I need some advise on re-wiring my v20
 

I have a 1987 v20 Wellcraft with a 2000 Johnson 225 OceanPro OB. I have a center console and the wiring has always been iffy since I bought it from it's previous owner. I LOVE the boat and it runs great but elsetric wiring always is causing some problem as far as shorts and things simply not working. Some guages are not working at all. I have never done this extensive a project but I am pretty mechanical and understand what's explained to me.

I would like to first of all know what guages I should absoloutely have working. I may buy all new guages at the same time. I would imagin temp, speed, no need for a oil guage since I mix oil with fuel. I know I need running lights, and bilge pump and I have floor lights , a GPS and a ship to shore radio of course and fuel. Any ideas. I would like to bring a eeverything into a distribution panel so everything can connect from that panel but I am open for suggestions... Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.

I wouldnt bother with a speedometer....undoubtedly whatever gps unit you use will have your speed on it.

This should probably go in the repairs section to get more people to look at it. Maybe MJ can move it for you if he sees it down here.

best to tear out all except wires with the engine wiring harness. where are your batteries located?

Use the correct wire and connectors and you will have less problems. I had to wire two boats in the past its not so hard just take your time and replace one by one and use the color code or you'll never know what wire is what. I ordered from Genuinedealz.com and was happy with the price and I got my order fast. And no I don't know them other than my order. Dennis

Gut everything that is not engine harness related and do it at the same time, you will be kicking yourself for not replacing one wire a year from now.

Once gutted, run a 8 or 10 awg hot and ground up to a distribution panel in the console, then power everything from that. Also add a new switch panel for all your accessories. If you do it right there shouldn't be anything beyond your main power, stern light hot and bilge pump hot running between the console and the stern. Then add a grounding strip in the stern for your engine, bilge, stern lights, etc to clean up back there.

As far as gauges go, you really only need a tach. Here is a pic of mine...
http://lh6.ggpht.com/csvencer/SBXfEc...0/IMG_0867.JPG

I really only need the tach as the Garmin does voltage and now fuel flow, but I had them already when I went to do the mounting so I kept them.

Dennis is right, Genuinedealz is cheap, I think I got all my stuff through their ebay page. Use marine grade tinned wire and heatshrinks or you will be doing this all for nothing and will be back in there again in two years. As everyone else said, take your time and its not a big deal. I did mine and it is really nice knowing how everything is wired and knowing that when I hit a switch it will work, not that please turn on prayer you do when everything is corroded!

Good luck.

-Svence

And, if these links still work...here is the color schemes

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l4...iring10001.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l4...iring20001.jpg

Hey!!!! they worked!!!:clap:

Don't mind the X's. I put them there so I wouldn't be confused...,but I believe your boat is the same as mine....same year too. Good luck.

They are located in the stern well.

Instrument Wiring Diagram
 

There is a really simple wiring diagram on iboats forum at
http://www.iboats.com/Marine-Audio-V...view_id.248077

I have wired the panel on two boats without any problems.