Wiring a 1977 Chris Craft Catalina 215

[vadipaola]

Hi All,

Help! My wife and I just purchased a 1977 Chris Craft Catalina 251 only three days ago. This is our first boat, and we are rank beginners at this (don't ask, it's a long story). Sadly, the previous owners didn't take very good care of her. Our intent is to restore the boat, which we are already completely in love with, to her former glory. In particular, the wiring on the boat is a complete do-it-yourself fiasco. I turn on the cabin light switch and water is pumped to the toilet! I removed the wiring panel and was greeted with a wall full of red, black and yellow spaghetti. Where can I get a wiring guide of some kind to get this mess straighten out. Any advise would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!

Vince

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring a 1977 Chris Craft Catalina 215

If you are electrically savy and know how to use a VOM then you don't need a diagram -- although one would certainly help. Fact is, there probably isn't one unless someone has taken the time to actually draw one in the course of restoration of a similar boat. Manufacturers for some reason just didn't publish these diagrams. It's not that they didn't have them, they just didn't publish them. If you don't know how to use a VOM then you need to learn low voltage wiring basics and basic troubleshooting. Current in any boat circuit flows from its source at the battery, to a fuse or breaker panel, through a fuse or breaker, to a switch, out of the switch to the device the switch controls, and back to the battery via a ground buss or via direct wiring. If a light switch turns on the water pump either the pump end or the switch end of the circuit is incorrectly wired. Why??? Who knows. Prior owners of anything have a tendency to "personalize" their stuff. Sometimes it makes sense, but most of the time it doesn't.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Wiring a 1977 Chris Craft Catalina 215

Welcome to iboats!

If you browse through the stickies at the top of this subforum, you'll find some generic wiring diagrams.

 

[vadipaola]

Re: Wiring a 1977 Chris Craft Catalina 215

Thanks for the input, greatly appreciated. I will start looking for general info them. BTY, would anyone know the specs for the boat? Beam, etc.? I literally have nothing.

Thanks.