Kevin,

I am currently restoring and repowering a 20′ Bertram.

The boat is a stern drive with both batteries in the motor box. I have already purchased an automatic smart battery switch and an eight switch marine electrical panel.

This boat helm is very far forward. The boat will be used exclusively in salt water and I want to have a very “heavy duty” boat wiring job. All the equipment will be run to the forward helm and some accesories like

1. Bilge pump
2. Diaphragm pump
3. Washdown pump
4. Bilge blower
5. Navigation  lights

…will be needed to run back to the motor box. All other accessories will be mounted near the forward. helm.

Here are the other accessories on the marine electrical system:

• Stereo
• Boat horn
• Engine room lights (also run to the stern)
• Gunnel lights
• GPS
• VHF

I need a harness to accomodate all of this.

Your thoughts?

Thanks.

Marshall

Hi Marshall,

To do this job correctly, I would recommend that you build a completely custom boat wiring harness. The best place to start is with our wiring size calculator. Use this to determine what size wire your components require along with the size of the panel board feed wire.

Tinned wire in standard boat wiring colors and most sizes is available on our sister marine wiring site.

Good luck with the project. Please send pictures of the electrical portion of this restoration and we will post them on our site.

Thanks

Kevin

Good day,

I have a question regarding boat wiring from an engine to the instrument panel.

I have a 1985 Ebbtide Catalina with a Mercuiser 350. It blew up on me, so I pulled it and found a new (08) Volvo 5.7 GI to put back in its place. I got a crazy good deal on the motor so I couldn’t turn it down.

Now the problem is that I need to connect into the 14 pin plug and 2 other smaller ones that I guess communicate to the gauges. I have all of the gauges from the boat that the new motor came out of so I was wondering if the Engine to Instrument panel wiring kit would work for me? I am going to redo the dash with the new gauges anyway. The only one that is missing is the tilt/trim.

The boat the motor/gauges/thrust controller came out of was a ’08 Glastron Cuddy Cabin, (not sure about the length).

I really appreciate any kind of help I can get on this. I really want to get out to the lake this year!

Thanks,

Judd

Hi Judd,

Your engine harness boat wiring colors are

• Black – Ground
• Red/purple – Ignition power in
• Purple – Ignition power to engine
• Yellow/red – engine start
• Tan – water temperature
• Gray – tachometer
• Lt blue – oil pressure
• Pink – fuel sender
• Brown/white – trim position
• Red/white – trim power in
• Blue/white – trim up
• Green/white – trim down

Also, here is a list of the standard boat wiring colors used on the rest of your boat.

Hope this helps,

Kevin

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,

Your problem was common with boat restoration projects – until the introduction of Harness in a Can.

Harness in a Can lets you spray pro-quality boat wiring into even the most hard to reach areas. Simply point, spray, and apply power. What could be easier?

And, it’s not just easy, it’s ABYC approved! Harness in a Can sprays out a harness with correct wire color and sizing – and with all of the connections that you need to get the job done fast.

If you order now, you will also receive a cap snaffler – absolutely free. Cap snafflers snaffle caps off any size jug, bottle or jar…and they really really work.

Call now to order. The toll free number is 877-277-3665. Operators are standing by. That’s 877-APR-FOOL.

Kevin.