DIY batteries / lead ballast as a battery

I like the concept, I hope some clever person can make it practical.

 

I would do it as follow, or something similar.
a) 4 or 5 column/channels. The attached drawing has 3 column/channel examples, mechanical one has to make it such that it can be properly sealed, and strong enough mounted to the hull, should the sailor want to be able to get to the batteries, from the bilge, it can be done.
b) Each channel containing 5 to 6 batteries (5 = 35 kg 6 = 42 kg)
c) Each channel has a U shaped holder where in the batteries are mounted.
d) A handle to lift the column with batteries out
e) After a column of 5 batteries are mounted and connected, one could consider to vacuum pack each column, with a normal household vacuum packer and thick plastic.
f) The switching of a column with 5 x 12 Volt batteries parallel should be going to a distribution board high up.
g) Each column has an air pipe for ventilation with a rubber pipe to the outside.
h) Each column has a cable gland to seal the round cable,
i) I probably would make the casing the central earth, minus, ground.
j) Total weight keel is probably +/- 6 batteries x 5 channels + keel = 0,3 ton
k) total energy available 30 x 24Ah= 720 Ah, or 8,64 KWh
l) maybe I would place a sensor at the bottom of the column to measure whether there is water at the bottom.
m) Not enough weight?, put more batteries in a larger keel, or have some extra lead mounted at the bottom.
n) The photo's show how narrow those batteries are. Deep charging long lifetime batteries.

Although, I original had a negative viewpoint of having batteries in the keel, I have changed my mind and think that it can be done. provided as much as possible safety issues are looked at.
Bert

 

Seafarer24 is this what you were looking for?

 

That is great information, I didn't even know I could find batteries shaped like that. I could definitely design a keel around those. Thank you all for the help- this is one less thing to worry about.