Console Wiring 1996 Sea Swirl Bowrider 201 Limited Edition

mike97520

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Aug 17, 2025
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Hello, I am trying to uncover some gremlins behind the steering column of my 1996 Seaswirl 201 Bowrider Limited Edition. I realize there are no manuals for the gauges and such but wondered if anyone had a similar boat and could send me a few shots of the wiring Behind the gauges. I have 12.5 volts to the key switch. If I turn on the switch, I still have no gauges or switches that work. If I disconnect the fuse connector of the purple wire, I read 12.5 volts. If I hook the fuse connector back together with fuse, I get no reading at any of the purple wires that I assume should be the positive wires daisy-chained to each gauge. (I have disconnected the wire to the kill switch through all this) So I am thinking the purple wires are the hot, the dark blue are lights. Also, when looking at gauges from behind, I can see a brown wire in the upper right-hand corner. It originates from a harness and has a solderless ring connector attached to the other end but is just hanging in the air and not hooked to anything. Thanks in advance for any help!
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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gauge wiring should be part of the motor schematics in the motor manual.

standard ABYC color scheme is in the electrical forum stickies.
 

cyclops222

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Mar 21, 2024
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How old is this problem ? How long since you bought the boat ?
How do you know that disconnecting the wire to the Kill Switch has not created another open circuit ?
 

mike97520

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Aug 17, 2025
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How old is this problem ? How long since you bought the boat ?
How do you know that disconnecting the wire to the Kill Switch has not created another open circuit ?
I have had the boat for over 15 years. I didn't use it last year due to a dislocated shoulder and surgery. I have tried both ways with the kill switch. continuity tests show kill switch is working correctly. There are 4 terminals to the kill switch but only two are used. The top & bottom have continuity when the kill lock is pulled. The left & right terminals are just the reverse, Open circuit when kill lock is pulled.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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universal kill switches have 4 terminals. you use the one side for powered ignitions (I/O's) and the other side with magneto ignitions (older outboards)

so your kill switch is fine.

again, go to the ABYC wiring colors in the electrical sticky
 

alldodge

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This is typical helm wiring
helm-wiring-2-png.405525
 
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