Recommendations for electrical boat work documents

[sasjzl]

Hi all,
I am in the midst of reviving a 1973 Macgregor Venture 17 and am know enough to get in trouble in 12 volt D.C. world on cars but am a blank slate when it comes to boats. The previous owner is not available and I am looking for a resource, internet site book or other, to help me figure out what to do to preserve and safely use the installed system.
Thanks very much,
Jim Lee

 

[Justin_NSA]

Practical Sailor has some good ebooks
http://www.practical-sailor.com/ebooks/Marine-Electrical-Systems-Complete-Series-11561-1.html

 

[Stu Jackson]

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5977.msg40656.html#msg40656

 

[rgranger]

On a 17' boat... you are mostly day sailing anyway...have you considered replacing your nav. lights with battery operate "emergency" lights. Have to ask yourself how often you will likely be sailing after dark anyways? A simple LED camping lantern can legally (and practically) serve as your anchor light.

And then replace your cabin lights with battery operated LED "puck" lights. Those will last years before you need to replace the battery. There are a lot of good options at Lowes. And use a battery operated hand-held VHF. Go to Dick's sporting goods and get a kayak hand-operated bilge pump and scrap the original electric system all together.

Less maintenance in the long run and less likely to fail when you really need/want it.

 

[jssailem]

I strongly recommend Stu Jackson's links. While written for his love of Catalina's the information is applicable to all boats. I have found his ideas easy to understand and put to use.

Another must read would be MaineSails Musings. Both on this forum and his website http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects.

Recently I have been reading the writings of Phyllis and John aboard Morgan’s Cloud on their website "Attainable Adventure Cruising" https://www.morganscloud.com/ The couple makes their living writing about their adventures. There are some introduction free blogs but their aim is to get you hooked on their writing and get you to cough up $20 a year for membership. I am hooked. My interest was sealed when I read John's thoughts on buying a boat is different than buying a car. Especially buying a used boat. How your purchase needs to focus on what you want to do with the boat more than the gadgets or accessories that are being sold with the hull. This thought process changed my thinking from 'latest and greatest GPS/MFD" to capability of the boat to handle the waters I plan to be sailing.