Bewildered

[seminormal]

I'm new here and looking for a little wiring help.
I purchased a 1979 18' Ebbtide bass boat. I don't even know the exact model.
It has apparently been electrically abused over the years. Most of the wiring has been chopped and it has been converted from a larger motor with tilt and trim to a smaller electric start motor. The motor starts and runs but everything else is a mess. None of the gauges work and I'm not even sure what some of the switches are for. Does anyone have a lead on a wiring diagram ? Any help will be appreciated !

 

[airshot]

Before getting in to deep on electrical issues, do a deep dive into the transom and stringers !! At that age you have a 98% probability that all the wood interior structure is rotted out, making the boat unsafe. For your own safety, please check it out carefully !!

 

[Chris1956]

Generally speaking, the outboard wiring is separate from the boat wiring. The motor wiring will be self contained in the boat harness from the motor to the control/keyswitch. I would recommend that that be restored to original.
Dashboard wiring should be a fuse on a heavy wire from the battery to the dashboard fuse/breaker box. After that, wire the boat anyway that makes sense.