Exposed Wiring in the Bilge

[R Rogers]

I was recently cleaning out our Catalina 350 bilge of all the sawdust from the factory. As I was cleaning out the bilge in the forward head (under the sink), I noticed that there are exposed electrical connections within the bilge water line. I would be interested to find (1)if other Catalina 350 boats have similar wiring configurations and (2) does this provide a hazard (with shorting and exposure to salt water)?Thanks Bob

 

[RonD]

Define "Exposed"

Do you mean wire ends that are stripped of insulation and left hanging, twisted into a connection, or attached to a terminal?Or, do you mean insulated wiring that isn't wrapped with a chafe protection or run through conduit?I recall seeing some posts on the Catalina 320 Intl. website regarding wiring with exposed splices behind some paneling. I never found any in my C320 (yet). So, it is possible that practice could be going on at the factory -- I suspect to cut costs and utilize the wire ends on the spools rather than throwing them away. I hope the wires at least had tinned conductors. Bare copper conductors will quickly corrode in a damp, salty atmosphere.An in-line splice without some sort of crimped connector and chafe/corrosion protection is not a good practice. That said, unless it is near metal or an exposeed wiring panel, etc. it probably will not cause a short circuit. The danger & inconvenience is from the exposed splice corroding and/or separating. --RonD

 

[R Rogers]

Thanks for your responseThe wiring is connected to a junction strip (which is exposed - no covering) and mounted neatly on the support which forms the bilge. The wires from the junction strip are for the receptacle and lighting in the head. Bob

 

[RonD]

Suprising

It does seem odd that an exposed wiring terminal would be placed that low. I presume it is actually above the lowest bilge well (there are different levels; the bilge pump feeds from the lowest level), so as not to be under water (unless you have a real problem!).You could spray coat it to seal out moisture if it is a concern. Just make sure the connections are good & tight first.On my C320, the fluxgate compass is mounted on a cross-stringer in an upper bilge well just forward of the engine. It and its cable is sealed, however.--RonD

 

[Dick McKee]

Sounds like a ground strip. What

color is the wire?