Wiring a new to me boat

[LilBassMan]

I just got a new boat!  

The only thing I really want to do is replace and upgrade the wiring.

(The previous owner used a lot of electrical tape where connectors and shrink tubing should have gone.)

My question is this: This boat is a 15' Grumman Bass Jon (1991) that has a cranking battery and a TM battery. The previous owner has a battery switch installed. I'm thinking about just eliminating this switch and wiring the TM (1991 OMC 26 lb [max draw 31 amps] I will be upgrading this in the future to another small 12v) to the battery through a circuit breaker and then wiring the main motor and everything else to the cranking battery. I have two Humminbird PirahnaMAX 20 units, livewell pump, bow and transom lights, and two LED rope lights.

I mostly fish smaller lakes (not a lot of long runs) and very rarely do any overnight trips. I keep the boat in the garage and have a charger for the batteries there (not onboard and not looking to get one).

What are the advantages (if any) of leaving the switch in vs. eliminating it?

[-badhabit-]

The advantages of the switch would be to save the battery if one of the devices got shorted out from any of several ways or any device draining the battery when the boat is not in use.

They can also save a lot of time when installing or troubleshooting the electrical.

Battery switches are a good item to have (my opinion).

Stay Safe, FL Dave

[cart7t]

Don't know if your boat has a bilge pump with auto feature but regardless, never put a bilge pump on a circuit that has a master off switch.  Your bilge pump on/off switch should always have power applied to if straight from the battery and an auto switch should always be wired straight to the battery.

[LilBassMan]

Don't know if your boat has a bilge pump with auto feature but regardless, never put a bilge pump on a circuit that has a master off switch.  Your bilge pump on/off switch should always have power applied to if straight from the battery and an auto switch should always be wired straight to the battery.

I forgot to mention the bilge pump, but it is there. I will definitely be wiring it as suggested. I don't want that piece of equipment to fail for sure.

I'm just not seeing the advantage of keeping the switch. If I wire my TM to the deep cycle with a circuit breaker and everything else to the cranking battery (through an appropriate fuse block) I really don't see the need for the switch. It doesn't really offer any protection, just convenience, right? I won't be doing many long runs so charging from the alternator to the deep cycle isn't really an issue for me I wouldn't think.

Sorry for so many questions, but I want to do this correctly without a lot of extra things I don't need. I have a lot of experience with wiring car electronics and in my experience the simpler the setup the better.

Thanks for the info! I'm enjoying this forum a great deal!  

[fish-fighting-illini]

IMO go ahead and add the circuit breaker but if the swithch is already there keep so. It is not hurting anything and you never know when you might want the convenience. Suppose the bilge pump or TM shorts out and your wiring starts to heat up or starts smoking. It is a lot faster and safer to reach over and shut off the switch. In fact a switch for ea device would be handy. I just got back from BPS and they have pre-made switch boxes for 4-8 (?) devices for a relatively cheap price. The are the top panel only with all the wiring. You have to buy an enclosure or make a wooden one but it would be sweet. Very handy for lights, livewell pump etc.

[cart7t]

I have a master on/off switch on the dash.  I use it so if I were to accidently leave an accesory on I don't come back to a dead battery.  Of course, just like I would have to remember to shut off all the accessories, I also have to remember to shut off the master switch or the whole system is for naught.

[LilBassMan]

I have a master on/off switch on the dash.  I use it so if I were to accidently leave an accesory on I don't come back to a dead battery.  Of course, just like I would have to remember to shut off all the accessories, I also have to remember to shut off the master switch or the whole system is for naught.

I plan on including a switch like this in my wiring.

My question is really about a Battery Switch like this.

The main advantage for this type of switch seems to be in the charging of the batteries and in the isolation of one battery from the other. I will already have everything on the cranking battery except the trolling motor so it is all isolated physically. Are there any other advantages to a system like this?

Please pardon my ignorance on this. It just seems to be adding an unnecessary step into the mix.