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Author Topic:   13-foot Electrical Schematic

angaface posted 08-22-2005 02:25 PM ET (US)
Just puchased a 1987 Boston 13.5 ft.
Terrible wiring But don't know what the 4 x4 in box is at back It has a 30 amp inside a a bunch of wires.
Any schematic out there??
Thanks
13sport posted 08-24-2005 11:40 AM ET (US)
It sounds like the wiring is not original. I would try to locate the wires to the bow light. These should be starboard, a foot or two from the transom. Test these wires, if they work , I would rip out all the old wires and just rewire.
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q4

Sport
Tom W Clark posted 08-24-2005 11:44 AM ET (US)
angaface,
The box you describe is original to the boat. It houses either the fuse or circuit breaker for the main accessory wiring run from the battery. This box should also cover where the wires to the bow light penetrate the gunwale and also the junction for the wiring to the console.
jimh posted 08-24-2005 09:52 PM ET (US)
There are no schematic diagrams, nor is one necessary. Wire one side of the lamps to the battery negative; wire the other side to a switch which is supplied with battery positive through a fuse.
13sport posted 08-26-2005 12:08 AM ET (US)
Tom & Jimh,
I only have experience with the wiring of a 13 foot sport classic. I have looked at Tom's CD and the Cetecea section of the forum to see an example. I couldn't find any pictures of the rear starboard side of a 13 foot supersport. Can either or both of you speculate as to why the box with a circuit breaker was needed? It seems un-Boston Whaler like to me. That is, it is more complicated than it needs to be.
Sport
jimh posted 08-26-2005 09:02 AM ET (US)
A circuit breaker contained in a molded enclosure at the stern is used on many Boston Whalers as an over-current protection device for distribution of the battery primary wiring to branch circuits in the boat. It is usually located within a foot of the battery.
The electrical installation on most older boats has been subject to years of modification and haywire by previous owners, dealers, self-taught electricians, etc., so there is no way to know the state of the installation on your boat.
13sport posted 08-26-2005 12:38 PM ET (US)
Jimh,
I understand all of that. Tom Clark stated that the box with a circuit breaker was original factory. My question is what was it about the 13 foot super sport that made it necessary to have the electical protection? The regular run of the mill 13 foot sport didn't seem to need the circuit breaker.
Sport
Tom W Clark posted 08-26-2005 12:55 PM ET (US)
13sport,
It's not because it's a Super Sport that the circuit breaker (or fuse) box is there. It is just something that Whaler started using in the mid 1980s. It provides an addition level of protection to the electrical system.
All Whalers after a certain date have these devices. My 1988 Revenge 25 has the same thing. My 1981 Montauk did not. My best guess was that about 1984 Whaler began to install them. It may have been done to comply with some industry standard or federal regulation.
jimh posted 08-26-2005 08:21 PM ET (US)
Boston Whaler generally builds boats which are compliant with the ABYC recommendations. Perhaps the recommendations changed so that an over-current protection device was required in order to maintain compliance.
It really is not a burden to have a circuit breaker on you boat. Actually, it is quite intelligent to have your primary battery wiring protected by an over-current device. Rather than complain about it, I would adopt the attitude that it is a great thing to have.
angaface posted 08-26-2005 09:04 PM ET (US)
Thanks to all for the valuable input.
I have identified the box and it has a 30 amp fuse in the positve wire from the battery.This fuse is 4 feet from the battery ?? any problem as I thought this fuse should be as close to the battery terminal as possible?? The two wire from the bow light seems ok and I will run 18 guage from the back of the console back to this box. Again it's great to have all this experience to fall back on. The site is fantastic.
Angaface

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Author	Topic: 13-foot Electrical Schematic
angaface	posted 08-22-2005 02:25 PM ET (US) Just puchased a 1987 Boston 13.5 ft. Terrible wiring But don't know what the 4 x4 in box is at back It has a 30 amp inside a a bunch of wires. Any schematic out there?? Thanks
13sport	posted 08-24-2005 11:40 AM ET (US) It sounds like the wiring is not original. I would try to locate the wires to the bow light. These should be starboard, a foot or two from the transom. Test these wires, if they work , I would rip out all the old wires and just rewire. http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q4 Sport
Tom W Clark	posted 08-24-2005 11:44 AM ET (US) angaface, The box you describe is original to the boat. It houses either the fuse or circuit breaker for the main accessory wiring run from the battery. This box should also cover where the wires to the bow light penetrate the gunwale and also the junction for the wiring to the console.
jimh	posted 08-24-2005 09:52 PM ET (US) There are no schematic diagrams, nor is one necessary. Wire one side of the lamps to the battery negative; wire the other side to a switch which is supplied with battery positive through a fuse.
13sport	posted 08-26-2005 12:08 AM ET (US) Tom & Jimh, I only have experience with the wiring of a 13 foot sport classic. I have looked at Tom's CD and the Cetecea section of the forum to see an example. I couldn't find any pictures of the rear starboard side of a 13 foot supersport. Can either or both of you speculate as to why the box with a circuit breaker was needed? It seems un-Boston Whaler like to me. That is, it is more complicated than it needs to be. Sport
jimh	posted 08-26-2005 09:02 AM ET (US) A circuit breaker contained in a molded enclosure at the stern is used on many Boston Whalers as an over-current protection device for distribution of the battery primary wiring to branch circuits in the boat. It is usually located within a foot of the battery. The electrical installation on most older boats has been subject to years of modification and haywire by previous owners, dealers, self-taught electricians, etc., so there is no way to know the state of the installation on your boat.
13sport	posted 08-26-2005 12:38 PM ET (US) Jimh, I understand all of that. Tom Clark stated that the box with a circuit breaker was original factory. My question is what was it about the 13 foot super sport that made it necessary to have the electical protection? The regular run of the mill 13 foot sport didn't seem to need the circuit breaker. Sport
Tom W Clark	posted 08-26-2005 12:55 PM ET (US) 13sport, It's not because it's a Super Sport that the circuit breaker (or fuse) box is there. It is just something that Whaler started using in the mid 1980s. It provides an addition level of protection to the electrical system. All Whalers after a certain date have these devices. My 1988 Revenge 25 has the same thing. My 1981 Montauk did not. My best guess was that about 1984 Whaler began to install them. It may have been done to comply with some industry standard or federal regulation.
jimh	posted 08-26-2005 08:21 PM ET (US) Boston Whaler generally builds boats which are compliant with the ABYC recommendations. Perhaps the recommendations changed so that an over-current protection device was required in order to maintain compliance. It really is not a burden to have a circuit breaker on you boat. Actually, it is quite intelligent to have your primary battery wiring protected by an over-current device. Rather than complain about it, I would adopt the attitude that it is a great thing to have.
angaface	posted 08-26-2005 09:04 PM ET (US) Thanks to all for the valuable input. I have identified the box and it has a 30 amp fuse in the positve wire from the battery.This fuse is 4 feet from the battery ?? any problem as I thought this fuse should be as close to the battery terminal as possible?? The two wire from the bow light seems ok and I will run 18 guage from the back of the console back to this box. Again it's great to have all this experience to fall back on. The site is fantastic. Angaface