im going to have to rewire my boat before next split and i need some input on the best way to run it......like how to install fuses or breakers or something in case i have a problem.

went hunting this morning and was was out in the middle of a rough lake full of stumps. i was wo and started smelling something burning and turned around and all my wiring was on fire...(wiring to switches for nav light, bilge, and front lights that are no longer installed.) i got shut down and stomped the fire out (meanwhile i am drifting in 10-15mph wind in the stumps in black dark). i opened my battery box and it was trying to catch fire there too so i got the nuts off and all wires pulled off...(now i have drifted into the stumps and wedged between a couple and waves are a couple inches from coming over the back..still black dark except for small light). so i slap the motor cables on and take off trying to see with this little ass light with the main purpose of getting out of the stumps and back to the boat lane before im swamped. there was a boat behind me and i had just turned off onto another lane when i blacked out but the bastard kept going. you would think when a boat disappears from view in the middle of nowhere that there may be an issue, but maybe thats just my way of thinking. anyway, i want to make sure and get it right because i really dont want to repeat this. i was solo and the pucker factor was quite high.

Med pm sent

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/attach ... wiring.jpg

Very simple print


http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/ ... art3r.aspx

Some good info from the FEDS

Thanks Paul

Both of those are good articles to follow.

Only thing I would add is to make sure you buy quality marine products if you want to make it last. I prefer switches and breakers by Blue Seas (www.bluesea.com), and I like using double insulated wire to keep it from chaffing on edges of an aluminum boat, like this http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=50563

I didnt see any of the prints, but its not that complex to do, my suggestion is to stay away from fuses, and use the breakers, the bi-metal ones will cool and reset if overloaded, but if a fuse blows, you have to fumble around to change it.