Running cables from steering column

[Tempus]

Our 26M has a Garmin marine radio handset fitted which is an extension from the main radio in the cabin. It's a great handset and nicely positioned....until...

Somehow, the plug the handset connects to has been damaged. Garmin advise that the plugs are not replaceable other than replacing the entire cable all the way back to the main radio. This is understandable give the small size of the plug.

My question: has anyone had experience replacing or running cable between the control console and into the cabin?

[kadet]

You mean something like this?

GPS Chartplotter, Autopilot, Wind instrument, Power, Anchor Alarm, NEMA 0813, NEMA 2000 etc



Then yes.

Do you have a specific question you need answered?

[mastreb]

It's a piece of cake. The trick is to feed the cable up from the aft berth into the pedestal, and then reach in an find it on the pedestal. You'll never bee able to feed it pedestal-down.

If the cable isn't stiff, use a fish-tape to feed up from -s aft berth and then pull the cable down taped to the fish tape.

Once you've got the cable connected up in the console, pull back the slack and tie-strap it to the existing cable bundle going back to the stern. From there you run it forward under the berth. I use 3M tie-strap mounts to suspend the cables along the ballast tank sides.

[Tempus]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I guess I was becoming pre-emptively concerned with the potential for complications when running cable. I haven't pulled the old one out yet (might use it as the lead for the new one), but had taken the side panel off the steering console and groaned at what seemed to be so narrow that I might have to unbolt the column from the cockpit deck. I wasn't going to run headlong into that strategy, so thought it best to check for experience or tricks in such routing with knowledgable "Mac-ers".

[sirlandsalot]

Yes, great info,

I am re-doing a lot of electrical this winter, this thread was a concern for me too! I remeber looking once in the column ......

I am putting spreader LED and a mast light on, so I also get to enjoy wiring my mast.


But in the end...full LED lights, 12 volt sockets/usb chargers throughout, bilge pump with auto switch, underwater LED off the stern to make stepping of the transom in Dark easier....and a cool effect for skinny dippers! dual spreader lights, and moving a new stern flush mount nav light on the back of the seat. All new panels and a 5 switch/ 12 volt socket on the pedestal....... ooo and that cheap lazy jack kit on amazon/ebay!

I am at work right now, in a camp in Peru's amazon jungle, rainy season and bad weather.....nothing else to do than shop on amazon! I wonder what my wife will say when she see's the credit card

I bought my boat last year on the internet from one of these tents just south of the Columbia boarder in the head waters of the Amazon, picked it up on the way home through Seattle and showed up with a 5 ton uhaul truck and a boat......"hi dear, I'm home!"

Thank god BWY doesn't order on line or even work with Ipad....or I might have a new cockpit enclosure!

David

[raycarlson]

Before running all those wires I would investigate a Bluetooth wireless mic option.

[Highlander]

Before running all those wires I would investigate a Bluetooth wireless mic option.

Yep thats the way I went can carry the mic on a belt clip anywhere on the boat or slip ,
But U,d be amazed @ how much wire u can get into the pedestal
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010003.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0013-1.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010020.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010016.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010099.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010097.jpg

Do not be bashful just go for it
http://vid235.photobucket.com/albums/ee ... 0007-2.mp4

I add 3" access panels on both sides of my pedestal @ diff locations to make life easier when ever I have to have access in there
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010049.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0004-1.jpg

notice the extra re-enforcement bars I added going further up into the pedestal in the pic above & installed in this pic below
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010059.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0004-1.jpg

so hope this gives u some idea what u can do in their !

J

[mastreb]

I use the SIMRAD RS-35 and its associated wireless mike, the HS-35 on both boats. Works great, no remote wiring to worry about.

[sirlandsalot]

Before running all those wires I would investigate a Bluetooth wireless mic option.

Yep thats the way I went can carry the mic on a belt clip anywhere on the boat or slip ,
But U,d be amazed @ how much wire u can get into the pedestal
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010003.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0013-1.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010020.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010016.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010099.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010097.jpg

Do not be bashful just go for it
http://vid235.photobucket.com/albums/ee ... 0007-2.mp4

I add 3" access panels on both sides of my pedestal @ diff locations to make life easier when ever I have to have access in there
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010049.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0004-1.jpg

notice the extra re-enforcement bars I added going further up into the pedestal in the pic above & installed in this pic below
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010059.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0004-1.jpg

so hope this gives u some idea what u can do in their !

J

Man, Camp has photo bucket blocked! I can'r work like this, don't they know I need to see this?

[Tempus]

I'd love to go down the Bluetooth path, but don't believe our current Garmin radio supports Bluetooth and don't really want to shell-out to a complete new radio suite.

I'll dive into the pedestal in coming days and report my resounding success.