How to get wiring from one side to the other (I give up!)

[Tomfoolery]

I've been scratching my head over this for some time now, and coming up with nothing. How do you get wiring from the electric panel area on the port side, next to the companionway, to the same spot on the starboard side where I put the compass in place of some broken wind instrument, with access through the round hole that I believe is OEM?

The PO powered the wind instrument from the batteries (direct with inline fuse and a switch at the instrument), but I want the light in the compass to be switched with the nav lights. The wind instrument power went through the cabin sole area, forward, around the aft end of the vee berth, then into the battery area at the aft end of the galley. But that doesn't get it up to the roof liner.

Oh, and all that scary wiring is NOT my doing, I swear. I've figured out what most of it is, but there is one run of zip cord (bundled with all the others with white tape) that I can't figure out, which is the always hot (spade connectors to the lugs), and as near as I can guess, may have been the original power supply to the panel. Someone ran a heavier supply hot and ground (red) to the other end. All the others I've traced, and they're all doing something useful, including those two in-line fuse holders that come out and go back in (anchor light on a stick, and helm power outlets).

All that stuff will be cleaned up, grounds landed on a ground bus, and all hots on their own switch/breaker on a new panel, or two if I need another one, as the hinged door that's going there, and will cover that whole of the flat space, has room for two 6-circuit vertical panels.

But how do you get wiring from that area to the mirror image spot on the other side without it showing? Somebody must have done this in the past and knows the secret passage.

[JohnCFI]

I don't think there is a elegant route, without a lot of trouble, I ran a cable from my Nasa Wind Instrument, (via a deck mounted plug & Socket) past the light over the table (where I picked up the power for it) and along inside that ceiling ridge to just aft of the toilet door, where I popped it through into the head compartment, and with about an inch or two of visible cable into the access box (I drilled the hole from inside the box with an electric screwdriver) it is an extremely difficult route, and you need to pop out all those plastic plugs. There is only enough room for a fairly thin cable!!

Besides the usual tools you will need, Determination, Patience, Beer, and a supply of earplugs for any children or ladies in the vicinity.

Failing all else cheat, and run a piece of conduit from floor to ceiling in the after berth in the corner in front of the Head.... You cannot see it unless you are in the berth, and that is used on my boat as the 'Stores Area'....

[Spector]

I used a conduit (3/4" PEX, I'd go 1" next time) from the battery area up beside the galley to the top liner. This allowed me to run wires from the the breaker panels down and aft, under the berth and forward and up between the panels at the head. A real PITA

[Tomfoolery]

Well, that doesn't sound too encouraging.

[yukonbob]

Assuming the power for the compass is only for an led light? Why not run direct power with an inline fuse and a shut off switch and keep it all on that side? Even if there's more to the compass I wouldn't expect that it would draw enough to worry putting it through the panel

[trdprotruck]

For the most part, I have had the most success running wiring from the power distribution panel by going in between the hull/liner and into the aft berth. The storage access in the aft berth provides an easy way to pull wire aft as well as to the starboard side of the boat. Once you reach the starboard side of the rear berth, I would start at the access port in the head and run a fish tape down between the hull/liner into the aft berth where you can hopefully find the wire you pulled so far. You may need a hole saw in the liner with those circular plugs we have everywhere. One more wont hurt

Good luck

-Randy

P.S. I've never need to get to the area you ar referring to. I always run wiring forward to the dining area or aft to the transom. Have never need to go up the starboard hull liner, but I assume its the same as the port hull liner.

[trdprotruck]

I just re-read your post. It sounds like you are 90% there already. Can't you just reuse the old wind indstrument's wiring and extend it to the distribution panel? Is the only problem getting from the battery compartment to the power distribution in the roof liner? If this is the case, why can't you just follow the main power leads that run power from the battery to the power distribution panel in the roof liner via the hull liner? I'm not sure if I see the issue?

[Tomfoolery]

Assuming the power for the compass is only for an led light? Why not run direct power with an inline fuse and a shut off switch and keep it all on that side? Even if there's more to the compass I wouldn't expect that it would draw enough to worry putting it through the panel

That's how the wind instrument was wired, but they put a switch right in the companionway. I could do something similar, but inside the head, and not as obvious. The wiring is patched and crappy, so I'd really prefer to rip it out and do it over, but I certainly could just run a hot with inline fuse there with a local switch.

For the most part, I have had the most success running wiring from the power distribution panel by going in between the hull/liner and into the aft berth. The storage access in the aft berth provides an easy way to pull wire aft as well as to the starboard side of the boat.

I've never explored that area, as it's very tight in there, and I store all my crap back there. I do have a leak back there, so maybe it's time to clean it out and go exploring.

P.S. I've never need to get to the area you ar referring to. I always run wiring forward to the dining area or aft to the transom. Have never need to go up the starboard hull liner, but I assume its the same as the port hull liner.

From all appearances it is the same, except for that head bulkhead.

Is the only problem getting from the battery compartment to the power distribution in the roof liner? If this is the case, why can't you just follow the main power leads that run power from the battery to the power distribution panel in the roof liner via the hull liner? I'm not sure if I see the issue?

I can't figure out how they got the new, heavier power wire to the panel in the first place, but I guess that's the logical place to start. I can't see where it goes through that little hole. Sounds like I have a way forward, at least.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

[trdprotruck]

Try exploring with a fish tape like this:


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools- ... /100660170

It will make pulling wire in between the hull liner much easier.

-Randy

[tlgibson97]

Go all the way around the liner lip, across the forward beam where the other wires run, then down the other lip. It's a lot of wire to cover a 5 ft distance.

[Highlander]

Well on the U kinda gota use ur imagination u can run wires down & across & up the hatch entrance just by removing the access plugs
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... f70ee4.jpg

u can also drill more holes to give access to other area's & buy more plug covers to close themback

J

[Tomfoolery]

u can also drill more holes to give access to other area's & buy more plug covers to close themback

More holes is actually not a bad idea. Drilling access holes is usually about the last thing that occurs to me. Where can I get those thin-lipped plastic plugs MacGregor used?

[taime1]

More holes is actually not a bad idea. Drilling access holes is usually about the last thing that occurs to me. Where can I get those thin-lipped plastic plugs MacGregor used?

You can get them from Blue Water Yachts, or many boat shops. I think they are called liner plugs and come in a variety of sizes.

[Tomfoolery]

Thanks. I've never seen them, but I also hadn't even been aware of them until I got this boat. I'll sniff around for them, as I have a feeling I'll be needing some.

Edit: Well, wadda ya know - BWY has them in a lot of sizes, and from an old thread here on Mac.Sailors, Lowes and McMaster have them, too, though BWY's prices are muuuuch lower (not counting shipping, though).

[Phil M]

Try exploring with a fish tape like this:


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools- ... /100660170

It will make pulling wire in between the hull liner much easier.

-Randy

If you cut the fish tape end off, drill a tiny hole, you can thread nylon fishing line and get through. I've done it. Buy the cheapest fish tape you can find.