I have to rewire a few things on my boat, for one it's the leads off the
starter that go to the Tilt/Trim , Alternator, and selenoid near carberator.
My very simple question is do i need marine / special wire? I see it
advertised with thicker insulation or can i just go to home depot and get
some 8 and 10 gauge wire... any suggestions..

Thanks...
-Matt

Marine wire is a lot more corrosion resistant. It also has insulation that
is more resistant to degredation from heat, oil and fuel. I think it is
worth the cost.

"Matt" wrote in message
...
I have to rewire a few things on my boat, for one it's the leads off the
starter that go to the Tilt/Trim , Alternator, and selenoid near
carberator.
My very simple question is do i need marine / special wire? I see it
advertised with thicker insulation or can i just go to home depot and get
some 8 and 10 gauge wire... any suggestions..

Thanks...
-Matt

Hey Matt,
just use regular old AUTOMOTIVE wire, every marina i've ever worked at
did exactly that. as long as you shrinkwrap your connections with
heatshrink tubing which you can grab at RadioShack you'll be fine.
it's also a good idea to silicone areas where your expecting them to
get wet...common sense stuff not rocket science like some woul have
you believe. i've been working on boats for 20 plus years and haven't
purchaced 1 strand of MARINE WIRE yet...unless it was a whole harness.
Good Luck! Brian K








On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 20:41:24 -0400, "Matt"
wrote:

I have to rewire a few things on my boat, for one it's the leads off the
starter that go to the Tilt/Trim , Alternator, and selenoid near carberator.
My very simple question is do i need marine / special wire? I see it
advertised with thicker insulation or can i just go to home depot and get
some 8 and 10 gauge wire... any suggestions..

Thanks...
-Matt




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lakenut--

Hey Matt,
just use regular old AUTOMOTIVE wire, every marina i've ever worked at
did exactly that. as long as you shrinkwrap your connections with
heatshrink tubing which you can grab at RadioShack you'll be fine.
it's also a good idea to silicone areas where your expecting them to
get wet...common sense stuff not rocket science like some woul have
you believe. i've been working on boats for 20 plus years and haven't
purchaced 1 strand of MARINE WIRE yet...unless it was a whole harness.
Good Luck! Brian K


df--

I know something about electricity, and Automotive wire is NOT a good
idea. It's 12 volt and meant to stay dry.

House wiring is not a good idea. Romex does not have the corrosion
resistance. There is a kind of wire which is rated for wet areas like
crawlspaces, and can be buried. I would use that on a boat with some
trepidation -- in a non-saline environment -- but I'd feel better with
marine rated wire.

There are times when the "marine" equivalent is a rip-off. When it
comes to your electric system, it is not. The number one source of
fires on board a boat is the electrical system. Don't scrimp -- use
adequate gauge or better.

The starter should never be connected to other devices. For one thing,
its short, deep draw consumes an enormous load, and very thick wires are
necessary.

Every device must be separately connected to the breaker box, with the
exception of those devices, which when they short out, actually break a
connection. Practically speaking, those devices are lights.

But don't believe me, check out any marine handbook. Try "The Nature of
Boats" by David Gerr.

If you can't afford your electrics, you can't afford the boat.

House wiring is not a good idea. Romex does not have the corrosion
resistance.

Romex (AKA type NM-b) is not listed for wet locations but the relity is it is
usually assembled from THHN/THWN. The real problem with NM is the fact that it
is solid wire. That will break when it is vibrated. A better choice would be
the stranded THHN/THWN single conductor. That is rated for wet locations.
Personally I think the thicker stranding is better in a corrosive environment
it it doesn't have to flex.

And after all of that, if you want the correct answer, go to the Anchor website
and it will explain tinned wire versus non tinned wire and their marine
applications.

Matt wrote:

I have to rewire a few things on my boat, for one it's the leads off the
starter that go to the Tilt/Trim , Alternator, and selenoid near carberator.
My very simple question is do i need marine / special wire? I see it
advertised with thicker insulation or can i just go to home depot and get
some 8 and 10 gauge wire... any suggestions..

Thanks...
-Matt

it will explain tinned wire versus non tinned wire

If the salt water gets to the conductor "tinning" will only change the color of
the corrosion a little.

Real marine wire is silver plated. Tinned is better than a sharp stick
in the eye.

Ron