Bombay Clipper 31 Schematics

[dirland]

Hello all!

I just want to start off by saying that I am brand new to the sailing community. I was gifted the Clipper as a project boat and I am trying to do what I can to get it respectable again. I have almost no experience with boats, but I have casually worked on old cars and I feel like there is a lot of overlap in the skill-sets.

I am really hoping that someone here has access to a copy of the schematics for the boat. I already have the one attached and it was gathered online. I was hoping for something more detailed with cabin dimensions, wiring diagrams, etc if possible. I'm having an especially hard time figuring out wiring.

Thank you all for whatever you can provide!

 

[dlochner]

Here's a link to some basic dimensions for the boat. The boat is about 50 years old, a lot has changed in boat electrical systems in that time. Depending on how much time and money you want to spend, it may be best to just replace all the wiring. I suspect much of the wiring has corrosion inside the insulation. Back in those days heat sealed connectors were not in common use and salt would get inside the wire and corrode it. To check take a section of wire and strip off a foot or so of insulation. Corroded wires cause all kinds of problems, from simple devices failing to work to fire.

Cars and boat have some overlapping skill sets, however, a boat is most definitely not a car, especially with wiring. All boat circuits must have individual DC- wires whereas cars typically just use the chassis for the DC-. Boat wiring also uses more flexible wire with finer individual strands and the wire is tinned to reduce problems with corrosion. The wires are also different sizes even with the same nominal gauge. AWG wires (typical boat wiring) has a larger diameter than SAE gauge wire (typical auto gauge wire). THN gauge wire is used in commercial and residential construction has the fattest individual strands and is the least flexible. That's for starters.

There are a couple of good marine wiring books out there. The 12 Volt Bible and Charlie Wing's Boatowners Illustrated Electrical Handbook. Both books cover the basics pretty well. For more up to date information www.MarineHowTo.com is about the best online resource out there.

BOMBAY CLIPPER 31 - sailboatdata

Some later boats were built by Chapparel Co. (USA) Alt. deep keel: 5.1′

sailboatdata.com

 

[dLj]

Excellent advice by @dlochner !

The only thing I'll add is because of the age of your boat, even if you were to find schematics, it's pretty unlikely nothing has been changed in the time frame. Reproducing the original wiring is also probably not the best idea.

I would think your time is better spent figuring out what your boat currently has and go from there.

dj

 

[dirland]

Thank you so much for all the great information. This is excellent info for a new boat owner to know. I really appreciate the time you took to write all that out @dlochner !

And I appreciate the suggestion to try to just figure out the wiring. Quick side note: all the panels and wiring is directly under the kitchen sink. Is this something that is as ill-thought-out as I think it is? Is there some "is actually the driest part of the boat" thing I don't know about? I'm thinking about trying to move everything over a foot or moving the sink.

Thank you again for your time!!

 

[Tally Ho]

Thank you so much for all the great information. This is excellent info for a new boat owner to know. I really appreciate the time you took to write all that out @dlochner !

And I appreciate the suggestion to try to just figure out the wiring. Quick side note: all the panels and wiring is directly under the kitchen sink. Is this something that is as ill-thought-out as I think it is? Is there some "is actually the driest part of the boat" thing I don't know about? I'm thinking about trying to move everything over a foot or moving the sink.

Thank you again for your time!!

I certainly don’t like the idea of the wiring and switches being under the sink…seems very inconvenient and a potentially wet spot. I would like to see some photos of that.

On most boats, the panel is mounted near the navigation station, high on the wall, hopefully in a dry place.



Greg

 

[dLj]

Thank you so much for all the great information. This is excellent info for a new boat owner to know. I really appreciate the time you took to write all that out @dlochner !

And I appreciate the suggestion to try to just figure out the wiring. Quick side note: all the panels and wiring is directly under the kitchen sink. Is this something that is as ill-thought-out as I think it is? Is there some "is actually the driest part of the boat" thing I don't know about? I'm thinking about trying to move everything over a foot or moving the sink.

Thank you again for your time!!

I have never seen a boat with that layout. It would not be my first choice, but it depends upon the layout of the boat. Often we look at something and think - "Why the heck is that there?" Then we go through the process of changing it and realize it more difficult than we first thought.

