Any good guides for re-wiring a boat?

[DocBob]

I have a boat that needs to have all the gauges, livewells, etc rewired. From some of the previous posts, it sounds like it would be best to start from scratch and install a fuse panel.<br />Is there a website or another source of info for doing this. I'm enjoy DIY projects, but haven't really done any electrical work.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Any good guides for re-wiring a boat?

http://www.tflx.com/tech.html <br /><br />try this it might help

 

[peterbo3]

Re: Any good guides for re-wiring a boat?

Hi Doc,<br />Bubbakat has put you onto the scent. A waterproof switch panel with more switches than you initially need is a must as are individual fuzes on every circuit. You can use thermal melt fuzes or pay more & go for a circuit breaker set up.<br />Use only marine grade wire, commonly known as "tinned" because auto grade wire will break down internally after a few years due to the action of salt water being drawn up into the wire.<br />Silver solder all ends, use single runs of wire where possible & use marine grade terminals. These are a crimp type terminal with a glue core which can be melted with a hair dryer to give you a trouble free connection. Use red & black heat shrink tubing for a professional finish & to identify positive & negative wires.<br />Work out the amperage load on each circuit & use the appropriate size wire. Too heavy is better than too light. Identify all wires at both ends with tags denoting function during set up to avoid loss of hair by pulling during final fitout.<br />This is only general info but I hope it will be of use to you. By the way, my dog has been a bit off colour & I was wondering........ <br />Regards,<br />Peter<br />PS. You will discover that your instruments have a maze of wires of different colours going between them and to your engine wiring loom. Draw up a complete wiring diagram of this spaghetti before you remove one wire. This wiring will usually be OK as it was installed professionally but if you fail to identify where everything goes <br />you will have some bad weekends coming up.

 

[DocBob]

Re: Any good guides for re-wiring a boat?

Thanks for the info. That's the kind of input I need.<br />I feel a LITTLE more comfortable tackling the job now. <br />Something tells me I'll be back here a time or two before the job is done...this site is great.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Any good guides for re-wiring a boat?

DrBOB what I did for a breaker panel and a switch panel I went to a big truck salvage yard and bought a panel with rocker switches and breakers and all for 30$.<br />need to get into the years of late 60 to late 70 cabover equipment if can. They had panels that were almost indestructible

 

[peterbo3]

Re: Any good guides for re-wiring a boat?

Doc,<br />One more thing. Instal a voltage surge/spike protector on the positive feed to any sensitive gear such as GPS,sounder & radios. I'll bet your computer has this sort of protection. Your marine equipment needs it too as 12v spikes are very common.<br />Regards,<br />Peter