Advice needed on whether to self rewire boat

[Solent Bombard]

Looking at rewiring my boat completely as the boat has been bodged and unloved by previous owners.

I spent most of last weekend pulling wires out of the boat which have no use anymore but were just in situ by previous bodgers. Wiring in total probably 20-30 metres in length have been removed.
Old nav light wires, gps wires, sounder wires, fuel tank wires, vhf wires, etc etc.

So due to this and the poor attempt at wiring connections still in the console (halfords crimps and electrical tape) I'm looking at starting again seeing as I cannot guarantee the remaining wiring is even correctly installed.

Pics of current setup








My setup is

1999 Mercury 135 v6 with loom upto commander 2000 control with tilt control

Mercury Analogue Dials I currently have installed

Revs.

Speedo.

Trim.

Fuel level.

Temp.

Nav lights.

Also with the rewiring I'm also wanting to install my new purchases which are a

Icom M323 vhf dsc.

Garmin 451s plotter/sounder.

So my question is is the job do able with my current small knowledge of wiring and wiring diagrams. (I can follow motorbike diagrams and do some wiring on my bike)

And if it is what will I need wire wise, connectors, etc etc.

Do you need to solder as well as I have never soldered and always got round soldering with using crimps or superseal connectors.

Thanks Ross....

[Chris Caton]

I would have ago yourself, it's not that hard to do as long as you're methodical, you can get any cable crimps etc you want from the likes of Vehicle Wiring Products, they can supply the crimp connectors with the heat seal ends or you can use standard crimps with heat shrink tubing, either will be better than just standard crimps, solder connections are the best but take a lot onager to do and if you're not used to it can end up proper than crimped connections. just leave yourself plenty of time, draw out what you want to do, leave extra cable so you can make up a loom outside of the console then just fit it in one go, leave the existing engine wiring loom in place if it's in good condition as that would be a hole different ball game to replace as a DIY job

[biffer]

Can't see a fuse in sight, argh!

[Chris Caton]

fuses are for wimps Biff

I've just bought a Bluesea fuse block for my SR4, dead easy to fit n looks like it will do just what I'm after, good kit

[Bigtalljv]

Blue sea now makes breaker block too. Takes the snap in breakers. Very cool.

Jason

[Daibheid]

Originally Posted by Solent Bombard

Looking at rewiring my boat completely as the boat has been bodged and unloved by previous owners.

I spent most of last weekend pulling wires out of the boat which have no use anymore but were just in situ by previous bodgers. Wiring in total probably 20-30 metres in length have been removed.
Old nav light wires, gps wires, sounder wires, fuel tank wires, vhf wires, etc etc.

So due to this and the poor attempt at wiring connections still in the console (halfords crimps and electrical tape) I'm looking at starting again seeing as I cannot guarantee the remaining wiring is even correctly installed.

Thanks Ross....

LOL, looks like a typical ex-dive club boat!

[SW Boat Transport]

Make sure you use tinned wire. It will cost you a little more (not to bad if bought from a trade supplier like Aquafax) bit will save a lot of problems down the line as it won't go green and corrode like conventional wire.

[Solent Bombard]

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the setup with just the gauges as I could look because I could start to check if the boat is even wired up right.

[nugent]

This will help

[Solent Bombard]

Thanks for digging out those diagrams nugent i can certainly use them for rebuilding my wiring as it seems the wire colours are mostly the same.

here is my current wiring diagram of the current setup on my boat.

[Solent Bombard]

Dave crawford marine are going to be getting a wiring diagram for my engine and gauges so i should be able to double check with them.

but does anyone know what type/size wire i need to do my gauges with I'm guessing tinned and also shrink tubing and do they do anti corrosion spade connectors.

also i have no idea how to then plumb in the gps plotter/vhf and nav lights i currently have a 3 switch setup installed on the console which use to do nav lights and engine and one redundant switch with fuses on.

[Texel Tom]

Here is my attempt at the exact same issue...

Before



After

[Chris Caton]

nice work Tom

[Solent Bombard]

Yep lovely job, wish I could get anywhere as neat a job as that but my console does not come part like that unfortunately.