Sun Odyssey 40 Access to Battery

[arkayp]

I recently purchased a 2001 Sun Oddysey 40 and this weekend attempted to fill the water in the four batteries. I was succesful accessing 3 of the 4 batteries, two under the aft berth port side at front of bed and one on the the starboard side (in the corner). I could not access the battery outboard of the starboard side battery. I could see it hidden behind the panelling but could not find any way to get to the top of it, from the galley nor the lazarrete.

I gave up in frustration. I have to believe I'm missing something. Any help as to how to access it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

[Seagem]

On my 42i the sbd battery is for the engine and has an removable panal above it giving access to it, the battery charger and rear of master switches. The rest of the plywood base is screwed down. I wonder if the extra battery is an after fit and instead of creating another access panel they just screwed the base back down again?
Do you you what the battery is for? Do you have a bow thruster? My bow thruster battery is under the fwd cabin berth in the forepeak.

[arkayp]

Thanks for the input. The diagram in the manual indicates the battery is in the location for an optional house battery. Based on conversations so far, it appears I have to remove the inboard battery to get to the outboard one. Looks like a lot of work and a good argument for AGMs.

[peter40]

I replaced mine with AGM for that very reason.

[so40gtb]

It could be worse. On our SO40, the heat pump's external water intake tube, condensate water tube, and primary AC power wires are all routed atop the starboard side batteries! So one must be a leveraged contortionist to (a) remove the visible battery, (2) pull over the starboard-most battery, and (3) extract the latter. Cruel and unusual punishment, it appears!

I just can't deal with any of this until the boating season ends. But, thereafter, this is definitely an area for possible improvement!

--Karl