Electrical Overhaul in my 24' sailboat....help!

[Satisfactory Sailor]

I purchased a trailerable Windrose 24, built by Laguna Boats (Now out of Business) a few years back. It's been sitting in my garage being worked on....slowly. I am at the point where I think I could get this girl in the water but, I have to manage the electrical updates....or replacement. The boat had a overly mismanaged electrical set up but, was fairly basic. I cut out the old wire and removed the rusted fuse block and panel from the boat. It's like a big empty bath tub in it's current state, how hard could it be to wire up some new lights, etc?

I found an Marine electricians card at the West Marine store in my area. He gave me a quote to completely rehab the electrical system of the boat with the inclusion of shore power, second battery, bildge pumpinterior lighting, VHF radio and sony stereo along with running lights and outlets for small appliances. As he gave me the quote, he told me that I shouldn't actually spend the $3,000.00+ dollars (his quote)on a boat that isn't worth much more than that. Hmmm...

My cousin is an industrial electrician but, has never wired a boat. His suggestion was just to minimize the needed electrical to running lights, etc. He said to hook up to shore power would require a 30amp power outlet and a separate panel, significant wiring, etc. He said I could just hook a battery tender to the shorepower when in port to slowly recharge the battery.

To be honest, I'm a novice sailor. I will likely not sail at night but, will spend a great deal of time at the dock AND on the water with the lights on, stereo playing, etc...

Questions:

1) If this were your boat, how elaborate of an electrical system would you install?

2.) Would you install the shore power inlets and 30A main panel?

3.) This is an outboard with an alternator for recharging the battery when under power but, how would you best handle the battery situation? One battery with a house battery for the accessory electrical needs or a single battery with a back up battery charger?

4.) Where can someone find generic electrical schematics?

Thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: Electrical Overhaul in my 24' sailboat....help!

I'm going to move this over to the electrical forum. It may be a sailboat, but the electrical systems still need go be marine.

I would also suggest a book Amazon.com: Sailboat Electrics Simplified (0639785800361): Don Casey: Books.
A really good book for those not familiar with boat wiring.

You also should NOT expect a whole lot of charging coming from a small outboard. Probably not more than a few amps per hour of running the motor at most.

A lot of your questions depends on how you plan to use it.
Strictly as a trailer boat for day trips, no AC system required.
Weekends, holidays, vacations staying on the boat and parked at a dock where shore power is available, I would add a shore power system. Especially if you use the boat when it starts cooling off. Nice to have an electric heater onboard. But most of all to keep the batteries charged.

The DC system is a must.
Nav lights are required on that size boat rather you use them or not. Electronics, stereo, Lights in the cabin. couple bilge pumps. Might even want a small DC fridge if you find room.

Two 27 combo batteries would keep your lights on and stereo working for a weekend with a little care.
Assuming you don't have a stereo amp that would dim NYC when turned on.

Once you decide how you want to use it, then decide how you want to build your electrical system. Use good materials and you should be able to completely rewire your boat yourself for a LOT less than 3000. And that includes the AC system.

Oh, and what outboard are you going to be using?

 

[bcbit01]

Re: Electrical Overhaul in my 24' sailboat....help!

If this were my boat, I would install two 100ish A/hr deep cycle batteries, a master battery switch, and a DC panel to control navigation, exterior lights, cabin lights, instruments if you have/want them, and a stereo/VHF. I would install a shore power receptacle in the cockpit or on the coaming and wire it up to a couple 110V household outlets and a battery charger. I would install an inverter on the DC side to run small AC devices when not connected to shore power. Now.....when you chopped out all the wire, I hope you didn't remove your ground/bond wiring. I have no recommendations for that unless I was there to see it. The DC side needs to be bonded to ground. If you are connecting your outboard to your electrical system (which I think is pointless on a sailboat) you should probably install a galvanic isolator on the AC side or stray current in the water from wiring fails on other boats will eat your outboard zincs and then your outboard.

The above may be more or less than you want. In any event...HOUSEHOLD WIRE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I would use nothing but tinned stranded cabling whether you're buying romex or single conductor wire. Wrapping a wire around the terminal screw and tightening is NOT acceptable on a boat. Every wire must be terminated with a connector (I prefer rings). A breaker or fuse is REQUIRED directly after the source of power on both sides so...right after the batteries and right after the shore power inlet. Now you know why the guy wanted $3,000 but you can do this....for far less. None of this wiring is complicated. Just take it step by step. Draw out a flowchart, start figuring up materials, buy 'em, and install 'em. PM me if you have other questions. I just did this to my Santana 525 three years ago.