No doubt there is a "right" way to do this but I can guarantee you that most mfrs don't all do it the same way either. As long as you are careful at however you decide to go about this I'm sure it will last for many years. Get'er done and start enjoying that boat you have put so much time into.
<br /><br />Anyone looked at a new boat lately....under the dash? Terminations are crimp ons. Don't know how it is for ocean going boats or the larger cruisers but on bass rigs and just fishing boats I havn't seen a bit of solder yet. And the crimp connectors are the 10 for $.59 cent varitity.<br /><br />I think if a guy wants to take the time and do a crimp and solder, fine. If he wants to go the extra mile, fine. But when you get down to basics, it's all in the planning. A well laid out electrical plan will last for years and will be easily serviced. Cover terminations in liquid tape or vinyl. If you want to solder, fine....if not, just make sure the crimps are good and covered with shrink or vinyl. Keep the moisture out.
Yes I did I looked for a few days and stumbled one 1 that was exactly like the Ancor except no fancy engraving for 1/3 the price. <br />
Yes I found another place that has the tinned wire fairly inexpensively.<br />
No I got the insulated and have the crimp jaw that does uninsulated too.<br /><br />
Nope got a good 1 as stated above.<br />
Not needed by the regulations so therfore not used >.<br /><br />
No its very good but it is possible that it could mess up a good crimp which in fact is a requirement of the ABYC.<br /><br />Sorry to rain on your parade but I hate solsdering but crimping is quick and fun.
That is your sole concern, at this point in time, your opinion is supported and that's all that matters, whether correct or not. Just as your signature says, you take all the information and disregard any that does not agree with your favored conclusion. This whole crimp v solder debate gets no one anywhere. Those of you who support crimping seem to refuse to accept that it is not necessarily the better way, that soldering is a more secure, corrosion resistant manner of making a connection. There is a trade-off. Crimping can be done by idiots whereas soldering needs skill. You can argue all day long about "properly" made connections, but your fishfinder, GPS, electric trolling motor, and instruments will not have crimped connections internally where the connection integrity really counts. And they are subjected to the same vibrations as all of the rest of the boat. The assertions of the solder crystallizing amazes me. The solder joints in all mobile electronics don’t systematically fail due crystallization. <br /><br />And the assertion of a boat being subjected to greater vibration is a total fallacy. Greater impact perhaps, but not greater vibration, at least not here in Michigan with our roads.
Very cynical John. (Probably) True, but cycnical. And I agree. Seems silly to continue our arguments, huh?<br /><br /><br />
You are overlooking one critical point of your argument. The soldering in and of itself IS NOT the cause of the failure. You are insinuating that the soldering causes the failures, and that there is no other possible cause. You can't assert this until you cut out all of the solder joints and replace them with crimp terminals. Then, only then and only if all functions work properly, can you say the solder joints were at fault. And at that point you could not assert that the properly soldered joints contributed to the failures. But, and this is an important but, if you did this and all functions worked, I would concede that the soldering was contributory to your failures. <br />However, since you removed all the wiring and reinstalled your own, you can't prove definitively that all of the solder joints were faulty, or for that matter that any were faulty.<br /><br />I respect that you did rewire the entire system yourself. And that you sourced appropriate materials. I am not anti-crimp I'm just anti-corrosion. And I take exception to the ill-informed banter going on stating that soldering is bad. <br /><br />Good luck with your boat. I'm sure it will give you many years of pleasure.
People still look and me funny and shake thier heads either its me or the boat not sure but I don't really care. <br /><br />I understand about soldering but I decided it was to much work. And I was trained to solder I didn't like it much. I would rather squeeze the heck out if then burn it. 
