Re: new wiring loom
I'm going to attempt the same project this winter on my boat. I'm removing all of the old wiring to the engine and controls, adding brand new guages, and upgrading to circuit breakers rather than fuses. With a similar situation to yours, the previous owner of my boat added and removed various components over time and scabbed in the wiring as needed, without much regard to correct colors or sizes. Tracing electrical problems is very difficult when you're chasing wires that change colors mid-ship.<br />I don't know about wiring standards in the U.K., but in the U.S. there is an organization called the American Boat & Yacht Council that sets standards for boat wiring (among many other things). The ABYC has determined wire type, colors, and sizes that should be used on many of the components commonly found in boats. They do this to ensure safety, and commonality among the many commercial boat builders in the U.S. It would be wise to follow their guidelines (or whatever organization sets the standards in the U.K.), and to pick up some books on boat wiring. There are a lot of differences between boat wiring and automobile wiring (which apparently the previous owner of my boat didn't understand).<br />Good luck. It can be done successfully if you are methodic and consistantly follow standards. Hopefully, the end result will be a new, reliable electrical system that will last for many more years.
