ReWiring, Best locations, Best Practices

[gjewel]

Hello
I’m rewiring my boat, a 1980 Catalina 30 MK1.
Electrical panel is at the Nav station.
I have a question not about the wiring circuits, but the physical layout in the boat, methods and types of tie downs to use for the DC side.

I’m hiring someone to do the AC part.
All the old wire is gone and I have the engine out of the boat. I have a wiring diagram of all the items needed to be hooked up. I would like to know some of the pitfalls others have run into with this model boat before I start cutting the wire. The "wish I had or had not done this" hindsight.
I have a new electrical panel and have installed a new engine panel and harness, so far.
Here is the short list of things I have picked up on in this and other forums as best practices.
Keep the wring bundles out of the bilge and or as high as possible.
I have the crimping tools, self-sealing connectors, and a labeling system ready.
Keep extra wire in each pull and use drip loops.
I have a 250’ roll of #10 R/Y duplex tinned wire.

What I’m not so clear on is.
Where should most of these runs be put, so I can easily install and secure them.
Bundle everything together or run some of the wires on their own?
Location of Bus bars.
Use of a Sub Panel for items on Port side of boat? Good idea or not?
Boat / Engine ground setup.
What type of tie downs are best?
Thanks for any hints.

Fire away!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Good luck. BIG design and installation things are always fraught with some uncertainty, but as The Admiral says: "By the time you finish this work, you'll be an expert, and never have to do it again!"

There have been a number of very good posts on this Board about rewiring a C30, specifically, IIRC, to the panel location you have.

You also might want to wander around this thread:

Electrical Systems 101 http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5977.0.html

 

[jrowan]

I recommend reviewing Nigel Calder's book entitled "Boat Owners's guide to Mechanical & Electrical Systems." A very comprehensive book. He is very technical, almost too detailed. If you search this site & the C-30 International site you will find many posts on rewiring the C 30, some better then others. The first thing I would do after installing a new main panel is to also replace the engine instrument panel, raising it higher, & doing away with the amp meter. You likely know already that it routes full alternator power to this gauge, which wastes tons of potential power draw. Second get rid of the plug in trailer type wiring harness that is a piece of junk that causes massive corrosion & resistence to all circuits. Lastly, upgrade the battery & alternator output cables to the heaviest gauge that you can afford. They heavier duty the cables, the more power they can cary with less resistence & power loss. The time to rewire is when your cabinetry is removed & out of the way. Good luck.