Battery compartment door

[glex]

1975 Trade Wind Land Yacht. The battery door on the outside rear back right side will not stay closed when locked and traveling. Have ruined one new battery when it fell out. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Mike Leary]

Pics?........

[moparjohn]

Welcome to the forums. I have a 73 so I'm not sure your door works the same. Mine has a lock that has a metal bar that pivots 90degrees. The bar can be bent foward or back to better contact the latch area. The latch might be moved too? In my case the battery seems to be to wide, and hits the inner door, before it is completely closed. Another job on my list is to find a better fitting battery, and re-align that door for a sure-seal for water. MPJ

[KeithC]

I had a 1968 Tradewind and lost the rear utility hatch (approx. 18" high X 48" long) on the way home from a camping trip.

Inland RV was the only place I found that made the part and it cost a pretty penny.

I immediately bought a marine battery holder system that included two nylon tire down clips screwed into the bottom of the battery compartment floor, combined with a nylon strap around the top of the battery, snugged down tight. I added two cables screwed to the hatch innerface at curb and roadsides, then to the hatch frame on the outerside. I also included two barrel slides latches to each outside corner of the hatch.

It amounted to $45.00 worth of hardware to secure $400.00 of battery and door.