Re: Wiring for lights
JZ,<br /> Be sure fuses are installed in these circuits! I have an old 16' fiberglass boat that had a short develope in the stern light. My nine year old son and I were cruising back from fishing at dusk so I turned the lights on. After a few moments we smelled smoke and then noticed smoke pouring out of the back of the boat. The wires under the splashwell looked like the wires inside a toaster, and some were lying on the gas tanks. I shut everything down and the wires cooled off but we were pretty shook. Luckily, the motor was on another circuit and fired right up and we were close to the ramp. I checked it out later and found that there was not a single fuse in the whole boat. I have since run 8 gauge (overkill, but West Marine made me a good deal on the end of a spool) from the battery to a new fuse block under the console and I have run all new wiring from there. I also installed a fuse inline in the 8 gauge near the battery. I have not had a chance to use the new system yet since I discovered the transom needs rebuilding when I inspected the wiring
. But that is another story.<br /><br />Best regards,<br />RCS
