Rewire this mess? D:

[btruong]

Hey everyone. I have a 95 (i think) Cobia fitted with a 94 Suzuki, and I've had it for a long time. I used to use it a lot, then i had the motor rebuilt, then never used it again. Mainly because they didn't adjust the throttle linkage correctly and I was too lazy to try and fix it. Well it's summer again and I would really like to do some fishing so I decided to get the boat running again. The motor runs fine but hardly any of the electrical components do (ex. lights, livewell pump, bilge, tach) and I noticed the wiring was crap. 90% of the wires are corroded and like I dont even know what half of them are for. Basically, should I try and figure out the wired and resolder/redo all the connectors, or just rewire the whole boat with a new harness? I've included some pictures. Thanks for the help.

http://s921.photobucket.com/albums/ad55/btruong968/Boat_Wiring/

 

[seabob4]

Re: Rewire this mess? D:

I would rewire it so it looks like this...

 

[woosterken]

Re: Rewire this mess? D:

wow, i think i would take some pics of the back of all the guages (for reference) and then just pull it all out an start over.
you second pic looks like it even has a run of house wire in there!

woosterken

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Rewire this mess? D:

Did you really have to ask? Hmmm, lots o wires in a rats nest, next to yer flares?

Really though, please do rewire. Make it look like Seabobs.

There is a thread here that has the book about 12V for boats mentioned in it. Apparently it is a good read if you need a book to look at first.

 

[btruong]

Re: Rewire this mess? D:

yes, i do want it to look like seabob's. but yeah, some of it isn't even wire specified to be used on boats. it's a crappy job done by the previous owner. i'm probably going to draw out the diagram and start tomorrow. thanks for the help guys! by the way, how do i push the wires to go through one end of the pipe/passage thing and come out the other?

 

[woosterken]

Re: Rewire this mess? D:

try and tie the new wire on the old wire before you pull it out,that way the old wire will fish the new in through the same route

woosterken

 

[dbismyname]

Re: Rewire this mess? D:

Or if you've already pulled the old wire, try holding a shopvac at one end and feeding a string in the other. Should pull it right on through for ya.

 

[btruong]

Re: Rewire this mess? D:

Alright guys, i gave it some time. most of the mess was crudely spliced wire or wire crudely extended with random connectors.
so i pulled the gauges, switches, etc. and began to label the wires. after sourcing them all out, i found that most of the crap was "dead" wires. they werent connected to anything on either end...?
i got a new fuse box thing and rewired it all neat and tidy. hopefully everything will work when complete (i need to replace bilge pump, live well pump, and anchor light)
but while pulling some of the dead wires, 1 got stuck. it like has a lot of resistance and seems to be tugging on the positive/negative wires (to the fuse block). how do i get this wire out without damaging the other wires? thank you all for your helpful advice! this boat is finally coming together!

 

[seabob4]

Re: Rewire this mess? D:

It is most likely taped together, hot and ground. If you can't get to the tape, and can live without it and run new, just cut them...but have the batt disconnected first, or you'll pop a fuse if you cut them both at the same time...

 

[Stachi]

Re: Rewire this mess? D:

Or if you've already pulled the old wire, try holding a shopvac at one end and feeding a string in the other. Should pull it right on through for ya.

thats a cool idea...