Tips and Tricks for Proper Wire Management on Your Boat

Robert asks, "Jeff, I am beginning the rewire of a center console bay boat, and I am looking for tips on proper wire management and neatly securing the wiring inside the console. I searched as many terms as I could and did not come up with anything. If there is an existing video or if you know of any outside resources, please let me know. By the way, thank you for all of the great information you provide regarding marine electrical systems. I have watched a number of your videos and have learned a lot."
Read our Tech Talk Article from Pacific Yachting Magazine, "How To Create A Wiring Diagram For Your Boat", www.pysystems.ca/resources/te...
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[@bthph88]

Jeff, thanks for taking the time to make these videos. They are very helpful and much appreciated.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Glad you like them!

[@ante8210]

Great video Jeff. We are all learning a lot.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Appreciate you sharing this with us. Thanks for watching!

[@tao4409]

Well said Sir. I am always impressed by electrical neatness. Those perfect bends, the ease of tracing circuits. A rat's nest will work (for how long, who knows)? Do it right the first time and you'll not regret it. Happy sailing. :)

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Absolutely, you've summed it up perfectly. Thanks for watching.

[@luciantm1976]

Love your videos Jeff, thank you for making them. I work in IT and I personally use Velcro instead of cable ties - I found that cable ties often get tightened too much and can pinch or damage the cables. That, plus cabling is a living and breathing thing that we continuously change, so Velcro is very strong to keep things clean but very convenient for access when needed.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Great tip!

[@ante8210]

Do you mind to post a link of the one you are using? And how you attach that to the boat? With epoxy?

[@erniesanders3724]

Excellent tips Jeff. Aesthetically pleasing work is a sign of professionalism. Shortcuts degrade this.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for sharing Ernie.

[@mhansl]

Invaluable advice, as always. Regarding the labeling of wiring: Is there a product, like Brady label printers, that you prefer?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Unfortunately don't recall what make of label makers our team uses in the field.

[@mikehortin9964]

Can 12/24vdc and 240/415vac share the same routes, cable trays and conduit? Thanks for your very informative videos.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Ideally they should NOT follow the same route. Notwithstanding that's not always easy on a boat.

[@robertschulke1596]

Was hoping for more advise on wire channels, looms, etc.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for the feedback Robert.

[@lindaaustin-morin7781]

I like your idea of going from main panel to main DC distribution terminal block. From the DC distribution terminal block, would you go to each load with a fuse, then another terminal block, then wired to the load? How do we choose which terminal block and what amperage?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Hi Linda, good question, basically, most DC loads at a DC panel are less then 30 amps each, so we normally use a 30 amp terminal block.

[@lindaaustin-morin7781]

@@PacificYachtSystems ok, so 30amp block. If I have 5 DC loads coming off that 1 terminal block, it’s still a 30amp terminal block? It’s not an Aggregate of the loads coming off the terminal block?

[@landersen6453]

Hi Jeff, I've been upgrading my wiring on a 1986 sailboat. Following your good advice, I've got the wiring looking organized and safe. I have bundles of wire routed throughout the boat, bilge, and various storage spaces neatly zap strapped together. I've used wire loom split tubing in a couple of locations to tidy the appearance, and I'm thinking of using it more extensively. I understand however heat is a concern when wires a bundled and I'm worried that adding the wire loom could have unintended negative coincidences. Any recommendations regarding the use of wire loom would be appreciated. Cheers, Leigh

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Hi Leigh, good question, when using a loom make sure that wiring within the loom as enough air separation to cool. Personally i only use split tubing when there is a likely hood of chafing.

[@mrwrapper]

I like to epoxy/glue a piece of bilge painted plywood to the fibreglass to prevent drilling into the fibreglass for terminal strips, etc.

[@abelvazquez6012]

Use PVC board instead of wood.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Good one.

[@skipper1350]

for long cable runs, what do you think of using electrical conduit?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Sometimes, but more often then NOT, we properly strap wiring to the boat or bulkheads so there is no movement.

[@skipper1350]

@@PacificYachtSystems thanks Jeff, I am thinking of running 30mm conduit, drilled through the bulkheads running fore and aft to create a corridor for the appliances at bow. I guess securing the wires is, the key objective so I’ll proceed on that footing. I think Electrical conduit in Australia has a thermal capacity thus creating an additional layer of safety. If the wiring catches alight, I think it will need to continue to burn for some time to penetrate the conduit. Done properly it shouldn’t come to that, but if if can take that path then I’ll give it a shot.

[@meoutwest]

Hi Jeff, great short hints. Would be nice if you showed some real examples.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Noted!

[@redwood1957]

is using conduit an exceptiple for hard to get to areas? Is there a fill table for size and deration for number of conductors. Thank you

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Hi Redwood, consider using this app from ABYC. abycinc.org/page/wiresizer

[@javierbetancourt9388]

💯

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Javier.