Downeaster Yachts.com - Topic: binnacle wiring

Scott Carle on binnacle wiring

Fri, 23 Sep 2016 06:20:17 -0400

run the wiring through a piece of 1/2 or 1 inch thin wall pvc that you use some 5200 to glue to the inside wall of the binnacale out of the way of the mechanism. Probably wouldn't need more than a dab at the bottom and top of the tube.

Rick on binnacle wiring

Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:11:14 -0400

OK, the first shot is the binnacle without the brass compass cover and the gear shift/throttle body and the top plate (for the binnacle guard) removed

The second picture is what I'm calling the binnacle guard (round top stainless tube bolted to the binnacle with the top plate) and the gear shift/throttle body

The third is looking down the binnacle with the two shifting cables down inside and the compass wire in question hanging out

The fourth picture is looking down at the steering chain and the two shifting cables

What bugs me is the compass wire is indiscriminately pulled up through the moving chain and the cables. Not very safe or elegant as there's lots of moving parts to chafe the wire.

I'm replacing the binnacle guard with one from Ocean Equipment that's a little higher, slightly thicker and bent at the top to accommodate a Garmin multi function display big enough so my old eyes can see the screen in the dark without glasses (which I don't like wearing when I don't have to.) For right now the swell nav housing will hold a simple Ipad which we've found fine if all you want is charts, until West Marine has one of their "triple points" sale which could be a long time. I was told all electronics sell for the same everywhere so the triple points gives me about 12% off which I'll use to replace my anchoring chain which doesn't fit on the gypsy on the old Seatiger I laboriously bolted to the bowsprit...

Scott Carle on binnacle wiring

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 18:20:07 -0400

Take pictures and post.. I have never had mine apart so would be interested in seeing how it is put together. )

Rick on binnacle wiring

Fri, 26 Aug 2016 11:13:32 -0400

All:

my compass wire comes up through the middle of the binnacle and just floats around between all the moving parts for the steering which seems not right although I'm not seeing a conduit or something attached to the side of the binnacle that would keep the wire secure.

Was there ever anything there and it was removed or do I just ignore the wire floating around all those moving parts?

Thanks!!

We're shooting to join a flotilla to Cuba in the spring! It may be wildly out of our potential but that's what's driving the hot, sweaty nights and weekends working on the boat. Down here in Florida EVERYONE is joining a flotilla to Cuba so we're not going to discover anything that hasn't been already trampled but I've been yearning for that opportunity for years and am currently gunning for it.