Typically, as @Tally Ho said, the electrical panel is near a chart table, away from potential water and good access for use. I've also seen them in other places - it depends upon the constraints of the specific boat.

How about some photos of the interior of your boat?

dj

 

[jssailem]

Having just completed Phase 1 of a 3-phase project on my 50-year-old Electrical system, I can share that it was not as easy as I imagined. It requires perseverance and a little patience.

I started with the main panel both the AC and the DC primary switches.

While working on the DC switch panel I enjoyed a flooding experience. It set me back a bit.

With the engine replacement, the engine control panel was upgraded. The engine wires are back working but will be cleaned up (further organized) in Phase 2.

The new DC panel is now live. I can at least go sailing.


Phase 2 will include the option to recharge using solar. Here is the test panel trial.

A new addition to Phase 2 is the house bank, which is being upgraded to LiPO4 Batteries (300Ah).
Batteries have been received and are going through initial charge and testing.


I know project creep. What can I say? It was a 50-year-old system.

 

[dlochner]

I have never seen a boat with that layout. It would not be my first choice, but it depends upon the layout of the boat. Often we look at something and think - "Why the heck is that there?" Then we go through the process of changing it and realize it more difficult than we first thought.

Typically, as @Tally Ho said, the electrical panel is near a chart table, away from potential water and good access for use. I've also seen them in other places - it depends upon the constraints of the specific boat.

How about some photos of the interior of your boat?

dj

@dirland as you are beginning to learn, there are many conflicts in boat design and many solutions to boat design problems. One of those conflicts is where to locate the circuit breaker panel. Ideally the panel should be located very close to the batteries. This enables shorter wire and cable runs from the batteries to the panel. Shorter runs means smaller cables can be used which results in weight savings and cost savings, both important to the builder. Ease of initial installation is also important as it saves labor costs in the build. Somewhere down the list is accessibility and convenience for the owner and future servicing.

One of the differences between a high end production boat and a lower cost production boat is how these conflicts are resolved. In this example, a high end boat may accept the cost of a more convenient place for the panel and pass those costs on to the customer who will gladly pay for it. While a more economically built boat will sacrifice convenience for price.

Your instinct, that placing the panel under the sink is not the best idea is spot on. A lower panel is more likely to get bumped and have breakers inadvertently turned off or damaged. However, it may be in an optimal place for keeping battery cables short and smaller gauge.

 

[PaulK]

Moving the sink is probably a bigger problem than moving the wiring. Designers try to place boat sinks in the middle of the boat so that they will drain on both tacks. Your head sink may not drain because it's so far out on the port side. Seawater may even fill it to overflowing if the seacock is left open when you're on starboard tack.

 

[Dalliance]

Having the electrical panel below the sink does is not ideal, but perhaps it can be recessed with a plexiglass door in front of it. The sink is in the best location as close as possible to the centerline of the boat. I’ve seen new boats and old with the electrical panel in or below the companionway which almost seems worse to me than below the sink.
Mine is above the nav desk set back below an operable portlite. Last summer during a voluntary USCG Aux safety inspection one of the things they looked for was water staining on the teak around the electric panel because it’s below a portlite. I passed, no water stains there and new portlites, but it was the first time I’ve seen them specifically look for that.
When I got Dalliance, one of the first things I changed was an old nylon through hull fitting for the bilge pump discharge that was foolishly located behind the electrical panel. I moved it to the opposite side of the boat inside a galley dish locker. A decision immediately validated when I tried to pull the old hose off and the brittle nylon fitting sheered off in my hand.

 

[dirland]

Thank you all! I really appreciate the included photos as well as this helps me kind of get an idea of a nice layout. I will send photos of the wiring once I'm back on the boat!

 

[Golden Roo]

I have an RK 20 and its a knock off of the Bombay Clipper,. Im looking at your panels in your boat and see way to many cut off switches with no color code. I am a retired boat captain and would just run down all my wiring to the battery first then check out my grounds next only then see what you have . they make little plastic tabs to put on wires when you ID them. I do hope you find wire diagram. Some times that helps. What year is your boat arrrr what ya call her mate