Boat rewiring

[eedwards]

I need to rewire my old Chrysler boat sine it has no fuse or breakers.
Can someone suggest a good read on how to do this.
All i really know is there is no ground on a boat and it has to come from the battery and i want to do it right with fuses and buss bars.

 

[cmchesse]

Re: Boat rewiring

You should be able to get all the parts at the local auto parts store. I bought a fuse panel from Advanced auto parts. Ran some 10 guage wire for the positive and ground wire to the battery. The fuse panel is under the console so it is close the electrical needs. There are many options for the fuse box. The one I chose handles the ground as well. It was a really simple project.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Boat rewiring

First check the electrics section of this forum it's right above resto.

Second don't use ANY auto parts on your boat only use marine products. That means tinned marine wire and marine shrink fittings also use dielectic grease on everything.

It's really not hard to rewire your boat I personally think it's fun. Good luck.

 

[109jb]

Re: Boat rewiring

Tinned wire is great, especially if you are operating in or near a salt water environment, but unnecessary in my opinion since the original poster lives in St. Charles, Illinois. My starcraft has automotive, un-tinned wire and has been fine for the 8 years since I redid the wiring. I live in Illionois too and my boats never see salt water.

 

[eedwards]

Re: Boat rewiring

First check the electrics section of this forum it's right above resto.

Second don't use ANY auto parts on your boat only use marine products. That means tinned marine wire and marine shrink fittings also use dielectic grease on everything.

It's really not hard to rewire your boat I personally think it's fun. Good luck.

That forum is all about electrical items not rewiring.
May not be hard , but i have no clue so i was hoping for some good reading on it.

 

[eedwards]

Re: Boat rewiring

Well here are a couple questions.
1. what size wire to run from the battery to the fuse block.
2. How do buss bars work and do i need them my boat only has the basic lights,bilge,fuel gauge,stereo, and horns.
3. Can i run power to a fuse block then run each item to the block minus engine power and electronics since they are on there own.
Or should i have a block then to a separate fused switch panel on the dash?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat rewiring

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=239445

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=186986

 

[eedwards]

Re: Boat rewiring

Your going to have to tell us more than "Old Chrysler".

1975 Chrysler courier 154 15ft open bow.
I want to do all new wiring taking out all the switches and wiring.
The boat as i said has very little items on it, but the last owner used some kind of cheap extension cords to try to wire up the boat.
Last year while i was on the water smoke started coming from under the dash and i had to yank a bunch of wires to avoid a fire.
I traced the problem to the cord to the stereo it was just laying on the floor under one of the bow seats split open from having the anchor on it.
So now the only wire on the boat is the engine controls.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat rewiring

also: http://www.iboats.com/Seasense_Fuse...20457035--**********.295512540--view_id.56052

 

[eedwards]

Re: Boat rewiring

also: http://www.iboats.com/Seasense_Fuse...20457035--**********.295512540--view_id.56052

tashasdaddy thanks for the links.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Boat rewiring

10 awg should be your wires to the dash from battery.

You need to use a ground buss put it under dash and run all your grounds to it.

You can go a couple ways with fuses personally I'd recommend using breakers not fuses.

I was just trying to let you know all this info is on this forum. If you look around you'll find plenty to read.

Since I just notice Tashasdaddy just posted some links I'd say start there.

( was this moved??? I thought it was in resto not electronics??)