Do I need a waterproof battery box?

I want to run LED's on my kayak, I plan on using a 12V deer feeder battery which will give me all the power I need. I'm planning on putting it in the front hatch of my boat. What do y'all do for your batteries? Waterproof box? No box because the hatch should be watertight?

I just used a cheap, small soft-sided cooler to hold my battery. And really that was just for deadening/cushion for the battery. Also, don't assume the inside of a kayak is is always going to be dry.

I use a waterproof box for my battery. If you want to go cheaper you can use a dry bag as well. Just make sure you have enough extra wire so you can roll the bag closed.

I keep a couple of deer feeder batteries in the hull in small soft sided coolers the same size as the battery. It's certainly not waterproof but never any problems running this way for several years.

I'm thinking about using a small ammo box. I was going to fill it with that expanding insulating foam, then hollow out a spot for the battery so it won't flop around. I was planning on using something like this.

Academy used to carry a "kit" that had a battery in a similar case with wiring coming out for charger......and charger included. Not sure if they carry them anymore.

Suggestion - if you go the foam route, just build a small platform in the bottom with the foam, let it harden, wrap battery sides with plastic/pvc type tape or with petroleum jelly, set it in and then foam around your battery. Once it is hardened, remove battery, remove tape or jelly and you will have a hole to set the battery in. Do the foam a small amount at a time as it expands very quickly - in fact, they make a version now that doesn't expand - it just fills - and might be better for this application.

I found this and love it. I added a cheap trailer plug to my FF and cut the existing end off the battery cable. That's all it took to have it up and running. It comes with a battery charger and has a external power jack for it. It says weather-resistant so unless you turn your yak into a submarine you should be good. I put some Velcro in the bottom of my yak to keep it from bouncing around and also wrap a bungee around a scupper tube.

I can take some better pics of it later if you want.


http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/stealth-cam-12v-battery-box-kit/pid-29267?N=639953272

I keep my battery in a plastic Rubbermaid food storage container. I cut a slit in the lid for the wires, and use a pair of big rubber bands for extra lid security. It rides up in the bow, stays dry, and probably cost $6.

nope. I sit mine in the hull on a little piece of foam to protect it and the hull. It's a 35A-hr battery, not a deer feeder (although I treated my deer feeder batteries the same way when I used them) and I think it's better to have them out side of a container so they can dry out. They need to be secured though so they don't bounce around.

I use a roll up dry bag now but have turtled a few times with the unprotected battery just strapped to the 'dash board' - got totally submerged each time with no harm no foul.