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Bowlight Wiring
MRTyson	#1  Posted on 06/23/10 - 6:28 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 8 Comments: 0 Joined: 05/23/10	This will be my first electrical project on my Whaler... Wiring is accessible under the bowlight plate on the bow of my 1964 13', and there is an inch or two of wiring coming out of the transom for the stern light. Both ends appear to be worn, and perhaps even original parts. I want to hook up a permanent spotlight on the bow, and probably afix a permanent bow/sternlight (I'm using portables right now). Should I: (a) use the existing wiring, perhaps only to have it fail in the near future, ( snake new wiring through using a tag end of the old stuff, (c) install a small conduit for the whole setup, or (d) other? I'd really appreciate the pros and cons, as I'm trying to learn as much as make improvements... Also, any hints on what type of wiring is best? Thanks!
bmw90w	#2  Posted on 06/24/10 - 6:45 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 328 Comments: 1 Joined: 09/08/09	16 gauge marine tinned wire. Try genuinedealz.com, they have good prices. 1984 Montauk
Race	#3  Posted on 06/24/10 - 7:14 AM
Member Posts: 55 Comments: 0 Joined: 12/29/09	Hi, Tinnedwire.com has great prices. Good Luck!
MRTyson	#4  Posted on 06/24/10 - 4:56 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 8 Comments: 0 Joined: 05/23/10	Thanks, folks. Would still really appreciate any opinions on trying to install the new wire through the hull versus conduit. I hope to start work this weekend, and will post progress to my personal page. Cheers!
kamie	#5  Posted on 06/24/10 - 5:36 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	don't bother. you should run all new wires along the rubrail channel as you will never snake the wire thru the foamed hull.
ioptfm	#6  Posted on 06/24/10 - 6:03 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1533 Comments: 3 Joined: 10/28/06	You don't have a shot a snaking it through the hull............As Kamie said, run it within the rubrail. Not dificult a all to do. Tom 1979 Sport 15'
MRTyson	#7  Posted on 06/24/10 - 6:41 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 8 Comments: 0 Joined: 05/23/10	Awesome -- thanks!
Tom W Clark	#8  Posted on 06/24/10 - 7:22 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	In 1964 the wires to the bow light were foamed into the hull. Whaler included a third wire to be used as a spare in the even of a failure. Of course, after 46 years those wires are long gone. They were probably long gone around 1970. There is no way to "pull" new wire through the foam core of the hull so you must find and an alternate exterior route. In 1971, Whaler went to the three piece Barbour rub rail which used a rub rail insert that allowed wire to be placed behind it. This is a very good conduit for running wire to the bow, and the rub rail can be retrofitted to older hulls. If you do not want to retrofit the Barbour three piece rub rail to your hull, you can also run the wire on the outside of the hull tucked under the "finger grip" of the gunwale. Whaler recommended attaching the wire with screws and straps but you can also use white waterproof tape to pin the wire the hull. That works pretty well for many years at a time. If you want a spotlight on the bow as well, that might be a problem. A spotlight will have a much larger current draw and will require larger gauge wire. The rub rail may not accommodate that extra large-gauge wire.
bottomfish	#9  Posted on 06/24/10 - 9:09 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 198 Comments: 32 Joined: 01/07/09	I have a 64 13' and have the same issue. That restoration is upcoming and I plan on doing the same as I did with the 17'. Run everything through the rub rail. You will be surprised how much will fit in there. I ran my VHF cable to the bow along with the nav wires and all fit wonderfully. Seems to be the best overall solution. My .02
MRTyson	#10  Posted on 06/25/10 - 7:16 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 8 Comments: 0 Joined: 05/23/10	Just sent off a questionnaire to the retailer on the gauge wire required for the spotlight kit that I plan to install (Excel Twin LED Headlight Kit, http://www.mudbuddy.com/Duck%20Boat%20Accessories.htm). I'm gonna try and find some photos of the spacing underneath the rub rail, and hopefully the whole plan will come together. Thanks all!