sUpgrade Questions

[Navy Chief]

Since being on Deployment I have saved some money and bought some upgrades for the boat when I get back. It's a 2001 Lowe Roughneck 1860VT with a 1996 Evinrude 40hp tiller with all aluminum floor and sides covering all the ribs. I have already bought 2 new stainless props since being gone.

I have ordered 1 LMS 332C W/GPS for the back and will be ordering the front (TM mounted) LMS 332C without GPS June 1st. I have never wired the boat and have just ran the wiring along the edge up until now because I'd take the FF out when hunting. I want to run all the wiring properly for the front and also add a light up front and back. I plan on lifting the aluminum floor up and running all the wiring underneath and putting the floor back in. At that time I also want to run the TM wiring under as well, in the past i have just thrown the battery up front and attached the TM by the wing nuts. I am adding 2 TM batteries to the back of the boat and getting a 50amp breaker for the TM. What Gage wire for the TM, and what gage wire from the back to the front to the FF and Nav light? I will probably add a 6 gang switch/fuse panel for the front so that I can shut everything off when not in use. Last but not least, I have a Tach that plugs right into the wiring harness, but it only has about 8" of wiring and I want to mount it about 6 feet from the motor so i can view while I am running down the lake. Is there an extension I can buy that has the plugs to attach the tach?

Thanks for any and all help, looking forward to getting home and getting all this stuff done so i can get back on the water fishing.

Chad L.

[Ben]

A couple of suggestions on what I would/would not do.

Recommeded TM wire size is #6 fine strand battery cable, (if boat shops sell it they usually call it marine cable). This is rated for 75 amps. I would not go any smaller than #8 rated at 55 amps. If your TM is 12/24 you will need to run two positive and two negative cables. Straight 24V, you only need to run one of each. Also, on 12/24 you will need a circuit breaker on each battery for each positive lead.

For running the wires, I would get me 16/6 AWG cable. This will give you six conductors in one cover so you don't have wires dangling everywhere and extra protection from wear.

As for fuse panel, you should be able to find a switch panel with the circuit breakers built in that will provide what you need. I prefer circuit breakers because if you happen to be on the lake and one pops, don't have to worry about having a fuse, just push it in and reset it.

The tach harness is something you will have to check into with a dealer. If all else fails, you can always cut it and add some in, using crimp splices or solder. If it's going to be where moisture might get into the splice, before crimping slide some heat shrink over the wire so you can fit it over the splice. Slide it over the splice once made, force a little RTV in each end and heat shrink it.

I would have a hard time dealing with pulling the floor up. I would look at running some conduit along the edge and secure it with a few straps fastened to the floor. You start drilling the heads of those pop rivets and it's too easy for the drill to bite in that soft aluminum and pull it all the way through the hole. Giving you a much larger hole than you wanted.

[scbassin]

Chief:

Get one of the electrician's off the ship to help you. For a beer & hamburger they will all show up.

[Ben]

Good point, just make sure the beer is after the upgrades. Liable to have the lights sticking out the side of the boat.

These might help

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/categoryg/10001/-1/10001/348/118/9/man/asc/0/grid

http://www.seatechmarineproducts.com/17.Products/66.Waterproof.Rocker.Switch-Circuit.breaker.Panels

http://www.bepmarine.com/showcategory.cfm?categoryid=101

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/store/products/productDisplay~manufacturer~BLUE+SEA+SYSTEMS~model~VERTICAL++and++HORIZONTAL+SERIES+WATERPROOF+PANELS.htm

[IL_Bassman]

if u cant find any marine cable for your TM just go to your local electrical store or electrical department at your local lowes, menards, or home depot and tell them you need some #6 stranded THHN. even though #8 is rated at 55 amps and #6 is rated at 75 amps you never want to put #8 on more than a 40 amp breaker. and never put #6 on more than a 60 amp breaker. so for 50 amps and 60 amps you want to use a #6 wire. hope this helps

[Navy Chief]

Awesome input guys!!!!!!!! Thanks, this should get me well on my way. I have thought about getting the Electricians on the ship to come out, but I live 45 miles from the base and time at home is precious. I think I'll be attacking this project on my own.

Chad L.

[IL_Bassman]

well im an electrician so if you have any more electrical questions feel free to ask. ill try my best to help out but cant guarantee anything. there is a big defference between wiring a boat and wiring a house haha.