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I started my long awaited shore power project tonight by crawling around in the aft berth trying to figure out what all the existing wires were for.

I found two cables coming out of the bottom of the pedestal: One is connected to the rudder. The other goes out the boot to the motor.

In the cockpit I've got several wires that come out of the bottom of the throttle unit and go into the pedestal. I've also got two cables that are clamped to the pedestal (inside a rubber hose used as a conduit) that go down and snake across the cockpit floor into the engine compartment and then into the back of the the motor.

My question: Is this a normal installation or did the PO take the easy way out? Can't these cables go through the pedestal like the other one? Other than the fact that my cables are probably too short I think that would be a cleaner installation and now would be the time to change it. I'm sure we have to be careful not to foul the steering cable but I would think that wouldn't be that much of a problem.

Also thinking about routing my depth finder and GPS through there as well as adding a Tach.

Any input would be appreciated!

Russell

I have the same "outside pedestal" arrangement for my throttle controls. IMHO he (previous PO) took the easy way out in installing them. He used a PVC pipe to contain the cables, cut thru the deck and then routed down inside the aft berth, to a starboard boot and then to the motor. Really a mess but it works.

Allan

From what I could find in researching old posts this evening this apparently was done by many dealers to avoid having kinks in the throttle control cables. Apparently the cables come out of the unit too low on the pedestal to easily be routed back up and then down through the pedestal. This seemed to be common with the bigfoot mercs. I have a Yamaha F50TLR and apparently they have similar issues.

Anyone have a workable solution? I really don't want to have to trip over that dang tube every time I take the boat out. Maybe I could raise the throttle or possibly enter the pedestal farther down. Not sure I want to go there.

Russell

the slickest install would be to buy a new flush mount shifter that has cables designed to run inside of pedestal.usually your engine manufacturer offers the installer a choice of several different conrollers under different part numbers.the merc bigfoot and yamaha high thrust are identical motors made in china by the same contractor only the paint scheme is different so one of them will have a flush mount controller that will work, or i'm sure Teleflex will have a part number for your application.either way it's gonna cost a handfull of ben franklins for a clean looking install.

Here's a veiw of my set-up this is the base inside aft berth
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0011-1.jpg

a vid of my pedestal flush mount controler & the 1200ft wiring I installed
http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0007-2.flv

Hydro plug
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010044.jpg

Main box inside
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010078.jpg


J