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Author Topic:   Stern Light Wiring

seadab posted 10-24-2000 06:55 PM ET (US)
Upon further inspection of my stern light on my 17' Montauk (1981) I noticed that where the stern light wiring interfaced with some other wires on the port side way aft almost on the stern bulkhead might have actually had a cover on it. Is this wiring block OEM or did the previous owner install it, if it is OEM should I keep it, or just lengthen the stern light wiring to a drier place? I am planning on using it in salt water and am concerned about corrosion. Does the cover, assuming it had one, completely cover this wiring block and is water tight?

James - Whaler Nubie
whalerron posted 10-24-2000 11:05 PM ET (US)
I have a 1969 Minot model 16' 7" Whaler and it has that same wiring block. My brother's 1972 is the same. So, I have to assume it is factory as is without a cover of any sort. I have never had any problems with corrosion on the block assembly itself. The block is plastic and the metal pieces are all stainless steel. The problems lie in the factory wiring. There is a set of wires which run from the battery/light switch to the block. Your stern light is connected to the block as is a mysterious second set of wires that disappears under the block. That second set of wires is embedded in the hull and they run all the way forward to the bow light. These wires are notorious for corroding and finally breaking off. Once that happens, because the wiring cannot be replaced, you need to become very creative in running new wires to the bowlight. Some owners run them under the rub rail...
seadab posted 10-25-2000 12:56 PM ET (US)
Whalerron.... does that wiring block have a cover on either of yalls boats?
James
rwest posted 10-25-2000 05:36 PM ET (US)
I have a pre 72 16 footer which has had all of the wires corrode on. The bow and stern light are missing so what I intend to do is to run a set of wires via the heavy duty rub railo that is on the boat from the bow light which I will install this winter. The wire will run back to the end of hte rubrail at the transom and down thru the hull tunnel up to the console. I will aslo remove the old wire block which is useless and refinish that area of the hull. I'll run a new wire from the new stern light I will install up the tunnel also to the nav switch on the dash. This will provide a better wiring solution to the old in -hull wiring that came on the early boats.
I have seen this done on several older Whalers and it seems to do well.The wire coming from the rub rail by the setern won't be too out of place as many boats have transducer wiring coming in at that point also.
Ron
whalerron posted 10-25-2000 10:49 PM ET (US)
seadab -
Sorry, I missed the simplest part of your question. No, there is no cover on the block on either boat. One boat has been in the family since it was new and it never had a cover. I assume that the other boat never had a cover either. It is interesting that Boston Whaler would make such a great boat and come up with such a cheesy wiring solution for the lights.
- ron
David Reid posted 10-26-2000 01:40 PM ET (US)
My '85 Montauk did have a nice little tan plastic or vinyl cover that screwed in, over that block, which I've seen on a bunch of 80's rigs. Have been unable to source the OEM though, so keep the one you find. Mounted high on the port side, you should never get water in there unless you swamp the boat. Then you've got other problems.
KCarlsen posted 10-26-2000 04:42 PM ET (US)
On my 1969 Classic, I took a square phone jack plate, (available in Radio Shack)the model that doesn't have the phone cord jack but has three brass posts inside, and painted it black. I ran the stern and bow wires in one side and the 24VDC supply in the other side. I mounted this on the side of the hull near the stern where the wire penetrates the hull for the bow lights. Its simple, cheap, looks good and protects the wires from the elements.

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Author	Topic: Stern Light Wiring
seadab	posted 10-24-2000 06:55 PM ET (US) Upon further inspection of my stern light on my 17' Montauk (1981) I noticed that where the stern light wiring interfaced with some other wires on the port side way aft almost on the stern bulkhead might have actually had a cover on it. Is this wiring block OEM or did the previous owner install it, if it is OEM should I keep it, or just lengthen the stern light wiring to a drier place? I am planning on using it in salt water and am concerned about corrosion. Does the cover, assuming it had one, completely cover this wiring block and is water tight? James - Whaler Nubie
whalerron	posted 10-24-2000 11:05 PM ET (US) I have a 1969 Minot model 16' 7" Whaler and it has that same wiring block. My brother's 1972 is the same. So, I have to assume it is factory as is without a cover of any sort. I have never had any problems with corrosion on the block assembly itself. The block is plastic and the metal pieces are all stainless steel. The problems lie in the factory wiring. There is a set of wires which run from the battery/light switch to the block. Your stern light is connected to the block as is a mysterious second set of wires that disappears under the block. That second set of wires is embedded in the hull and they run all the way forward to the bow light. These wires are notorious for corroding and finally breaking off. Once that happens, because the wiring cannot be replaced, you need to become very creative in running new wires to the bowlight. Some owners run them under the rub rail...
seadab	posted 10-25-2000 12:56 PM ET (US) Whalerron.... does that wiring block have a cover on either of yalls boats? James
rwest	posted 10-25-2000 05:36 PM ET (US) I have a pre 72 16 footer which has had all of the wires corrode on. The bow and stern light are missing so what I intend to do is to run a set of wires via the heavy duty rub railo that is on the boat from the bow light which I will install this winter. The wire will run back to the end of hte rubrail at the transom and down thru the hull tunnel up to the console. I will aslo remove the old wire block which is useless and refinish that area of the hull. I'll run a new wire from the new stern light I will install up the tunnel also to the nav switch on the dash. This will provide a better wiring solution to the old in -hull wiring that came on the early boats. I have seen this done on several older Whalers and it seems to do well.The wire coming from the rub rail by the setern won't be too out of place as many boats have transducer wiring coming in at that point also. Ron
whalerron	posted 10-25-2000 10:49 PM ET (US) seadab - Sorry, I missed the simplest part of your question. No, there is no cover on the block on either boat. One boat has been in the family since it was new and it never had a cover. I assume that the other boat never had a cover either. It is interesting that Boston Whaler would make such a great boat and come up with such a cheesy wiring solution for the lights. - ron
David Reid	posted 10-26-2000 01:40 PM ET (US) My '85 Montauk did have a nice little tan plastic or vinyl cover that screwed in, over that block, which I've seen on a bunch of 80's rigs. Have been unable to source the OEM though, so keep the one you find. Mounted high on the port side, you should never get water in there unless you swamp the boat. Then you've got other problems.
KCarlsen	posted 10-26-2000 04:42 PM ET (US) On my 1969 Classic, I took a square phone jack plate, (available in Radio Shack)the model that doesn't have the phone cord jack but has three brass posts inside, and painted it black. I ran the stern and bow wires in one side and the 24VDC supply in the other side. I mounted this on the side of the hull near the stern where the wire penetrates the hull for the bow lights. Its simple, cheap, looks good and protects the wires from the elements.