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Rewiring a boat #15331861 02/14/25 01:23 AM
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theduke Offline OP
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So I have a 2001 18 ft. Bluewave, it's a great boat and I'm the third owner so there is quite a few wires running through the boat and to the battery directly. Things like my stern light is direct to the battery with an inline toggle. So I guess my question is how big of a project is this? I'm wanting to put new rockers and rewire the entire boat. Is there someone that y'all would recommend to do this, located in Stephenville.

Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: theduke] #15332069 02/14/25 01:30 PM
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Pat Goff Online Content
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It's a level 4 pain.
If you're gonna do it, do it right so you never have to do it over.
Spend the money on pre-tinned wire. It'll never corrode. Use saltwater connectors and hardware, dual wall heat shrink on all connections.


Pat Goff
Seadrift TX
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Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: theduke] #15332083 02/14/25 01:41 PM
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tmd11111 Online Content
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Not that difficult but to do it right and rig it cleanly it is very time consuming.

Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: theduke] #15332095 02/14/25 01:48 PM
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Fishin' Nut Offline
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I rewired my Lund last year. The hardest part for me was working underneath the console. Not much space and almost no where to put a light. Replaced all the rocker switches and added some new ones as well.


Waiting on Bob Davis' next selfie
Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: theduke] #15332912 02/15/25 02:00 PM
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Stump jumper Offline
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If you have Carling rockers you can replace the switch covers. I ordered mine from OTTRW. They offer best prices and selection. The removal tool makes the job easy. Green upper is the most popular but they have other colors. I thought about blue but some people say they are too bright. They also have switch bodies if you have any that need to be replaced. Pics are after and before.

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2200 Bay Champ/200 Mercury Optimax
2017 Tundra TSS 4x4 Crewmax 5.7L
Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: theduke] #15333500 02/16/25 03:40 AM
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dk2429 Online Content
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It's not a terrible job but it'll be time consuming

I know this is pricey, but whatever you do, USE ANCOR WIRE. I've wasted time using automotive wire on stuff in the past. Since then I've always used Ancor wire for repairs/new installs and I've NEVER had an issue.

A lot of guys will tell you to use Ancor butt connectors and ring terminals as well. I tend to disagree on that, I don't believe they're totally necessary. I just use the normal heat shrinkable butt connectors you get anywhere and heat shrink the connector, heat shrink tube on top of that, and electrical tape on top of that. To make that argument credible, I did this method on my trailer lights about 6-7 years ago. Never a problem whatsoever...If you want to spend the money on Ancor connectors, do it. Even then, I'd still double heat shrink and electrical tape them. That's what has proven to be effective for me.

Also, I agree with the above post. Working under the console is absolutely the worst part of the job. If I ever have to do any extensive electrical work under there, I'll likely remove the seats so I don't have to lay at an angle

Last edited by dk2429; 02/16/25 03:45 AM.

Majek 22 Extreme/225 Optimax Pro XS hauled by a 2500HD Duramax



Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: dk2429] #15333514 02/16/25 04:23 AM
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Originally Posted by dk2429
It's not a terrible job but it'll be time consuming

I know this is pricey, but whatever you do, USE ANCOR WIRE. I've wasted time using automotive wire on stuff in the past. Since then I've always used Ancor wire for repairs/new installs and I've NEVER had an issue.

A lot of guys will tell you to use Ancor butt connectors and ring terminals as well. I tend to disagree on that, I don't believe they're totally necessary. I just use the normal heat shrinkable butt connectors you get anywhere and heat shrink the connector, heat shrink tube on top of that, and electrical tape on top of that. To make that argument credible, I did this method on my trailer lights about 6-7 years ago. Never a problem whatsoever...If you want to spend the money on Ancor connectors, do it. Even then, I'd still double heat shrink and electrical tape them. That's what has proven to be effective for me.

Also, I agree with the above post. Working under the console is absolutely the worst part of the job. If I ever have to do any extensive electrical work under there, I'll likely remove the seats so I don't have to lay at an angle

I only use marine heat shrink tubing. It has an adhesive in it and shrinks up to 4x. Don't use the plastic [censored].


2200 Bay Champ/200 Mercury Optimax
2017 Tundra TSS 4x4 Crewmax 5.7L
Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: theduke] #15336421 02/19/25 06:01 PM
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T Bird Offline
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Elve's are required for all boat rigging/wiring work. bang


Okie by birth, Texan by choice.
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Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: T Bird] #15336643 02/19/25 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by T Bird
Elve's are required for all boat rigging/wiring work. bang

Or a Chinese kid.


Eat. Sleep. Fish.
Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: SteezMacQueen] #15336746 02/20/25 12:12 AM
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Originally Posted by SteezMacQueen
Originally Posted by T Bird
Elve's are required for all boat rigging/wiring work. bang

Or a Chinese kid.

That is absolutely not joke.

Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: theduke] #15339701 02/23/25 02:57 PM
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theduke Offline OP
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I learned this when installing a mounting plate for the Trolling motor!

Re: Rewiring a boat [Re: tmd11111] #15347523 03/05/25 04:47 PM
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SoonerDG Offline
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Originally Posted by tmd11111
Not that difficult but to do it right and rig it cleanly it is very time consuming.


Yes! It's simple but it's not easy. I've done it. Took me a couple of weeks working on it in the evening. I don't have a recommendation on someone to do it for you. I would imagine it would be fairly costly.


"Life is a matter of luck and the odds of success are in no way enhanced by extreme caution." - Erich Topp, German U-boat Commander, 1943.

When in doubt, set the hook.
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