Rats!

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
I carefully locate the only possible location for the smoke head of my new diesel heater installation complete with detailed CAD drawings to check everything. I drill a pilot hole to verify the dimensions and clearance inside, trim away the headliner and..



Who says working on old boats isn't fun?

(It's the wire to the light in the head.)
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Looks like Murphy is on your boat. But easily resolved as I am sure you know.
 
Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
LOL... welcome to boating Roger... if you expected to have a clear shot through the cabintop... you forgot that Mr. Murphy is your constant companion when doing stuff on a boat.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I am afraid that the location of that wire violates the electrical code. It doesn't have a 16 ga. steel shield over it to prevent penetration by nails. Gonna have to red tag the boat and stop all work until you are in compliance. I don't knowhow you get in compliance if you can't do any work but rules are rules and must be followed. ;)
 
Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
But of course!!
Been there, done that.
One day I was assisting our local sailmaker in building his new boat in return for being part of his regular crew. My task was to install a complete suite of instruments. I was instructed by the owner to mount the two compasses on the main bulkhead of the cockpit, one each side. The owner/sailmaker showed me exactly where to cut the 4" diameter holes. Fortunately it was his preference because when I had run the 4" hole cutter through the bulkhead either side of the companionway we noticed many small ends of wire showing in one of the foam sandwich disks lying on the cockpit sole. In his wisdom the builder of the hull had laid in all the necessary wiring for the navigation instruments on the starboard side between the inner and outer skins of the main bulkhead. This cableform went from the navigation table to the garage which was over the main hatch - and guess who had severed them right through?
It was a real "Aw shxt moment"

I then spent a couple of days digging the foam out, stripping the cable screens and the insulation from the very short ends left each side of the hole in the bulkhead, one of which was at the top which meant working upside down. Then I soldered extensions on and heat sleeved each one individually. There were about twenty of them. Next I made channels in the foam round the compass, laid the new wires in and re-foamed the holes before fitting the compass.

Yes Roger I know how it feels - but at least you can use my method to get round the problem.
 
Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
You do know that you generally shouldn't run any kind of wiring near the compass, right???

But of course!!
Been there, done that.
One day I was assisting our local sailmaker in building his new boat in return for being part of his regular crew. My task was to install a complete suite of instruments. I was instructed by the owner to mount the two compasses on the main bulkhead of the cockpit, one each side. The owner/sailmaker showed me exactly where to cut the 4" diameter holes. Fortunately it was his preference because when I had run the 4" hole cutter through the bulkhead either side of the companionway we noticed many small ends of wire showing in one of the foam sandwich disks lying on the cockpit sole. In his wisdom the builder of the hull had laid in all the necessary wiring for the navigation instruments on the starboard side between the inner and outer skins of the main bulkhead. This cableform went from the navigation table to the garage which was over the main hatch - and guess who had severed them right through?
It was a real "Aw shxt moment"

I then spent a couple of days digging the foam out, stripping the cable screens and the insulation from the very short ends left each side of the hole in the bulkhead, one of which was at the top which meant working upside down. Then I soldered extensions on and heat sleeved each one individually. There were about twenty of them. Next I made channels in the foam round the compass, laid the new wires in and re-foamed the holes before fitting the compass.

Yes Roger I know how it feels - but at least you can use my method to get round the problem.
 

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
Just cut the wires and install the smoke stack and let the electrician worry about why there's no power to the lights in the head :evil:....been there many times but after enough years in the business you know to ask the customer....any one done work recently?
Just splice in some high temperature wire :D
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
On a positive note, the plywood and foam in the headliner look to be dry and free of mold!!:dance:

My latest gotcha is about 15 cans of stain, or stain type products, like Danish oils to try and match some new teak to the 30 year old teak.... Always fun..:doh:
 
Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Just cut the wires and install the smoke stack and let the electrician worry about why there's no power to the lights in the head :evil:....been there many times but after enough years in the business you know to ask the customer....any one done work recently?
Just splice in some high temperature wire :D
Unfortunately, this is Roger's boat, and Roger is the primary electrician on it... so he'd be making more work for himself.:D

On a positive note, the plywood and foam in the headliner look to be dry and free of mold!!:dance:
ROFL...good point..

My latest gotcha is about 15 cans of stain, or stain type products, like Danish oils to try and match some new teak to the 30 year old teak.... Always fun..:doh:
Good luck with that. :D
 

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
Just cut the wires and install the smoke stack and let the electrician worry about why there's no power to the lights in the head :evil:....e :D
Actually, that might work. If Roger's boat is anything like all the ones I've ever had, there's a 50% chance that wire isn't actually connected to anything. ;)

druid
 
Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
Dog:- Tell me about it! On my last boat the builder mounted the compass in the bridge deck with engine directly below. This put the alternator less than 6" from the compass. 30° deflection sailing increasing to 45° with engine running. Needed two plug in compensators - one for sailing and the other for motoring.
Of course I moved the compass soonest - but then had 5" dia hole to fill.
In the case of the sailmaker's boat I made sure the wires were paired and twisted tightly. Then made sure all currents to the instruments returned in the same harness.
Then did the checks on deviation - all OK.

BTW the compass light always breaches this rule so I always make sure it is twisted too so mag fields cancel.
 
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