Wiring for SeaArk

I ran into some electrical issues on the water today. The trolling motor has really been on going. My trolling motor has been blowing the 40amp fuse when it is in full thrust. I do not run it in full thrust but for a few seconds every now and then, but it heats up quick. I have been thinking that the wire to the TM is too small. I would have replaced it a long time ago, but I couldn't find info on the wiring for this boat.

I do not know how the wiring is run under the floor. The main power wire going to the bus bar completely broke last year. I haven't been able to pull the old wire out, nor have I been able to fish another under the floor, through the same hole.

I really want to run huge neg and pos wires to the front and create a bus bar for the TM, lights, sonar/finder, and anything else I want to add in the future.
Right now I have to run seperatwires for everything and that can be more problems. I'd like to make it simple.

I guess I need to know how to get the wire from the back to the front, under the floor. Is anyone familiar with this type of boat, SeaArk Striper 200? It has aluminum flooring screwed in and then a caenter console with 30 gallon bait tank.

The other problem I had today was that my fish finder had a blown fuse... I straight wired it and it would not come on and the bus bar was delivering power to everything else. No clue where to start besides send it to Garmin... it is a 178C sounder GPS.

Thanks for any help

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Originally Posted by stumpbumpers

I guess I need to know how to get the wire from the back to the front, under the floor.

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Always, whenever possible, utilize your existing wire to couple the new wire to pull with. Skin the insulation back on the end of the existing wire on either end (which ever end you want the new wire pulled from) with it still in it's location, do the same on one end of the new wire, make 180 degree bends in the two ends, and hook together.......twist as tight as possible. Then, secure with electrical tape keeping as small of a profile as possible in the splice for tight passages. Get someone to help if possible and snake the new wire through by pulling it with the old wire. Sounds like you need at least #8 wire.......but #6 would be better, if you're blowing 40a fuses. But, unless there's a dead short in this power cable (insulation missing...wire touching hull) the wire replacement may not fix your problem.......sounds like you got other problems.

I have not tried that in the front, but in the back I had a power wire work its way into. I was going to run wire the way you suggested and the wire would not budge. It is still there. I tagged it at both ends so I would know what it was. I am fimilar with that technique for pulling wire, because I worked a shut down for 6 months, all I did was run wire.

I'm glad you suggested running the wire that way... I hope to goodness I can.

#6 wire sounds good. I've heard other guys on here say they run #6 as well.

Does anyone know what kind of channel is there for the wires to go in?

What model trolling motor and what size is the existing wiring? Many newer TMs need 6 gauge wire and a 50A fuse, but you can't go to the 50A unless the wire can handle it.

You don't normally want the TM and sonar on the same battery unless you are in a TM only rig. Too much noise coupling into the finder.

I think I would run a wire "on top" of the floor and hook up and see if that fixes the problem. No need in pulling the wire and going through the hassle only to find out that the darn wire isn't the problem.

The Hound

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Originally Posted by CatFan

What model trolling motor and what size is the existing wiring? Many newer TMs need 6 gauge wire and a 50A fuse, but you can't go to the 50A unless the wire can handle it.

You don't normally want the TM and sonar on the same battery unless you are in a TM only rig. Too much noise coupling into the finder.

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I need to run power from the main battery to a bus bar and bigger wire for the TM. I don't know what size the wire is currently and I did think today about running the wire atraight to the TM on top just to check it. From the past experience with it I still think it needs to replaced with larger wire.

I don't need to be running anything on that wire but the TM, RIGHT?

Give Seaark a call. The boat manufs are usually helpful about this stuff. Ask if the TM wire is installed at the factory or at the dealer. (Hope for the factory install). If it is factory installed, they can tell you what you got as far as wiring goes.

Tracker Marine has been excellent with help to me with boat wiring info.

Blowing fuses ain't good. In line axial style fuse holders suck (Blows as Grizz says). They tend to corrode, make bad connection, get hot (melt) and blow fuses (with bad connection).

Check Seaark first.

I got on there site this evening, I plan to call them in the morning. The fuses are the prong type NOT bus like the bus bar for the other electronics.

I think your right Cane Pole, wander if it still has warranty... gotta find my paper work.