Days 47, 9/10, New wiring Part 1, cockpit drain, autopilot maesurements - 10 hours

Electric system

Quick test of house/start batteries showed one battery has 5-6Ah other 10-15Ah, so both batteries are on the edge of death.

I replaced both of them.    

 After find the ALL  original wiring was done with not tinned thick stranded wire which is in oxidized. I found wire twisting was used even in original wiring in several places I found wire twisting was used even in original  wire harness.

Other interesting observation on MY boat, All wiring on the port side is routed from main panel to bow and then returns back.I do not see why it was done this way. Boat has perfect space to route  wires from the panel to  port side just under the companionway step. as well Irwin diagram show wires routed there - not around whole boat. In fact it is not a problem with wires length, it also clear way to make electrical system more vulnerable to thunderbolt strike.

Nice example of ORIGINAL power harness. Looks like wire appeared to be little short and they extended them.

As all wiring is 40 years old, I do not trust it any more, so decided to replace all wiring.

Digging out to the space for wire routing. couple hours to clean areea.

Wires are coming like this

Build harness in progress. All wires tagged on both sides

Mounting blocks are glued to the hull with 18" pitch to support wireing.

 

Couple observations not related to wiring. 

I noticed  there a plenty of unused volume in the corner of the cabin at the left of navigation desk.  First idea was. WOW it is nice place to hide some electronics. But... it will be nightmare to get access to it for maintenance, but need to think about how to utilize it.

 

Other observation the laminated plywood piece  mounted in the corner of pilot berth is interior/exterior part. It does not glassed from outside, but water can easy penetrate to it. 

When I removed it I get "nice" opening from under the engine room hatch to cabin.

 I think this area should be glassed, no way to have this area just plywooded.

Cockpit drains

One more manufacturing shortcut found. Irwin used bar sink drain fitting as cockpit drains. Looks like great idea, right? NO, these thing is made from foil thin brass and not designed to put hose on it and clamp it. Result - half eaten fitting (boat was whole life in fresh water) and lateral crack spilling water to pilot berth.

Replacing them with marelon flush mount drains. 

Pictures will be added next time.

Mast Grounding hunting

Still looking where the mast is grounded. People on Irwin forum suggested the 0gage wire should connect mast base and grounding plate somewhere under Holding tank. It is BS. There NOTHING found but wet plywood. The area under holding tank is fully glassed, but! had sink drain hose was router through, means easy way for water to be trapped  in the closed volume.

 

 

 Sterling system dimensions for autopilot