boating regs question

I have searched through the Kentucky boating regs booklet and looked around online and can't find an answer. I am changing some things in my boat and the biggest change is I am moving the batteries (all except the starting battery) to the middle seat. I am cutting seat in half and then bending the middle down on each side to form boxes. The idea is to turn those boxes into battery storage, but there isn't going to be much room for a battery box in there. So my question is: can I put the batteries in there, strapped down and surrounded by the aluminum from the seat and plywood, without putting a plastic battery box in there?
This is a rough sketch of what I am doing. The picture came out pretty small, but the battery is the red rectangle on the lower left side. Attachment 116873

You don't need a battery box and no reg requires one. I would install one of the plastic battery trays to catch any acid should one boil over or leak, then strap them down to your hull good. Be sure you have adequate ventilation in your new compartment so you don't get hydrogen gas buildup. You should be good to go.

Might want to put some kind of liner around that aluminum box. If the cables get just right and short out you could have an explosion or fire. At least insulate your wires somehow! Batteries take a beating in a boat and should be secured well. I use battery trays like Dutch was saying.
T. H. MARINE BH-31P-DP - T-H Marine Battery Tray 31 Series BH-31P-DP - Boaters Plus

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Originally Posted by ifish

Might want to put some kind of liner around that aluminum box. If the cables get just right and short out you could have an explosion or fire. At least insulate your wires somehow! Batteries take a beating in a boat and should be secured well. I use battery trays like Dutch was saying.
T. H. MARINE BH-31P-DP - T-H Marine Battery Tray 31 Series BH-31P-DP - Boaters Plus

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Those are the exact ones I put in my boat. Found them on clearance at Westmarine.

I done the same thing on a 14' Jon I used to have. Really need the plastic boxes. The lids to protect the connections and the box the catch any acid that might come out in rough water. My dad had a boat that didn't have a cover on and in rough water they arced and blowed the top off the battery.

Thanks for the replies. The battery will be well supported on each side, don't want those things slipping and sliding. I hadn't even thought of the trays. I can get a box in there by cutting the handles off, so I might just do that and find a way to modify the top so it will fit.
Chris

You can cut a piece of rubber and put on top if you can't modify the lids

My boat is 19 years old and I don't have my batteries in boxes. No problems at all.
I do have my batteries in trays and have straps attached to keep them from moving or bouncing around.

No trays, no boxes, no straps. No problems yet but you guys have me worried now. I may get some of the trays with the straps and screw them to the little sheet of aluminum floor that is back in the back of the boat just to keep them in place.

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Originally Posted by smashdn

No trays, no boxes, no straps. .... I may get some of the trays with the straps and screw them to the little sheet of aluminum floor that is back in the back of the boat just to keep them in place.

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In an older boat I used to have I just set the battery in the back, no straps. One day while driving to the lake I hit a big hole and in my mirror, I saw my battery bounce up off the floor. It stayed in the boat but it landed on one corner and came down with such force that it broke the battery on impact. I always keep them strapped to the floor.:banghead