Holy Crap Batman!

[J-Dub]

Just got a call from my boat tech. dude. I wanted him to fix a couple switches for me too. Well, lo and behold, he tells me the wiring on the boat is shot and that someone rigged up most of the stuff with speaker wire and that it could all go out at anytime. Man, I really wish I had bought from someone I knew or a dealer. &*@*#(!! Anyone know anyone who does wiring now too? Just to recap- that's a boat that needs to be rewired, and probably needs a new motor somewhere down the line. The tech. did tell me that he put the new rings in, motor fired right up and sounded really good. He's taking it out in the a.m. to lake test it for a bit so that's the small glimmer of hope. Man, I got a real good deal. Come to find out ignorance is not bliss.

 

[minner]

How can the wiring be shot? It doesn't just wear out??emoScratch I'd have to look at that one real close. I wonder if it had mice in it or something.
Are you talking about the wiring in the motor? Does it look like this? LOL

 

[J-Dub]

Wow, now that's a mess. No, he meant the wiring for the electrical stuff like the aerators, running lights, etc. Some of those switches weren't working properly so I had him check them out and that's when he said that someone had jumped the wiring and used improper wiring, like speaker wire, to rig the stuff up. He suggested I get someone to rip it all out and rewire the whole thing. He said he didn't want to do it because it would be too expensive for me to pay him at the per hour charge at the shop. I agree. Like the pump in switch doesn't work for the livewell. It's just a bare wire that has to be put on the battery manually then taken off or it'll run constantly. When he started to look into that stuff is when he noticed that it's all just an electrical nightmare. When it rains it pours brother.

 

[foodsaver]

man if you were down here I would say lets do it over a couple of CB's. I haven't wired a boat but how much harder can it be then wiring a car stereo? You just pull the right wires to the right places using the old wires and label everything as you go so you can remember what wire goes to what switch. Good luck man!

 

[Liveliner]

foodsaver - 5/10/2007 5:30 PM

man if you were down here I would say lets do it over a couple of CB's. I haven't wired a boat but how much harder can it be then wiring a car stereo? You just pull the right wires to the right places using the old wires and label everything as you go so you can remember what wire goes to what switch. Good luck man!

Craig, I think that may have been someone else's thinking. Comparing it to wiring a stereo may be the reason for the speaker wire. LOL J/K emoRolleyes

Wiring a boat is no problem at all. All your wires to switches just plug on. All your lights and pumps have only two wires each. The trolling motor if it is 24Volts gets tricky and requires bigger wire. For all your other stuff do not use any wire smaller that 14 gauge. Pulling the wire through the boat is the worst part.

 

[hl&s]

I just rewired my boat completely. I added a tach, new gauges, replaced all switches, added a horn, a fuse panel, buss bars, power outlets, lighter, fuel sending unit, livewell lights, depth finders, and relays. I soldered all connections, routed the wires out of view, added power on led's for each circuit, and circuit breakers as added protection. It may be that I'm slow or I tried to be extremely thorough, but it was one of the most time consuming jobs I have done. I have built and installed wiring harnesses for cars that did not take this much time. It can be pretty pricey too.

It probably would be extremely expensive for a dealer to do it, but I would suggest you find someone with a good working knowledge of electricity. You don't have to be a rocket scientist but improper wire gauge, improper routing, insufficient circuit protection, or circuit overloading can cause problems at the most inconvenient time.

I guess it makes it worth the effort when you hit that switch and you don't get any surprises !

I hope you get in the water soon. I bought a used boat in March and I'm finally putting it in the water this Sunday. If I have any more problems with it, like engine, I see a new one on the horizon. I've missed most of spring fishing by buying something to go fishing in !

 

[bwolf]

wish you were closer !! it would be a good days work to fix it !! but the labor would be real high !!! (ya would have to take me fishing for the bill) emoSmile

 

[jon the fisherman]

Actually, when you use a wire that is to small for the amps you draw, it will heat up and cause it to become brittle. Also the sheathing on speaker wire is not water tight and can cause corrosion. The combonation of these two factors can cause bad connections or breaks in the wire.