Hello All, Need advice on how to start straightening this mess out. Here's my panel and here's the mess behind it. Not sure where to begin. Thanks for you endlessly valuable advice and direction. Kevin
+1i agree, the wiring doesn't look bad to me. Is there a problem you're trying to address? The panel is old, but if it's working, i wouldn't be in a rush to change it.
One thing you could do is trace and label every circuit. I use a labeller to notate things. I'd also create a circuit diagram of your system.
Thanks for all the great tips!Geez, that looks just like my Nav Station, right down to the Tea...
A couple of pointers...
Looks like my O'Day when I bought it but nothing worked so I pulled it all out, drew a wiring diagram and away I went. All new marine tinned wire with marine connections and 2 new gang panels. If mine all worked when I bought it I would have just labeled each circuit (I also use a label maker) and just clean up the squirrel mess a tad. I hate messy wiring.I'm not an electrician and have never done a full re-wire. When I have done some circuits I find it easier to do one circuit, finish it completely then move on to the next. I've also never replaced a panel, just pulled new wire, done the terminals etc.
Speaking for myself I think I would get confused if I yanked everything existing out and tried to start from scratch, be different if I was building a new boat without an interior.
I am going to add a small pony panel, more electronics onboard than the boat was intended for in 1976. Think I'll leave all the original stuff on the original panel. Gps, tiller pilot and all the other new stuff will go on the new panel. All of it is currently properly fused but the PO wired it off terminal strips. Have to use the house battery switch to turn that stuff off. Technically is is safe but I don't like it that way.
Oh ya forgot I found this and have been reading it.
New Boatbuilders Home Page - Basic Electricity Page 13 - Wiring Your Boat