What are these thingy dingies? lol

[NealLauderman]

Fellas,

Stupid question im sure... but what is a transducer? Started working on my project boat and learning what things are. Here is a pic of the one on the boat.

All these guages are on the fishing platform at the front of the boat. We have no clue what all these switches are except TWO. One is the guage I reckon for the battery that the trolling motor runs off and one switch is for the battery to allow the trolling motor to turn on... Do any of yall have any idea what any of the others might be? We want to pull them down and find out but we want to wait till we finish working on the engine and put her on the water to test her out before we start doing things with the wires so if something happens... we know its something we did with the wires

While were at it... anyone know where I might be able to get new foot switches for the trolling motor? Like these...

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

One last thing... whats the black thing next to the transducer? tube type thing.

 

[OBJ]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Neal....that's a whatchamacallit......d

The transducer is for a depth finder of fish finder. The thingy next to it is a pitot tube for a speedometer.

Don't have a clue as to what all the switches went to however the one with a boot on it looks real close to being a Trim & Tilt switch. The meter looks like a volt meter....probably monitored the troller batteries.

Foot switch for the trolling motor could be found in the iboats store. Give you an idea of what to look for any way.

EDIT: Just took another look at the first pic. Most transducers have a wire coming from it and not that tubing like on yours. Where does the tube lead to?

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

OBJ, thanks a ton for the help! lol I dont even know where that thing runs. I will look tomorrow when its light out and see if I can follow it, then ill let you know!

Tilt and trim is what lifts the motor right? This one doesnt have it. I manually lift the engine up each time. I know the one gauge is the volt meter like you said but I dont have a clue how all these darn things are hooked up lol! I really want to go throught the nest of wires but I want to wait till next week after we do the engine work so we can test it. Then ill do the wires so if it doesnt start afterwards... then I will know I screwed up with the wires.

 

[BF]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

I'm guessin' some of those switches are to run pumps for livewells (?)

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Maybe I dont understand this whole livewell thing From what the guy told me... once you put the boat in the water... the livewells will fill themselves up? Is this not the case?

I know there is a switch for the airator but that is by the steering wheel. I was told that just keeps the air in the tank so the fish dont die. What am I missing? Is this not how a livewell works? Sorry for the dumb questions but I only have a service manual on the engine and have no clue how the other stuff works.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Neal, i would be concerned about the stability of the transon, someone has added that plate under the engine, the wiring looks like many of the rats nest i get into in my rehabs. i usually just cut every thing out and start over.

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

You know... I never really noticed that till now I have looked and cant find anything that tells me it is rotten or rotting. I poked on it, pulled on it, and all that good stuff. I am trying to get her on the water for the summer and I am totally re-doing the boat after the summer such as pulling up the floor and all that like I have been seeing everyone else do.

I am hoping for now the transom will hold up if it is indeed rotting. I was told when I got it a new floor was put in... though I cannot verify that .

I would like to cut it all out and start over but I dont know half as much as you do when it comes to this topic lol. I am going to work on it slowly.

 

[imported_airxsteel]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Neal, congrats on the boat!!!

I did the same thing with my boat that your doing with yours.

You can get those switches for the trolling motor anywhere really. Here is one for sale on Craigslist for $6.00 bucks.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/280253832.html

Just do a search for them on any of your favorite retailer. Bass pro has them here for $14 bucks:

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=16071&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

Some livewells will fill up when you put the boat in the water. Others you have to pump water into them. Just depends on your setup really.

If you look in your livewell, you should have three main components or something similar at least.
1. A drain hole
2. An overfill hole
3. Sprayer or aerator

The drain hole is just that. It drains the water out of the boat, usually at the back of the boat or into the bilge area (bottom of boat). You should have a stopper of some sort, cork or rubber type stopper, much like your plug for the boat. While we are on that topic, make sure the boat has a plug!!!
You may can plug the drain hole which will stop water from coming into the boat. If you notice it fills up when you put it in the water. Mine does this. You can put your plug in and keep it dry if you like. The fill drain or overflow is simply there to drain out the water if the livewell fills up. If you turn the aerator pump on , it should fill the livewell with water. Once it reaches this hole, which should be above the water line, it will go out the side of the boat. If you look you should see it on the side of the boat, next to the livewell area. Then you should have some sort of sprayer or some have an actual aerator pump to pump air into the water. Just depends on what your setup is. If you have an aerator pump at the back of the boat, it will pump water from below the water line into the boat when you turn it on. If you have a air pump, it will pump air into the livewell when you turn it on. So either one of those.

Sorry for the long post, and most of this may be self evident. But I know when I worked on mine, I had to learn the hard way. I didn't know squat about it. With help from people on here and other sites, I was able to read alot and gain all my information from these guys and gals.

One thing I can suggest too, on the wiring, I would replace as someone else mentioned. You never know if that stuff has nicks or corroded areas on them. Better to start with new wire that is in good shape. Easier to track down and trouble shoot if there is a problem. Also is safer. Make sure you get a fire extinguisher or two and keep one handy while you work on the electronics. Hate to see your boat go up in flames.
One good way to run the wire is to tie the new wire on the old wire and pull it through your boat. That way you don't have to crawl up in some small space to see if you can run the wire. It is much easier that way.

Good luck on the boat. It can be fun and challenging.
Let us know how it goes.
Eric

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Eric,

Thanks a ton for all the help I really do appreciate it! Do you by chance live around the Raleigh, NC area? I noticed you were looking at that craigslist. I just moved here about a month and a half ago. If you live around here, we will have to get up sometime.

Let me know,

Neal.

 

[imported_airxsteel]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Neal, glad to help. Nope I am a native Texan. Live just south of Dallas.

 

[crazycajun25]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

hi neal
i have a cajun with a plate on the transom i think some manufacturers did this to dispus the weight of the motor

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Thanks for all the information fellas! Crazy, thats what it looks like. It really looks like a factory job. Thanks bud.

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Thanks for all the information fellas! Crazy, thats what it looks like. It really looks like a factory job. Thanks bud.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Neal, on the electrical, when it is quiet, rig you some wire to a battery, and jump the switches. listen for pump running, etc. ground on 1 side hot on the other. then you can see what works and what doesn't. it it doesn't work one way reverse the wires. this is truly the shade tree way of testing electronics.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Here's a diagram for a "Generic" instrument panel.

. As was suggested, tear out the rats nest and wire it correctly. Before you spend a great deal of money on this boat, make sure you have a sound foundation.
Having live wells that fill up (or partially fill) just because the boat is in the water is a really stupid design. Why run around with water in the wells when you don't have to? They fill through the drain because part of the tank is below the water line and since water runs down hill, they partially fill. Plug the drain at the back of the boat. Then install a livewell pump in the drain line and route the pump outlet overboard. You can now pump out the live wells and they will stay dry. Otherwise there is no way to empty them unless there are two people aboard so one can remove the plug in the live well while the boat is under way. You fill the live well using the aeration pump (unless it happens to be a recirculating type) which is again a dumb idea. Why not use cool lake water instead of the recirculating the hot, gunky water.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Silvertip, i was going to put a link, to the post in the electric forum. you beat me to it. great sketch. put it in my favorites, for reference.

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: What are these thingy dingies? lol

Thanks for the info fellas! Reckon I have a bit more added to my list now lol