One of the most horrifying boat sinkings in recent memory was September 2019’s fire aboard the MV Conception. The disaster killed 34 people and injured 5 more. It was the most significant tragedy since 1865 in the waters off of California, and the deadliest US maritime incident since 1989.
The main reason the fire killed as many people as it did is that the escape hatch was hard to open. Evidence suggests the fire began with an electrical issue related to charging lithium batteries.
Wiring a boat the right way is a key tool for preventing disasters like these. Older boats such as the Conception weren’t built to handle today’s appliances. Passengers and their loved ones paid an unthinkable cost for the error.
Don’t put yourself in a dangerous situation at sea. Take a look at these five must-know tips about setting up marine electrical systems.
1. Find the Plans Before You Start Wiring
You should never set out to work a complex electrical job with no plan. Making one takes up valuable time, but it’s worth it: Following a plan is a sure way to avoid problems and danger.
In most cases, you don’t need to design a wiring schematic by yourself. Unless you have a custom boat plan, chances are that the manufacturer has a diagram or you can get one online from a fellow boat owner.
When it comes to pinpointing which wires to connect and where to connect them, using a boat wiring diagram is the way to go. If you don’t have a pre-made diagram, consider consulting a professional to work one up. Having one ensures you don’t forget any steps or hardware.
Using one also makes finding an electrical problem’s source a cinch because you can see which wires and devices connect in what places. Finding what you need to fix or replace could be as simple as tracing a path from the broken appliance or wire to its power source.
2. Don’t Get Tripped up: Organize Your Wires
You could have all the right boat wiring supplies, hook everything up in the proper ways, and still end up tearing your hair out with frustration. If you don’t organize your wires using clips, zip ties, or another method, your setup is a tripping hazard above all else.
You could injure yourself on a tangled mess of wires, or unplug something without meaning to. If you disconnect something essential, you could ruin a boat trip—or damage the boat itself.
Tripping on loose wires can also damage them and make them more prone to fire. If you do happen to disconnect something or need to troubleshoot an appliance, tangled wires make the job near-impossible. Taking time as you go to bundle and label wires sets your electrical system up for success.
3. Never Skimp on Wire Gauge
Lithium batteries are a popular suggestion for offsetting pollution, but some argue the environmental costs of mining lithium and using grid electricity to charge the batteries aren’t worth the benefits.
Whether you support them or not, what isn’t arguable is the batteries’ fire risk. Lithium batteries have exploded and caught fire in all kinds of appliances, ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles. The MV Conception fire should be enough proof that boats are no exception.
One of the most important steps you can take to protect your boat and passengers is making sure to use wire that’s rated to support your appliances’ load. Do the energy demand calculations instead of guessing, because all it takes to start a deadly fire is one too many appliances overloading a system.
If you have any doubts, go with a thicker gauge as problems with too thick wire are rare. The usual suspects are thin wires that get overloaded and break.
4. Record Your Boat Repairs
Learning to do electrical work and repairs helps you stay self-sufficient while you’re on the water. Yet, even successful repairs might lead to issues if you don’t write down the work you do.
For example, say you add a built-in refrigerator to your boat. It’s not on the original wiring plan because it’s your project, not a model feature. The installation goes well and was easy enough, so you don’t feel a need to take notes.
Two weeks later, the refrigerator shuts down while you’re hours from shore. You have supplies and could fix it with no problem…if only you had the plans! Instead, you’re stuck at sea with stinky bait thawing in the freezer.
It’s worth making a repair journal to avoid annoying problems like that. Having notes to look back on ends these tricky situations as soon as you notice them. A repair record and plans is also a handy tool when investigating how a tragedy like the Conception fire happens—and could help you prevent fires before one catches.
5. Ask an Expert About Wiring a Boat
Considering the chances of deadly fires and getting stuck at sea, wiring a boat from scratch is no small task. If you don’t wire boats by trade, you might want to hire a marine electrician.
It’s not hard to find a basic wiring diagram for a boat that makes the setup seem like a piece of cake. Even so, new boaters and DIYers who take on the task tend to find themselves in over their heads.
If asking a pro before starting is too hard on your pride, wire the boat and bring in an expert to make sure you did everything the right way before turning the power on—and well before you leave the shore. Keep in mind that it may not be wise to take this route if you don’t have some kind of experience to cut down on mistakes.
Wiring a whole boat and making many mistakes helps some people learn more than watching someone else do the work does. However, hiring an electrician to fix your problems could come with a huge bill. Watching a professional wire your boat is easier, cheaper, and safer than DIY wiring in most cases.
Things You Need to Know to Enjoy Life More
Now that you know the basics of wiring a boat, you’re well on your way to enjoying life on the water with a charged battery and all your favorite electronics. For more ways to have a better life, look no further than other articles on this site.
We have all kinds of valuable information to help you get things done and have fun while doing them. Click on another article today to give your life a boost.
