General Re-Wiring ?s

[rost495]

Hi

Need some serious input.

Have an 85 HydraSport. Long story bought used. Bad motor. Finally have a used 200 laying here. Transom was bad and fuel tank was removed when we bought. So now the transom is fixed. And getting close to remounting the fuel tank etc...

Trying to replace everythign thats bad.

I want opinions on what gauges are needed. I don't want bells and whistles but whats needed? Fuel gauge,tach, trim tilt???, no speedo. Batt gauge or is it Alt gauge? Adding GPS/sounder, and VHF radio.

Opinions of thru hull Garmin transducer or go back to transom?

Should I do some kind of battery switch and if so how?

I'd like to run new marine grade wire without any splices from the stern to the console. I'd also like to make it such that I run a large single power cable to the console basically. And feed everything off that if possible. Excepting the bilge pumps etc... and taht i'd like to haev a fuse block type thing in the stern to feed them off of. All protected by fuses I think.

Source of wire etc..... is welcome. I have West catalog, they are not taht cheap though but I do want it done right.

Anotehr question. have a rub rail that has 3/4 inch rope. Rope is falling apart and wife wants blue or blue/white to replace it with. I don't find a source for that.

I'm attempting to sleeve all wires in PEX pipe to help protect. That way its protected from teh steering/control cables in the same tube.

Wire splicing. I'm hoping to avoid,but if I have to, solder the joints and then shrink wrap with the stuff that has silicone in it and then cover with silicone?

Cannot get to the vent line for the gas tank. Its fairly hard, but no cracks. Safe to keep as is or cut hole in glass to get to it?

Sorry for all the questions. Used to work in a boat factory as a teenager so can do most of this stuff fine, just dont' know whats new these days as I have not had a boat in 15 years save the river john boat.

Thanks for all input!
Jeff

 

[bsh21wash]

Re: General Re-Wiring ?s

For gauges I would go with, Tach, Speedo, Trim/Tilt, and volt

Yes, use a battery switch when running two batterys, which i assume you will be.

As far as wiring goes, you can run two 8 or 10 gauge wires from the battery up to a fuse block in the dash, put an inline fuse no more than a foot away from the battery on the neg side. Connect all your acc. into the fuse block. I would get one that has + and - on it just to make it easier.

Wire splicing, when rewiring my boat the only time I had to splice was to put in the inline fuse, all I did was give a quick solder and shrink wrap. In fact I shrink wrapped all my connections everywhere, Everyone has there own way though, you'll come to see that.

Hope this helps a bit -Brian

 

[ricksrster]

Re: General Re-Wiring ?s

Might want to add a fuel gauge, also.

 

[rost495]

Re: General Re-Wiring ?s

Might I ask what good a speedo will do? Will have the GPS which should have same on it?

 

[sleepinin]

Re: General Re-Wiring ?s

Tach, Fuel, Water Pressure, volt. I use GPS for speed as my speedo hardly ever works. The digital voltmeter on my Fishfinder is better than the needle gauge in the dash and If you find a GPS/fish that has that option it's nice to have. I have a transom transducer that I removed and reinstalled correctly and it works very well and gives depth at almost all speeds and sea conditions. I'm not familiar with the thru hulls but I looked into it once and one of the requirements is that you have a flat part on your hull to mount it and I don't really have that. I have found that Lowe's has the best prices on wire and couplers. Make sure you get the tinned wire and the heat shrink couplers. West Marines catalog has some good info on sizing the wire for the length of run and application but your right their prices are pretty high. Lowe's also has some wire lube that really helps in pulling the wires through the hull.

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: General Re-Wiring ?s

put an inline fuse no more than a foot away from the battery on the neg side.

I think most conventions place the fuse in the positive wire ... :/

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: General Re-Wiring ?s

Here is a wiring diagram for dual batteries that incorporates a battery isolator (isolators are highly recommended).

 

[rost495]

Re: General Re-Wiring ?s

Great comments, great diagram also.

Lots of help, Thanks!!

That Lowes wire-- tinned and its as good as "marine" ?? Or whatever? Assuming tinned helps protect the wire and the "marine" part is also a better insulation?

Thanks, Jeff

 

[bsh21wash]

Re: General Re-Wiring ?s

oops ya the pos side thats what i meant:/

 

[sleepinin]

Re: General Re-Wiring ?s

rost495,
I'm looking at a spool I bought from Lowes and it says it's made by Gardner Bender it's tin plated copper corrosion resistant ultra flexible. I don't know what "marine" means but I assume "marine" means that it's tin plated. Since this is tin plated and a lot cheaper I rewired my boat 3 years ago and used it in every wiring job since then. Haven't had any problems but I spend 90% of my time in fresh water.