Fishing Victoria Forum

I have been wanting to teach myself how to do my own wiring so that i can install my own electrical toys on the boat. With no real knowledge in this field it is a bit daunting on where to start.

To some of you guys this is probably as simple as tying your shoelaces. But its something i have never learnt so i am reaching out for any resources that you might know of.. books, youtube, websites, anything. Really i am looking at a place to start.

At the moment i am just running the one battery for starting the outboard and a sounder. The 27MHz has long been dead and i want to upgrade it to a VHF. So with that in mine my goal is to install a house battery and rewire everything to run off it, including installing a new VHF.

To start with i am thinking something simple like a USB port.

Give this a crack. I’ve not read it but I presume it will cover your needs

https://chsmith.com.au/Products/The-12v ... Boats.html

Hey fellow tigers diehard - I'm in the same boat as you

Initially it does look daunting but after reading the resources available online, it is not that bad at all. If you care about your boat and is a meticulous person, your work probably will be as good (if not better) than some of the workshop out there IMHO.

Here are some of the resources I've bounced off regarding wiring:

https://newwiremarine.com/how-to/wiring-a-boat/ (very detailed step by step guidance)

https://www.bluesea.com/systems (Products you will probably be ended up getting and utilising their wiring schematics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMmgtIBqKZo (YouTube video on the marine electrical)

https://www.youtube.com/user/DangarMarine (DangarStu is always helpful)


I am in the process of drawing out a wiring schematic for our boat - will post on here for comments and feedback soon. Looking at the glass half full, will use the mini-lockdown to get this done.

BTW, good thread TigerSteveo

Thanks guys... somewhere to get started.

Dangar Stu always makes it look so easy lol. Ive been watching his videos for a few years, and ive enjoyed his series on Renko more than most enjoyed Game Of Thrones!

Have seen plenty of marine dealerships use employees that moonlight as electricians and it just does not work. Use a trade qualified Auto electrician or marine electrician.

rb85 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:11 pm

Have seen plenty of marine dealerships use employees that moonlight as electricians and it just does not work. Use a trade qualified Auto electrician or marine electrician.

if its basic wiring its not too bad mate.
ive done basic wiring like sounder, nav lights, trolling motor, trailer lights etc without too much hassle. just have to have a basic understanding of what's happening.

Use tinned wire solder connections where possible .on long runs go up wire diameter to decease voltage drop and dielectric grease on exposed connection and heat shrink to cover connections

rb85 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:11 pm

Have seen plenty of marine dealerships use employees that moonlight as electricians and it just does not work. Use a trade qualified Auto electrician or marine electrician.

So you are saying its not possible to learn to do basic jobs yourself?

Ive watched 1000 cruising videos of people wiring up lights and sounders and USB ports. Surely they are not all trade qualified marine electricians? I am more than happy to pay someone to do big jobs. But i was quoted something like $150 last time i had the boat serviced to fit a $30 USB port. And $300 to install my sounder, which i was able to do myself in about 2 hours using the existing power (and upgrade of the same unit).

It's good to have some understanding you may need to fix it on the water

Don't use the hull as an earth it will disappear before your eyes with galvanic corrosion also put a fuse or circuit breaker on each circuit remember it's only 12 volts you won't kill yourself it may only go up in smoke