Battery Cable question for Maine Sail

[Bob S]

I remember a while back you recommended Birkshire Electric Cable for boat wire. I spoke to a woman there this morning. It seems you cannot buy direct, with distributors in NY RI & NJ. Where you able to buy direct? Any suggestions as to where to buy quality cable without too much pain $?

Bob

 

[Maine Sail]

I remember a while back you recommended Birkshire Electric Cable for boat wire. I spoke to a woman there this morning. It seems you cannot buy direct, with distributors in NY RI & NJ. Where you able to buy direct? Any suggestions as to where to buy quality cable without too much pain $?

Bob

I buy from Dave at Battery World in Portland, ME;

(207) 797-7764
148 Walton St
Portland, ME

You can also buy from Sailors Solutions (LINK) ask for Nick. I think he is stocking battery cable though it is not shown on the site. Dave at Battery World can ship it to you. Make sure you have access to a good set of lug crimpers. The Ancor "hammer crimper" will work but it's crude at best. If you are spending the money on quality wire and lugs it's a good idea to also use a quality crimper.

 

[sailingdog]

You can also purchase Berkshire battery cable from:

Orion Wire Co. Inc.
2165 Dartmouth College Highway
North Haverhill, NH
03774
Phone: (603) 787-2200
FAX: (603) 787-2221

A good battery lug crimper that I've recommended to several friends is this one, click the photo to get to the website:

 

[gfrazzle]

Battery Cable

I remember a while back you recommended Birkshire Electric Cable for boat wire. I spoke to a woman there this morning. It seems you cannot buy direct, with distributors in NY RI & NJ. Where you able to buy direct? Any suggestions as to where to buy quality cable without too much pain $?

Bob

You can also try here: http://genuinedealz.com/

Good quality, great price

 

[Maine Sail]

Battery World Prices

Here are the prices for the Berkshire wire from Dave at Battery World

Gauge Per Ft.
2/0 $4.94
1/0 $3.74
2 $2.50
4 $1.56
6 $1.06
8 $0.62

 

[Bob S]

Are battery crimpers something that can be rented? Seems quite expensive for a one time job.

 

[Maine Sail]

Are battery crimpers something that can be rented? Seems quite expensive for a one time job.

Not that I know of. If you know your lengths and stud sizes you can order them from Dave and he'll make them up for you fairly reasonably..

I don't consider them a one time tool as over the years, and after a few boats, you'll use them more than you would think. I made a few changes this summer and used them twice more and I've made crimps with them on every one of the boats I've owned. If you have a way to get to the Portland area and can get them back to me you are welcome to use mine..

 

[sailingdog]

I bought my battery cable crimpers earlier this spring and they've basically been paid for by crimping cables for other boaters at my marina...

I'd be happy to loan you mine, as I'm out of Fairhaven...and it's a good deal closer than Maine is.

PM me if you'd like to borrow mine.

 

[Bob S]

Thanks Dog, Thanks Maine..when I get to that point I may take you up on the offer or maybe I'll just break down and buy a pair.

I'm trying to accumulate what I will need and begin work early April.

I just rented a condo at Loon Mtn. for 3 months, I'm trying to get into a ski mode but I'm having a hard time letting go of my new found boat mode.

 

[Maine Sail]

Thanks Dog, Thanks Maine..when I get to that point I may take you up on the offer or maybe I'll just break down and buy a pair.

I'm trying to accumulate what I will need and begin work early April.

I just rented a condo at Loon Mtn. for 3 months, I'm trying to get into a ski mode but I'm having a hard time letting go of my new found boat mode.

Grew up at Loon! The Village at Loon condo's were only 40k back when I was a kid and we spent most every weekend and school vacation there. You probably pay a 1/4 of the original selling price today just for three months rent. We just bought our daughter her first pair of skis and boots and we hope to get her up to the Loaf soon. She's 21 months and she'll be a good skier and sailor someday...

Last year was a bad one for me as I only got two or three days on the slopes all year..

 

[Ross]

Can you purchase just the jaws? I have a bolt cutter which provides the handles, can the dies be exchanged for the bolt shears?

 

[Bob S]

Ross, aren't bolt cutter one piece. I would think there would need to be some kind of alteration to make that work...but I have never seen a pair of cable crimpers first hand.

Maine, we've been threedom pass holders for the last five years. My son Matt is an adaptive skier. He is autistic, non verbal and is now skiing just about anything on the mountain. This year Loon hooked up with Sugarloaf and Sunday River. Both up there in Maine. We're excited.

Good luck with your daughter. As I remember....boy did my back hurt...although I started mine around 6 years old.

 

[sailingdog]

Sugarloaf is my favorite ski resort, but a bit far to drive for just a weekend.

Grew up at Loon! The Village at Loon condo's were only 40k back when I was a kid and we spent most every weekend and school vacation there. You probably pay a 1/4 of the original selling price today just for three months rent. We just bought our daughter her first pair of skis and boots and we hope to get her up to the Loaf soon. She's 21 months and she'll be a good skier and sailor someday...

Last year was a bad one for me as I only got two or three days on the slopes all year..

 

[sailingdog]

The way the dies on most of the battery cable crimpers work is that they're a rotating set of dies, to handle the different cable sizes. Retrofitting it to a pair of bolt cutters would be a PITA. It would cost you more in time, effort and materials than the crimpers I linked to would.

Can you purchase just the jaws? I have a bolt cutter which provides the handles, can the dies be exchanged for the bolt shears?

 

[Ross]

I had to ask.