Ok
Bought a kingfisher boat (1976) as a means to enjoy learning the ins and outs of boating. I have ran into an issue with the electrical in the boat. The bilge pump, the live well, and the nav lights are not working.
Since this is my first boat, and since little information is found on this particular boat, I'm reaching out to see if there is a fuse box, or other device that might of gone bad to cause the equipment not to function properly. I tried looking for some kind of manual for the boat, but all I find is the engine manuals. I have charged both batteries and they seem to be holding a charge, yet, power does not seem to reach the previously mentioned equipment.
Kinda stuck here while I figure it out.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

On 4/14/2013 4:33 PM, Catchandrelease wrote:

Ok
Bought a kingfisher boat (1976) as a means to enjoy learning the ins and
outs of boating. I have ran into an issue with the electrical in the
boat. The bilge pump, the live well, and the nav lights are not working.

Since this is my first boat, and since little information is found on
this particular boat, I'm reaching out to see if there is a fuse box, or
other device that might of gone bad to cause the equipment not to
function properly. I tried looking for some kind of manual for the boat,
but all I find is the engine manuals. I have charged both batteries and
they seem to be holding a charge, yet, power does not seem to reach the
previously mentioned equipment.
Kinda stuck here while I figure it out.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!





Just rewire it... But really if you don't know anything about boat
wiring, you are probably missing a lot of other troubles with the boat
that will come along. I just think it's too old, especially if there is
water (and that's probably the problem) in the wiring, the rest of the
thing is probably soaked too...

On Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:33:52 +0100, Catchandrelease wrote:


Ok
Bought a kingfisher boat (1976) as a means to enjoy learning the ins and
outs of boating. I have ran into an issue with the electrical in the
boat. The bilge pump, the live well, and the nav lights are not working.

Since this is my first boat, and since little information is found on
this particular boat, I'm reaching out to see if there is a fuse box, or
other device that might of gone bad to cause the equipment not to
function properly. I tried looking for some kind of manual for the boat,
but all I find is the engine manuals. I have charged both batteries and
they seem to be holding a charge, yet, power does not seem to reach the
previously mentioned equipment.
Kinda stuck here while I figure it out.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Are you sure it's the wiring? Have you checked for voltage at the pump and live well? Are the bulbs
good? If you have a dash panel, take the panel off and see what's there. May be some fuses. Test to
see if you're getting anything at the switches.

Do you own a multimeter? If not, get one.


Salmonbait

--
'Name-calling' - the liberals' last stand.

On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:29:49 -0400, J Herring
wrote:

Do you own a multimeter? If not, get one.

====

Buying a multimeter is good advice. It will pay for itself many
times over.

If you have multiple circuits failing it will probably turn out to be
a bad connection coming from, or returning to, your battery.

On the other hand the wiring, fuse panel and switches in a boat that
old are probably pretty well shot. Replacing all that is a non
trivial project but it will save you a lot of aggravation down the
road.

On 4/15/2013 10:31 AM, Wayne B wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:29:49 -0400, J Herring
wrote:

Do you own a multimeter? If not, get one.

====

Buying a multimeter is good advice. It will pay for itself many
times over.

If you have multiple circuits failing it will probably turn out to be
a bad connection coming from, or returning to, your battery.

On the other hand the wiring, fuse panel and switches in a boat that
old are probably pretty well shot. Replacing all that is a non
trivial project but it will save you a lot of aggravation down the
road.



The boat is from 1976 or so he says? Doubt there is much left worth
salvaging on the thing. He would be better off to just find a newer boat...

In article ,
says...

On 4/15/2013 10:31 AM, Wayne B wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:29:49 -0400, J Herring
wrote:

Do you own a multimeter? If not, get one.

====

Buying a multimeter is good advice. It will pay for itself many
times over.

If you have multiple circuits failing it will probably turn out to be
a bad connection coming from, or returning to, your battery.

