Boat Re-wired & Other Repairs, Before & After

[Todd in NY]

First of all, I'm not an electrician or a mechanic. My "new to me" boat needed some major electrical work and other new equipment, so this is my journey.

 

EDITED to add: This is not a boat restoration. But the boat and trailer needed some new parts (mostly electrical) and a nearly complete rewiring job. I cleaned up, re-routed, repaired, replaced and removed wiring throughout the boat to make everything work. I added 2 new fuse blocks, a new 6 circuit switch panel, a new LED light in the cuddy, a new LED "dome" light under the hardtop, and two new LED lights in the gunwale. I also added 2 new Exide size 24 marine batteries (not pictured) and an inline 60 amp fuse at the battery switch.

 

This is my first attempt at re-wiring a boat, and this boat had major electrical problems. I'm happy to say that everything works as it should. Thanks to all who shared their knowledge, experience, and feedback!

 

BEFORE; wires hanging down, many of them not connected to anything. This 6 circuit switch didn't work.

 

The radio mount was wider than the radio, so the radio was only attached on the right side. The radio didn't work either.

 

Back side of the lower panel and 6 circuit switch

 

Note the VHF antenna wire coiled up on the floor, and other loose, hanging wires

 

Check out this wire splice job on the radio. No, it didn't work...

 

This only shows a portion of the mess at the helm. This fuse block was too corroded to work. Most of those blue connectors are ground wires spliced together.

 

AFTER; new helm fuse block and 6 circuit switch panel

 

I left these wires long enough to be able to remove this board and rest it on a bucket, to have easier access to the wires and fuses. I zip tied what I could, but I wanted to leave enough extra wire for future repairs.

 

Most of the wires on the right are for the various factory installed instruments, gauges, and rocker switches on the helm, so I zip tied them and their slack where I could

 

Not going to win any awards for this wiring job, but everything WORKS, to include the old VHF radio, so that's my reward 

 

The finished assembled helm, and with the correct VHF radio mounting bracket.

Edited May 28, 2019 by Todd in NY
Added info

[FISH_HUNTER]

Nice work bud!!

You wanna come do mine now? LOL

[Fishstix]

Electrical issues should be posted under Current Events

[Gator]

19 minutes ago, Fishstix said:

Electrical issues should be posted under Current Events

 

where's an emoji for "groan...." when you need one?

[Todd in NY]

2 hours ago, FISH_HUNTER said:

Nice work bud!!

You wanna come do mine now? LOL

 

Thanks! If you lived a little closer I would help you with your boat.

[Todd in NY]

1 hour ago, Fishstix said:

Electrical issues should be posted under Current Events

 

I see your angle, and it's not far fetched at all, because now I have electrical current everywhere it's supposed to be 

 

 

[Todd in NY]

1 hour ago, Gator said:

 

where's an emoji for "groan...." when you need one?

 

The emoji creators might screw up and turn it into a "groin" emoji instead of "groan" 

[Todd in NY]

I'll post pics of the transom area wiring later today, with the new fuse block and 4ga battery wiring.

 

All that factory wiring for the instruments and gauges is a tangled mess, and the only way to "clean" that up would be to cut each wire, re-route them and then re-connect them. That's way beyond my goals for this boat.

 

Thanks for the kind words!

Edited April 13, 2018 by Todd in NY

[Todd in NY]

Ok, I finished the stern wiring yesterday. So here are some BEFORE pics:

 

 

Starboard gunwale wiring, and old gunwale light that was broken. Note the old rod holders, but only the forward set. The rear set of rod holders is missing, so these rod holders are useless.

 

Guess which red wire is on the negative battery terminal... Both batteries were 8 or 10 years old

 

What's behind door number 1? About 20ft of coax cable

 

The old stern fuse block

 

The bilge area before I cleaned it out and finished the wiring repairs. Note the vintage AFS2000 float switch (white/yellow, not hooked up)

 

Now the AFTER pics:

 

No more AFS 2000

 

New 4ga wire

 

 

new fuse block and all new wiring

 

one of 2 new LED cockpit lights. The other one is behind the step ladder

 

New LED cabin light

 

Light on, cover on

 

Thanks for looking!

Edited July 1, 2021 by Todd in NY

[Todd in NY]

The old 4ga battery wires were very corroded at the battery terminals. Note the red and black on negative. This is a 12v system with 2 batteries in parallel

 

[kayaker919]

Might be too late, but I recommend the Blue Sea Add-A-Battery to isolate your starter and house batteries when you are using them, but combine them when charging.....it is pretty much idiot proof.  Switch settings are ON-OFF-COMBINE.

