Fishing boat wiring

[Carver121]

I can't find anything anywhere else, so I figured I'd see if people here had ideas.

I've got a 14' basic aluminum fishing boat, just a little merc and minn kota on the back. I have an enclosed bow box for batteries etc the last owner built and it's pretty decent. I'd like to move my battery up front for the motor and run some cables back to a junction box where I can plug in the motor, have a voltmeter and plug in a fishfinder.

Incredibly simple but no idea what to use for a box and whatnot, I want it to look fairly clean and I don't want exposed terminals so an enclosure of some kind is a must.

I sure tons of other people have done something similar so interested in ideas

 

[dingbat]

I can't find anything anywhere else, so I figured I'd see if people here had ideas.

I've got a 14' basic aluminum fishing boat, just a little merc and minn kota on the back. I have an enclosed bow box for batteries etc the last owner built and it's pretty decent. I'd like to move my battery up front for the motor and run some cables back to a junction box where I can plug in the motor, have a voltmeter and plug in a fishfinder.

Incredibly simple but no idea what to use for a box and whatnot, I want it to look fairly clean and I don't want exposed terminals so an enclosure of some kind is a must.

I sure tons of other people have done something similar so interested in ideas

I'm afraid your in for a bit of sticker shock.

Plastic Battery boxes are readily available. Properly sized battery cables to span 14' are not going to be cheap.

What motor are you running? How much current drawing?

 

[roscoe]

Is the outboard electric start?

Or are you just lookingnto connect the troller and a few electronics? If this , then easy enough.
Run 10ga wire to a small Plano SHALLOW waterproof box.
Or something like this might work nicely.
https://www.solutionsdirectonline.c...N6Bs828W_-yzx5px9Dqjz0-JxMtDVuUBoCr7IQAvD_BwE

Connect to a small fuse panel.
Connect sonar to fuse panel.


Run a separate set of wire to the box for the troller, connect to a trolling motor outlet.
Splice a matching trolling motor plug to the wires on the motor.
You are going to need 4 or 6 awg wire for the troller.

[h=3]Conductor Gauge and Circuit Breaker Sizing Table[/h]

30 lb.	30	50 Amp @ 12 VDC	10 AWG	10 AWG	8 AWG	6 AWG	4 AWG
40 lb., 45 lb.	42	10 AWG	8 AWG	6 AWG	4 AWG	4 AWG
50 lb., 55 lb.	50	60 Amp @ 12 VDC	8 AWG	6 AWG	4 AWG	4 AWG	2 AWG
70 lb.	42	50 Amp @ 24 VDC	10 AWG	10 AWG	8 AWG	8 AWG	6 AWG
80 lb.	56	60 Amp @ 24 VDC	8 AWG	8 AWG	8 AWG	6 AWG	6 AWG
101 lb.	46	50 Amp @ 36 VDC	8 AWG	8 AWG	8 AWG	8 AWG	8 AWG
Engine Mount 101	50	60 Amp @ 36 VDC	8 AWG	6 AWG	4 AWG	4 AWG	2 AWG
112 lb.	52	60 Amp @ 36 VDC	8 AWG	8 AWG	8 AWG	8 AWG	8 AWG
Engine Mount 160	116	(2) x 60 Amp @ 24 VDC	2 AWG	2 AWG	2 AWG	2 AWG	2 AWG
E-Drive	40	50 Amp @ 48 VDC	10 AWG	10 AWG	10 AWG	10 AWG	10 AWG

Motor Thrust / Model Max Amp Draw Circuit Breaker Wire Extension Length* 5 feet 10 feet 15 feet 20 feet 25 feet

So, the box, $25
The plug and outlet, $40-$55
the fuse panel, $15
10 ga wire $5
6 ga marine grade, $2 a foot.
or welding wire for $1 a foot.


If the outboard is electric start, then 2 ga battery cables will be needed.
17' for $70 or 25' for $95 on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-GAUGE-HD...1c4ef06:g:n2gAAOSwUuFWu~AZ&LH_ItemCondition=3

 

[Carver121]

Just for an electric trolling motor and fishfinder for now.

Think I've decided I'll get a polycarbonate enclosure as a junction box, and use a trolling plug and an SAE connector like on battery tenders for accessories and have them hang out for hookup. The SAE connectors are cheap enough and I've found cheap voltage monitors with usb plugs that plug right into them. Probably going to be my cleanest install that I can figure