On the other hand the wiring, fuse panel and switches in a boat that
old are probably pretty well shot. Replacing all that is a non
trivial project but it will save you a lot of aggravation down the
road.



The boat is from 1976 or so he says? Doubt there is much left worth
salvaging on the thing. He would be better off to just find a newer boat...

Plenty of boats a lot older than that still in fine shape.

On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:43:35 -0400, iBoaterer
wrote:

In article ,
says...

On 4/15/2013 10:31 AM, Wayne B wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:29:49 -0400, J Herring
wrote:

Do you own a multimeter? If not, get one.

====

Buying a multimeter is good advice. It will pay for itself many
times over.

If you have multiple circuits failing it will probably turn out to be
a bad connection coming from, or returning to, your battery.

On the other hand the wiring, fuse panel and switches in a boat that
old are probably pretty well shot. Replacing all that is a non
trivial project but it will save you a lot of aggravation down the
road.



The boat is from 1976 or so he says? Doubt there is much left worth
salvaging on the thing. He would be better off to just find a newer boat...

Plenty of boats a lot older than that still in fine shape.

====

Yes but it depends a lot on what type of boat it is and how it has
been used/stored. The other issue is valuation. Most boats that
age are selling for pennies on the dollar and it doesn't take much of
a rehab project to turn it into a negative value proposition. This is
particuly true for smaller open boats that are exposed to the
elements.

In article ,
says...

On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:43:35 -0400, iBoaterer
wrote:

In article ,
says...

On 4/15/2013 10:31 AM, Wayne B wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:29:49 -0400, J Herring
wrote:

Do you own a multimeter? If not, get one.

====

Buying a multimeter is good advice. It will pay for itself many
times over.

If you have multiple circuits failing it will probably turn out to be
a bad connection coming from, or returning to, your battery.

On the other hand the wiring, fuse panel and switches in a boat that
old are probably pretty well shot. Replacing all that is a non
trivial project but it will save you a lot of aggravation down the
road.



The boat is from 1976 or so he says? Doubt there is much left worth
salvaging on the thing. He would be better off to just find a newer boat...

Plenty of boats a lot older than that still in fine shape.

====

Yes but it depends a lot on what type of boat it is and how it has
been used/stored. The other issue is valuation. Most boats that
age are selling for pennies on the dollar and it doesn't take much of
a rehab project to turn it into a negative value proposition. This is
particuly true for smaller open boats that are exposed to the
elements.

It's not a negative proposition unless you are trying to sell it. I know
plenty of people who have gotten older bass boats and yes, had to work
on them, in order to get the kids and dad out fishing.

On 4/15/2013 1:42 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:31:32 -0400, Wayne B
wrote:

On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:29:49 -0400, J Herring
wrote:

Do you own a multimeter? If not, get one.

====

Buying a multimeter is good advice. It will pay for itself many
times over.

If you have multiple circuits failing it will probably turn out to be
a bad connection coming from, or returning to, your battery.

On the other hand the wiring, fuse panel and switches in a boat that
old are probably pretty well shot. Replacing all that is a non
trivial project but it will save you a lot of aggravation down the
road.

I agree with Wayne.

Seems you agree with me too...

Start over with all new wiring.
There is usually not that much on a small boat like that anyway.
Personally I would home run everything back to a dry spot like the
console and have no splices in between. I would also use a wet
location cord like SJOW. That gives you an extra level of protection
and keeps things neat. I used conduit on my pontoon boat but that is
not usually an option on a runabout. You could use Smurf tube I guess
(the blue flex stuff at Home Depot)
Get a fuse box with a cover to keep that dry. I used a breaker panel
in a NEMA 3R box and I have a very dry console,

On 4/15/2013 4:21 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:13:19 -0400, JustWaitAFrekinMinute
wrote:

I agree with Wayne.

Seems you agree with me too...

Yup. I just answered the last note that said it


.... yup.. Sounds like another "test" from within though...