20 times more than a "normal" lead acid charge per cell of 2.3 volts per cell or in your case a maximum battery bank charge voltage of 37 volts. Just my opinion of course.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

I did say 40 volts but I believe I misspoke. Looking at the gauge now I realize the needle was most likely at 38 volts. Not sure how accurate that is either. I notice on the meter on my 32 volt panel box it usually says 36 volts when charging. One day I will test it with an actual voltage meter to confirm. Thanks for the info.

[@biffbrude675]

Shoot! I just found your channel and I'm waterfront on boot key harbor in Marathon. Definitely would have helped. Maybe next time. All the best 💪👍

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Hopefully we will be back to Boot in the spring.

[@kj3rd2657]

What about having one of those Honda Potable Generator as backup on your boat? I use to have one in the Philippines years ago and it always works great for me. Just an idea for you.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

We could do that but we plan to add more lithium to our inverter bank so that we can run 24 hours without depleting the batteries. This would have enabled us to charge the batteries over night with the inverter.

[@Big.Ron1]

Wow. Never a dull moment. How expensive would it be to convert that old girl down to 24v? Be safe!

[@tryingnottosink9107]

It would be very expensive (starters, alternators, heads, etc.). We do not mind it being 32 volts for those systems, however, we plan to add more lithium to our inverter bank so that we can run 24 hours without depleting the batteries.

[@lhunter3974]

Long day for you guys.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

It certainly was!

[@woodboat3G]

Haven't you replaced all your batteries with golf cart batteries?

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Yes, last month. That video was filmed back in July.

[@woodboat3G]

@@tryingnottosink9107 and the golf cart batteries are working correctly? All my 8 volt batteries are bad and I can't get a 32 V lithium pack to the correct voltage. I may be forced to go golf cart as the big rolls varieties are 625 each and I need 8 of them

[@tryingnottosink9107]

So far they are working fine, and only $125 each.

[@woodboat3G]

@@tryingnottosink9107 thanks. I probably will do the same when I get back to baltimore

[@darrylhealy8429]

Hey Guys, great content, keep it coming. Perhaps an investment in a good electrician to run an eye over your electrics may be in order by the sounds... anyway safe boating. Cheers

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Thanks for watching! Cheers!

[@dcallan812]

That looked like an expensive diversion. Better safe,than sorry. great video 2x👍

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Not too bad. We just replaced it with a cheap golf cart battery for the short term.

[@karlbass7895]

Nice job getting the battery issue straightened out. Kinda scary to think of a battery blowing its top off. What marina or anchorage/mooring field did you guys stay at in Key West and did you need a reservation way in advance? What month were you there? Sorry for all the questions. Stay safe.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

We stayed at Key West Bight Marina. It is owned by the city and much cheaper than the others. I called two days in advance. We were there at the end of June and beginning of July. I seem to recall that the prices drop in July as they consider it off season.

[@karlbass7895]

@@tryingnottosink9107 Tu sir!

[@barryholiday8998]

Was that the marina’s car? Glad you guys got through that ordeal.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

No, we rented the car. Some marinas have courtesy cars but I do not think Los Olas has one.

[@allenharttrading5573]

was that one of your new lithium batteries??

[@tryingnottosink9107]

No, that was an 8 volt battery that is part of our 32 volt starting/house banks. It was about 5 years old. I have since replaced all the batteries in those banks.

[@tomkiefer2386]

Definitely old school hardware store.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

You can find everything in there, as long as you ask where it is!

[@cwengle5119]

Gotta have those cocktails!!LOL!!

[@tryingnottosink9107]

You bet!

[@jquocksister]

I guess the golf cart batteries no good?!

[@tryingnottosink9107]

The gold cart battery worked great. We just replaced both of the banks with gold cart batteries. I did a video about a month ago about it. Half the weight and half the price.

[@Rule_303]

The best peace of mind bit of kit I've put in my boat is an Integral 9kW alternator on my Starboard engine. After years of intermittent generator problems on multiple boats, having a backup that can put out 3 times the power mated to one of the commercial Perkins has just made electrical power a non issue.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

We have considered adding additional alternators to our engines. The current ones are 65amp and I am diverting 25 amps to charge the lithium batteries while underway. We have space on the Detroits for a direct drive alternator.

[@Rule_303]

@@tryingnottosink9107 I was highly skeptical, and my marine electrician thought I was insane, but we now have a few years of cruising with it, and almost never bother to run the Generator. We have three domestic split system A/C's that it powers and charges all the batteries. With 200A @48V available whenever on of the mains is running, power just becomes a non issue. We easily run 2 of the AC's all night from the inverter, and that is in Thailand summer. Who knew that trusting Nigel Calder was a good call :-)

[@tryingnottosink9107]

What kind of battery bank to you have that can keep the inverter running two ACs all night?

[@Rule_303]

@@tryingnottosink9107 It's grown over time :-) Currently Have a 12V House bank of 13 x 180AH LiPo's and a further 4 @ 48V as the sump for the 8KVA Integral, that can be used a a reserve. We are Ocean going, so the plan was to easily have 24hours of full draw available. Even with 3 AC units running, She has rarely drawn more than 2kW per hour, average is around 18kW per day max. It's without doubt well over-engineered, but the domestic split systems are efficient, and two of them have lasted well over 10 years on a boat with less maintenance than the ones in my house.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Thanks for the info. We currently only have 3200 watts of lithium but plan to add more this winter. I read up on your system and it looks fantastic. I would definitely consider it if our generator died. For now, I am planning to install another alternator or two on our Detroit diesels to charge the lithium while underway.

[@garyruark9506]

Good save! Lynn is a trooper.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Thanks!

[@dirtyoldfarmhand3]

Wonderful.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@lifeofriley8160]

Love watching you. I assume you don't see the news. I shuddered when I saw you shopping in Florida without a mask. Covid raging there right now. Be careful. The new varient may not kill you but it makes you really sick. Speaking from experience. Would be miserable on a boat. Be safe!

[@tryingnottosink9107]

This video was shot in July, when things were much calmer.

[@lifeofriley8160]

@@tryingnottosink9107 phew

[@garypoltonowicz7950]

First!

[@yorkazuna5934]

Just not the first adult

[@tryingnottosink9107]

Zahav's tomorrow night. Psyched!

[@PepeDeezNutz]

McDonalds reminds me of Newtown Hardware store where my brother used to work years ago.

[@tryingnottosink9107]

I go to Newtown Hardware often. I like to support the old school hardware stores, even if it costs a few bucks more.

[@PepeDeezNutz]

@@tryingnottosink9107 Awesome!