I got lucky on the gas line repair. Only had to cut out about 3" just above an inline fitting. There’s plenty of slack left in the gas line for turning left and right. Also, I pumped up the pressure to be sure there were no more leaks in the line.
The critter must not like the smell of the liquid electrical tape, doesn’t seem to be any additional damage to the battery cables. Maybe he managed to get a shocking experience while chewing off the insulation. I added two more coats of liquid tape this afternoon and plan to wrap everything with electrical tape tomorrow. I’ll also try the adhesive backed aluminum foil this week.
The lake has come up about 10" if it comes up another few inches and stays up I’ll be able to tie up at the dock again. Hopefully that will end the critter problem. Thanks guys, for all of the advice.
Hey Spoonmaster … I came across your culprit tonight … 
… it’s my Wife’s fault we HAVE to fish !!!
2005 Sea Pro 2100cc / Yamaha 150hp 4-Stroke
Well… I managed to get out with the toonboat for about 1 1/2 hours on Christmas afternoon. The boat ran great and I was lucky enough to catch some perch and 5 big catfish, all on the spoons.
About a week or two after that and the big rains, I decided to go again. Headed to one of my favorite perch spots, but halfway there the motor started acting up. I turned around and limped back to the dock. When I got back to the dock I looked at the battery cables. They were chewed up again and so was the bundle of wires running from the console to the motor.
I’m just going to wait until the water warms, find some metal conduit or something similar, make any needed repairs and run the wiring through the conduit under the floor before hooking it back up.
I’m fortunate to have a friend like Fogman who has included me in a bunch of fun fishing trips before and after the wiring problems. He and a couple of other friends have kept me from going through the dreaded effects of “fishing withdrawal” since Christmas day.
I will be sidelined off and on for some medical treatments, but plan to fish in between them if I’m able. The treatments are going OK, but they do take a toll on me. It is pretty frustrating to not be able to just hop in the boat and go. I guess the perch must have hired a muskrat or beaver to chew up my wires.
Spoon,
Did you put the aluminum foil tape on your wires?
Rick K
Rick, I didn’t get them wrapped. I was planning on adding a few more coats of liquid electrical tape, then wrapping each wire with more electrical tape, before adding the cover wrap. It was a Friday when I got the tape and I planned to wrap them after fishing on that Saturday. That’s when I noticed the problem again. The boat stays in the water. So I’ll have to wait until the water warms, get under the boat to survey the damage to the wiring and make whatever repairs are needed. I’m thinking of using metal conduit from under the console, under the the floor and as close to the motor as possible. When I get close to the motor I’ll either use the aluminum foil tape, flexible conduit, or a combination of the two, being sure to allow for steering without binding on the wires. I’ve never had this problem before and don’t want to have it again.