Dear Kevin,

I am currently beginning my first boat wiring project, a total rewire of a small Owens cruiser from the late ’60s.

Here’s my problem:

The old wiring runs behind the original paneling and headliner. I could try dismantling everything to remove and replace the wires, but am concerned about damaging any of the woodwork. It’s old. It’s gorgeous. It would be a bitch to replace.

I don’t mind leaving the old wiring in place and just running a new harness, but that still leaves the problem of installing the new wires without causing any damage.

Any ideas?

RP

Dear Ron,

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Kevin.

Kevin,

I have a pontoon boat with a Mercury outboard.

When I turn the key to the off position, the motor does not shut off. The gauges (gas, tach, trim, etc) shut off but not the motor.

The ignition switch is a ten wire push to choke switch and the key is attached by a cord to a kill switch. When I pull the kill switch the motor still does not shut down.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Tim

Tim,

I would trace the mageto ground wire from your engine to your ignition/kill switch. This is usually black with a yellow stripe. A break in this wire will cause the gauges to operate properly, but not the ignition and kill switch.

Kevin

Kevin,

I found the problem!

Tracing the magneto wire worked – the harness was too long and looks like it got clipped by the prop. I found two wires broken, the black/yellow wire and the black ground.

I shortened the harness to prevent this again, it was long and hanging in the way.

Thanks for your help, it turns off every time now!!

Regards,

Tim

Dear Kevin,

My father-in-law tried to change the ignition switch on our pontoon boat wiring and didn’t draw a very accurate diagram of what he had.
I found the ignition wiring diagram that answered most of my questions.

The wires going to and from the kill switch are my question. I hope you can point me in the right direction.

Thank you,

Chuck

Chuck,

Two wires are usually connected to the kill switch. They are a ground wire (usually black) and a magneto ground wire (usually black/yellow).

These are the same two wires that are connected to the ignition switch that make a connection when the key is turned off.

Happy boating,

Kevin