x-posted
Im ready to install a new sonar up front on my ranger 364v, I don't have a power block up there so im going to have to run power from the battery all the way up front. What is the easiest way to run it clean and without having to pull on old wires? The boat is 18ft

You don't have a bow light? Borrow the power from there.

SE Kansas grass grower

Get a fish tape. They are cheap and boat owners should have one. Run the tape from one end to the other (opposite side of the trolling motor wires. Tape your wires to it and pull them as you take out the tape.

If you are only going to use it for a sonar/gps unit you don't need more than a 14-16 ga wire. Hook them to your cranking battery.

It is recommend wiring your unit direct to the cranking battery to eliminate the chance for a low voltage issue down the road. This cable will assist you and save you some steps during your installation and possible electrical interference later on.

http://www.shut-up-and-fish.com/advanced...pce&submit=

I'm not going to run power to a graph from my navigation lights

Is there not a panel on the front where some switches and possibly an old flasher were mounted? I have an old 361v and the panel had a flasher and switches for accessory, lights and tilt trim.

I've done that on four out of the five boats I've owned and never had an issue. Tap on to the power BEFORE the switch to the nav lights, courtesy lights and anything else up there.

SE Kansas grass grower

Yes but everything up there works good

Ok, on mine, all the switches and such were connected by flat push on connectors to the main board behind that panel, but there were a few open prongs that were not being used. Yours might have a few open ones also. I'll try to look when I get home and get a pic for you.

Some people do it and get away with it, but it is never a good practice to have devices sharing an electrical souce, You can run into some issues like the wiring to one device being over-fused or under-fused. It can also be a problem if someone else tries to troubleshoot a problem.

Same goes for having a lot of connections gong to your battery post. If you have a lot of devices to hook up, run the appropriate size wire to a terminal block and wire your components. I can't tell you how may times I've started to trouble something for a customer and found numerous wires of various colors attached to a battery post. Aside from the possible problems, it's just plain sloppy work.

I have both fish finders, VHF and stereo running off of a fused sub panel with the cover marked with label tape telling me which fuses power what.

You always need to determine the number of amps you are drawing on the circuit, especially if you are sharing the circuit.

I have a suggestion. However you decide to pull the wire also pull a string like masons line with it. Cut the string off so there is enough to pull on at both ends. Next time you pull a wire tie it to the string, add a piece of string to the new wire and you will always have an easy way to pull new wire.

^^^This^^^

SE Kansas grass grower

Do not tap into the light circuit. Should be a pvc conduit running down the starboard side with wires. use a fishtape to pull the wires from the front to the console.
John