Hey everyone I was hoping to get some advice on a wiring project I want to start.
I bought my boat in Sept. and I already knew I had some electric work to do (livewell, bilge pump (auto worked but I couldn’t turn it on), radio, depth finder) but the ignition would go, lights would work and the horn blasted. Last trip out the horn didn’t work and the ignition wouldn’t start without me messing with the wires…
My assumption is I have loose wires and blown fuses, which sounds easy enough but I have a bird’s nest of wires in the center console. I want to redo it and simplify it. This is where I’m looking for some help and advice. I’m trying to read up what I can and understand what tools I need for this. I was looking at the ‘The 12 Volt Doctor’s Practical Handbook: For the Boat’s Electric System’ but if anyone has other books they would suggest please let me know. Illustrations will help!
Thanks for the help guys
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
I rigged up a boat with zero wiring, and installed bilge, livewell, horn, radio, GPS, lights, trim tabs, and jackplate. It was really easy, and very professional. Worked great so far in 3 seasons, and I run my boat pretty hard. Can’t say enough about this system.
http://www.ezacdc.com/
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
The best way to handle those birds nests is to not even try to figure it out, just cut everything loose and start over from scratch. Lay it all out on paper before you start re-wiring.
The link Geronimo posted is a good resource. Here is another, this is where I get most electrical components http://www.genuinedealz.com/
The book you have is pretty good, don’t know of any better.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Very cool, Geronimo. Thanks for sharing. How long did it take you to install the new harness? Are you talking a couple of hours or a couple of days?
“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”
Thank you! Those sites seem like great resources to start my research on. I’m kind of excited about what I could do to customize my boat’s electric
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
This is a console that I’m in the process of building now, for a boat that I’m also building. I’ll draw out the entire wiring diagram on paper before I start wiring it. Fun project 
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
definitely pull it all out and start over
when we rewire, we use 2 distribution blocks under the dash
one for power one for ground
all our devices get marine grade tinned copper duplex cable run from the device to the distribution blocks under the dash
each wire is labeled both ends with a sharpie marker
very easy to do, and very easy to trouble shoot
www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry
This is a console that I’m in the process of building now, for a boat that I’m also building. I’ll draw out the entire wiring diagram on paper before I start wiring it. Fun project
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
The GF18? You should post some of those threads and pictures on this site. You might could sell a boat or two!
Yeah Chris, GF18. It’s a heck of a console for an 18’ boat [:0]
quote:
You should post some of those threads and pictures on this site. You might could sell a boat or two!
Got more boats to build than I’ve got time to build them already. It’s a good problem to have
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Larry I would like to come see your projects sometime… You do some really cool stuff!
2007 Scout 221 150 Yamaha 4 stroke
Any time
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Going back to the replies above, and having done this myself to my 2000 Sea Pro, I concur that you just need to yank that birds nest out and rewire the whole thing. Its just DC wiring, so pretty simple if you understand it, and if not its easy to learn. And you will learn a whole lot about your boat in the process. Do it right, with tinned wire, adhesive shrink connectors, lots of dielectric grease, etc and it will last a long time. My Sea Pro is like a new boat now. And everything works 
You can do it!
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
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President, Summerville Saltwater Anglers