posted 10-21-2001 08:32 PM ET (US)        

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After pretty much stripping my 16/17 whaler to totally redo I pulled the teleflex steering cable, control cables, and began to pull the wiring harnesses. Even though they looked almost new on the exposed ends, inside the tunnel was another story.

I found the plastic sheath that normally covers a harness brittle and in pieces. I found several wires that had no insulation on them at all in various sections and one wire that had melted into the insulation of another.

Perhaps an electrical fire waiting to happen. Has anyone else had defective wiring in their tunnel and does anyone have an idea where I might get a wiring diagram for a 1973? Thanks

posted 10-21-2001 09:21 PM ET (US)            

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Electrical wiring from 1973, even if left high and dry and not exposed to the elements, would probably not be in much better condition than you describe. Those wires are over a quarter century old! Throw in exposure to water (maybe salt water), oil, gasoline, sunlight, heat, cold, abrasion, and constant movement and it is not hard to image the wiring being in bad shape.

As for a diagram, there really is not much wiring to diagram. The connections to the engine are specific to the make and model of the engine. The wiring for the boat hull is probably limited to the running lights and perhaps a sump pump.