These days many boats are outfitted with lots of electronics on the bow and at the console. Is your wiring adequate to be able to handle the load? To ensure maximum quality and performance, many boats – especially older models – may require a serious wiring upgrade. (Photo by Brad Wiegmann).
Wiring for Power-Hungry Electronics
by Brad Wiegmann
Like it or not, it may be time to upgrade your boat’s wiring system. Many anglers, especially those with older model boats, experience problems as they begin adding more electronics or more powerful trolling motors. Depending on the year your boat was built or the quality of the wiring system, it is likely that your wiring is inadequate to supply clean, reliable power to your electronics.
If you are having issues like units blinking and turning off or poor image quality and the source isn’t the battery, most likely the problem is your wiring.
Anglers have a couple options to rewiring their boat. One is to hire a qualified marine electronics installer. If you hire an installer, they will have everything from bulk marine grade wiring, fuse connectors, heat shrink and other required materials. The second option is to do it yourself which means you will have to purchase all the products to complete the project, but you will save some hefty labor costs – IF you understand what needs to be done.
Most installers can give you a ballpark figure on the cost for materials and installing over the phone. Cost of just a marine grade wiring harness system kit can be found online or at your local marine boat dealer.
A new surge of marine grade wiring harness systems like the ones by Sea Clear Power or Connect-Ease are now available for an installer or DIY angler to purchase. Wiring harnesses are designed to make replacing and installing easier on new or currently owned boats.
Wiring harness system kits will include 8-gauged sheathed marine grade wiring with fused connections that will be attached at the boat’s console. The number of connections depends on the kit purchased. With some kits or websites the angler can select the number of inline fuse holders. That’s an important option since most owners of multiple sonar/GPS units also need good, clean power for their Lowrance ActiveTarget or Garmin Sonar Module.
Depending on how much equipment you’re powering – especially if you have lots of electronics at the bow and the console or stern, a second wiring harness may be needed.
Cost of a wire harness system is based on the number of components and length of wiring required to install from the batteries up to the console and bow area. Multiple fused connections, heavy marine sheathed gauge wiring and other components will quickly raise the cost of installing or replacing existing wiring.
Do it right, however, and it will insure you are getting maximum performance and quality out of all of your electronics.
(From Springdale, Arkansas, Brad Wiegmann is a professional photographer, videographer and outdoor writer published in dozens of print and electronic media outlets all across the nation. He is also a well-known guide, podcaster and social media influencer. Learn more about Wiegmann and his lengthy experience and expertise at BradWiegmann.com.)
