Boat Project

[Linesider82]

I purchased a 2005 Maritime skiff around this time last year which had a 2015 suzuki df90a for power still under warranty. After filling out the paperwork for the warranty transfer, Suzuki sent me an additional year warranty contract.

I had been casually browsing for this hull for a while. A friend had taken me out on his because our Vineyard vacation stays happened to overlap, I loved the simple no-nonsense layout of it, wide beam and dry smooth ride. We had a good day fishing too!

What a blessing to have it this year with two young boys. With most everything closed due to COVID, the boat really provided us with an escape.

The project: The boat is a single battery setup. I also had several no-start, then magically start days on the water or at the ramp. So the project began as "I need a two battery system".

After doing a visual inspection of the electrical connections and the rat nest of wires, I was lucky the boat started/ran and anything worked on the boat. So the goal was get "enough" tog outtings in to be content then start the process of fixing the electrical issues.

I bought Nigel Calder's book "Mechanical and Electrical Manual" to gain an understanding of a boat's electrical system, it's a good book and written in a way in which even I understand it and is based on ABYC standards.

I quickly noticed a major flaw in the electrical system is that the 4awg main wires that operate the starter on my outboard are not the correct gauge wire. I cannot speak to other outboard manufacturer's supplied wires but my Suzuki comes stock with 2 options and both are 4 awg, which are rated for batteries located near the outboard. In my case the shortest run which might be a stretch is 12' one way, which would be a 2awg, and anything over that a 0awg, per the suzuki manual for this model.

Enter the other wants and needs to the project. Some shade! I found a t top that would work around the existing console, however that solution would cost a lot more to rig any lights or a radar. So I went back to the classifieds on a search for a hard top console. Found one off a seacraft rigged with a bunch of items I was looking for and picked it up for a good price in line with a T top, big score.

As of today, I have the boat de-rigged, everything is out and the deck cleaned up. I put a step ladder in the boat at the console area to give myself a working area under a cover so I can pull wires etc. This might be boring to most but any feedback is welcomed, and any "how's it goings" will help me stay on target. April is my goal.

I'll attach some pics along the way.

-Matt