1996 2400 SCR battery tray bolt length

[bigdrew4u]

Thanks everyone for the incredible information and years of knowledge on this forum.

I am going to install a additional battery on the starboard side of the bilge close to the holding tank. What length screws should I use for the tray? I removed one of the original screws on the existing tray (not sure if this was installed by a previous owner) and found it to be a 1/4 inch. Would this length suffice?

Thanks in advance.

[mmwjr]

If a 1/4 works on the port side then I would stay with that. Note there isn’t much clearance on these area to the hull and you could easily drill through it so mark your drill bit to the length of the screw.

[bigdrew4u]

Originally Posted by mmwjr

If a 1/4 works on the port side then I would stay with that. Note there isn’t much clearance on these area to the hull and you could easily drill through it so mark your drill bit to the length of the screw.

Thank you.

[shrew]

Originally Posted by bigdrew4u

I removed one of the original screws on the existing tray (not sure if this was installed by a previous owner) and found it to be a 1/4 inch. Would this length suffice?

How thick is the material you're screwing into? No sense in using a 3/4" screw in a 1/2" board. The threads sticking out the other side are not doing any work.

Also, never pre-drill as deep as the screw. pre-drill the length of the screw minus where it tapers to a point. If you pre-drill the entire length, that tapered portion doesn't bite into anything.

[bigdrew4u]

Originally Posted by shrew

How thick is the material you're screwing into? No sense in using a 3/4" screw in a 1/2" board. The threads sticking out the other side are not doing any work.

Also, never pre-drill as deep as the screw. pre-drill the length of the screw minus where it tapers to a point. If you pre-drill the entire length, that tapered portion doesn't bite into anything.

The port side is screwed directly to the hull. I have no Idea how thick that is. I have contemplated adhering a panel of some some sort to the area and then screwing the tray to that.

[mmwjr]

I believe the shelf is 1/2” plywood that is glassed over. The area closed to the engine has an inch or more clearance to the hull but as you get to the outer edge the plywood is bonded directly to the hull.

[bigdrew4u]

Originally Posted by mmwjr

I believe the shelf is 1/2” plywood that is glassed over. The area closed to the engine has an inch or more clearance to the hull but as you get to the outer edge the plywood is bonded directly to the hull.

Is this the case on the starboard side as well?

[mmwjr]

[QUOTE=bigdrew4u;66186]

Originally Posted by mmwjr

I believe the shelf is 1/2” plywood that is glassed over. The area closed to the engine has an inch or more clearance to the hull but as you get to the outer edge the plywood is bonded directly to the hull.[/QUOTE

Is this the case on the starboard side as well?

Yes