Wiring a 14 ft aluminum utility boat?

Q

qtiznip

Cadet
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
20
Hello All,

In order to facilitate electronic components I want to wire my boat. It is a standard 14ft aluminum v-hull utility boat. I've tried to look here and elsewhere for tips on how to go about doing this properly but haven't found much. Can anyone give me some tips on this? I'm basically looking for a pretty simple wiring setup.

At the most a would need a battery and wiring setup able to run: 1) lights (navigation, night fishing); 2) a small bilge pump; 3) a 40-55 lbs trolling motor; and 4) a fish finder. I want to ensure that it is easy to add one or two small things in the future as well if a need arises.

Thanks ahead of time for any help.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Wiring a 14 ft aluminum utility boat?

If you have a trolling motor you need two batteries with a large deep cycle dedicated to the trolling motor. The other is for the engine and other small accessories. Look at the Generic wiring diagram at the top of this forum in the stickies. Use whatever parts of the system you want and ignore the rest. You probably don't have a bunch of intrumetns so ignore them. You will want the fuse panel, battery wiring and a few switches to turn stuff on and off.
 
NYBo

NYBo

Admiral
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Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: Wiring a 14 ft aluminum utility boat?

If there is no gas motor in the equation, you can probably get by with one large deep cycle battery to power everything. But I would go with an additional small deep cycle for everything but the troller. Keep the circuits from the two batteries completely separate.
 
Q

qtiznip

Cadet
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
20
Re: Wiring a 14 ft aluminum utility boat?

NYBo said:
If there is no gas motor in the equation, you can probably get by with one large deep cycle battery to power everything. But I would go with an additional small deep cycle for everything but the troller. Keep the circuits from the two batteries completely separate.
Click to expand...

I do have a gas motor 25 hp engine, but it is manual start so it will not have any power going to it. With that being the case a single battery should do it correct? I am hoping to do on a conservative budget.

Thanks for all the information so far.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Wiring a 14 ft aluminum utility boat?

One large deep cycle to power the troller and everything else will be fine. Be absolutely sure you charge that battery AFTER every outing. Waiting until BEFORE you go out is a good way to kill it. Batteries do not like to sit in a partially discharged state.
 
P

peter94

Cadet
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Messages
22
Re: Wiring a 14 ft aluminum utility boat?

Do you have a bow mount trolling motor? I actually bolted my battery to the front seat and have about 2' of wire going to the trolling motor, then I have some wires that run inside of the rail all the way back to the driver seat where the come into a control panel I made (consisting of 1 switch for lights and 2 surface mount fuse holders.

Really looks nice and clean. Also adds some weight to the front of the boat.

I just have a 1999 Alumacraft V16 so it is open bench seats. But I do like having the battery up front, and far away from the fuel supply for fire hazards.
 
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