Running Wires From Dash To Engine Compartment

[NewNauitiqueOwner]

Hi all,

I am trying to install a depth sounder and I am having problems fishing the wire back. I have actual given up trying to use a fish.

I am kicking myself because I did not run an extra wire or string when I replaced the steering cable

My question is what is the best way of getting wires from the dash to the engine compartment?

My thought is to disconnect a cable (maybe throttle) and tie a couple of ropes to it so I can pull the transducer cable back.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Brian

[Chexi]

Year and model of boat please.

[NewNauitiqueOwner]

Sorry about that...
1993 Nautique
Closed Bow

[DanielC]

This is typical of a closed bow boat.
lift up the front passenger seat, and remove everything you have stored up there. In front of the drivers kick panel, there will be a hole in the floor, the throttle, shift, and steering cables go through.

if your raw water pump is on the lower front right corner of the engine, you might get better access if you remove it.

There is a cavity under the floor, past the drivers seat, that goes to the area where I think your raw water pump is, on your boat.

Get an electrical fish tape, and work it backwards from the hole in front of the driver's feet, to the engine compartment. You can use that to pull wires back from the engine compartment forward. If you need to pull wires back from the front of the boat, it probably will be easier to pull a wire forward, and use that wire, to pull the wire you want to the back.

[NewNauitiqueOwner]

This is typical of a closed bow boat.
lift up the front passenger seat, and remove everything you have stored up there. In front of the drivers kick panel, there will be a hole in the floor, the throttle, shift, and steering cables go through.

if your raw water pump is on the lower front right corner of the engine, you might get better access if you remove it.

There is a cavity under the floor, past the drivers seat, that goes to the area where I think your raw water pump is, on your boat.

Get an electrical fish tape, and work it backwards from the hole in front of the driver's feet, to the engine compartment. You can use that to pull wires back from the engine compartment forward. If you need to pull wires back from the front of the boat, it probably will be easier to pull a wire forward, and use that wire, to pull the wire you want to the back.

-------
I have a couple of questions and statements:

I have tried to fish the from the hole in front of the driver kick plate.

It appears that all of the cables and wires go into this hole towards the center of the boat.

If I remember correctly the hole has a collar on it making it difficult to guide the fish.

Is the cavity continuous from the hole to engine compartment, in somewhat of straight line (starting point - hole, ending point raw water pump)?

Thank you, Brian

[DanielC]

The hole is more or less continuous. Every boat is different, sometimes the fish tape will slip right through, other times it will not. You may have to start the fish tape from the front, and it will only go half way, and you might have to reach forward from the engine compartment and find the tape. If you reach under there, expect to find some fiberglass splinters.

I had one boat I was working on that I could not get a fish tape through. I ended up using a piece of heater hose, with the wire I was trying to run inside it. After I had the hose, and wire on the other end, I secured the wire, and then pulled the heater hose out from around it.

[NewNauitiqueOwner]

The hole is more or less continuous. Every boat is different, sometimes the fish tape will slip right through, other times it will not. You may have to start the fish tape from the front, and it will only go half way, and you might have to reach forward from the engine compartment and find the tape. If you reach under there, expect to find some fiberglass splinters.

I had one boat I was working on that I could not get a fish tape through. I ended up using a piece of heater hose, with the wire I was trying to run inside it. After I had the hose, and wire on the other end, I secured the wire, and then pulled the heater hose out from around it.

Are there multiple channels that go to the engine compartment, or just one that everything goes down?

I tried for probably an hour and half to get the fish down to the engine compartment. I was trying to follow the path of the other cables.

I think what you were saying before was:
Basically crawling completely underneath the bow of the boat, so that you can orient yourself to guide the fish. The fish tape should go straight back from the hole and not towards the center of the boat?

Have you ever had to resort to disconnect a cable and attaching a couple of ropes (wires) to it to use it as a "reverse fish"

Thank you, Brian

[2004196]

Running wires

My '04 196 has a rather heavy cord that either the dealer or factory left tied to an engine mount. The other end is up in the dash area and I have used this a couple of times to pull wires one way or the other (underwater light wires as an example). I would suggest using an existing wire on the engine side and taping, crimping a heavy nylon (or equivilent) line along with the wire(s) you are trying to pull through. Add an extra wire so when you pull the group to the dash, use the extra wire to pull the nylon line and original wire back, leave the nylon line in the engine area for any future pull you may have to do. This will save you HOURS of frustration.

[DanielC]

"Have you ever had to resort to disconnect a cable and attaching a couple of ropes (wires) to it to use it as a "reverse fish""

Yes!