 

https://www.bluesea.com/products/category/35/89/Add-A-Battery_Kits

 

 

[Todd in NY]

On 4/14/2018 at 4:42 PM, kayaker919 said:

Might be too late, but I recommend the Blue Sea Add-A-Battery to isolate your starter and house batteries when you are using them, but combine them when charging.....it is pretty much idiot proof.  Switch settings are ON-OFF-COMBINE.

 

https://www.bluesea.com/products/category/35/89/Add-A-Battery_Kits

 

 

 

Thanks for the link! My Perko battery switch is supposed to do the same thing. Battery 1, 2 or All.

 

I really like my Blue Seas fuse blocks.

Edited May 28, 2019 by Todd in NY

[stoneam2006]

Looking good

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Rookie Fisherman]

Get some Corrosion X and coat all your electrical connections. Best stuff going.

 

[kayaker919]

 
Thanks for the link! My Perko battery switch is supposed to do the same ithing. Battery 1, 2 or All.
 
I really like my Blue Seas fuse blocks.

The Add-A-Battery includes an ACR which saves you from having to select "All" when you are running your motor or charging, and then switching to "1" or "2" to keep your "house" circuits from discharging your starting battery. It is mostly a convenience, and another level of protection against accidentally discharging both batteries.

Sent from my SM-T820 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Todd in NY]

1 hour ago, stoneam2006 said:

Looking good

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Lake Ontario United mobile app
 

 

Thanks. Feels good to have the wiring done and everything working.

[Todd in NY]

1 hour ago, rookie fisherman said:

Get some Corrosion X and coat all your electrical connections. Best stuff going.

 

 

I'll look into it, thanks!

[Todd in NY]

1 hour ago, kayaker919 said:

The Add-A-Battery includes an ACR which saves you from having to select "All" when you are running your motor or charging, and then switching to "1" or "2" to keep your "house" circuits from discharging your starting battery. It is mostly a convenience, and another level of protection against accidentally discharging both batteries.

Sent from my SM-T820 using Lake Ontario United mobile app
 

 

Oh, ok. Thanks for the info. I didn't know what the difference was between the two switches.

[Xxx]

Man the guy who owned that boat before your must be colorblind, everything was red, and he couldn’t have owned a wire cutters, just ball it up & call it good. LOL but you had your hands full with that mess, a lot of people are scared shytless when it comes to the electrical ailments. Congrats an a job well done. Know you will have a much better piece of mind when your out there fishing!! 

[Todd in NY]

37 minutes ago, pap said:

Man the guy who owned that boat before your must be colorblind, everything was red, and he couldn’t have owned a wire cutters, just ball it up & call it good. LOL but you had your hands full with that mess, a lot of people are scared shytless when it comes to the electrical ailments. Congrats an a job well done. Know you will have a much better piece of mind when your out there fishing!! 

 

Thanks Pap! I had no other choice but to rewire the whole boat (other than the factory gauges). Nothing else worked, not the VHF, or the 2 fish Finders I installed. The bilge pump was new last year, so that still worked.

 

Piece of mind is a beautiful thing out on the water, and being able to trust your equipment.

[Todd in NY]

While it was snowing today I installed the EZ Steer bracket on my main motor, then attached the rod to complete the kit.

 

I also replaced the winch strap on the trailer today, because the other strap was tied in a knot at the bow hook.

 

The old strap (note the knot)

 

The new strap

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by Todd in NY

[Todd in NY]

Added a new trailer jack with dual wheels and 14" of vertical travel. I got mine at Tractor Supply because it has a grease fitting at the top. I don't use the trailer Jack to move my boat and trailer around the driveway, but I like the added stability of the dual wheel design, and I like the extra 4" of lift so rain water can drain out of my bilge in the driveway. The pivot locking  pin on the old Jack was so worn out it wouldn't stay locked in the up or down position very well.

 

I also installed a new trailer coupler. The old one was badly rusted and didn't lock down very easily or securely on the hitch ball.

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by Todd in NY

[Todd in NY]

I'm using two of these dual purpose size 24 marine Exide batteries in my Sabre. They're new, and they've been charging in my basement all winter. In fact, they are still on the Pro Sport charger in this pic.

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by Todd in NY

[fisherdude]

Todd i notice the battery pics don't have covers over the  battery  post . think its one of the coast guard safety checks . if the battery came out of the battery tray being so close to to the aluminum splash well / transom it has the potential of causing a fire 

[Todd in NY]

Thanks, and good eye!

 

I have post covers for the batteries, and the boat came with West Marine battery trays that secure the batteries to the floor. I'm just using the Walmart and Interstate batteries in my driveway while I complete my projects. There's no need to secure these temporary batteries the way I'll have my permanent batteries set up. I'll have the Exide batteries secured in the trays with the covers on the posts before I launch the boat. I also plan to have the Coast Guard do one of their safety inspections as soon as I finish a few more small projects such as adding the extra kicker motor fuel line and a new anchor/nav mast head light (should  complete those today).