©2006-2010 Tsunami Fishing Systems

Philosophy 101:

The Tao of Rigging - Part I

Setting up a small boat for ocean use requires some careful planning. Materials, products and tools can be critical for long-term reliability. The Internet has made shopping both a treat and a chore. Read what we learned through rigging Toy Boat 2

Equipment Plan   The 10 Laws   Selecting Equipment   The Results   Miscellaneous Notes 

When we were finished, we had collected a number of products and practices that might be of interest to you. The topic of Internet shopping was involved enough to warrant a separate article (click HERE to see it). Here are some of the rest:

Some Tips on Installing Electronics

Hooking up electronics and making electrical connections in boats require some special attention. You can find general information on this topic at several places, but here are some things to pay special attention to. These items were relayed to us from Damian Clarke, President of Vessel Electric in Pomona, CA, (909) 865-2113:
  • Before installing new equipment read the instruction manual from cover to cover and highlight information of particular interest or importance with a hi-liter pen

  • Don't be shy about calling customer support if needed. Furuno, ICOM, and Simrad (among a few others) have noted positive track records in customer service. This is part of what you pay for with a slightly more expensive device but it can be worth its weight in gold when you need it.

  • "High and Dry" is key - Try to keep the installation out of the bilge, and away from batteries, fuel lines and direct sun light, if possible.

  • Magnetic fields cause interference. Stay clear of bilge pumps, battery chargers, windshield wiper motors or anything else with an electric motor or permanent magnets in it.

  • Do not loop or "spool" wires, especially antennae transmission lines (coax) or data wires (like the NEMA wires from device to device) because loops can radiate concentrated magnetic fields.

  • No matter how small the current draw (amps), don't go smaller than 16 AWG wire, unless it's what the manufacturer recommends.

  • Take your time and do a good job.

Damian also pointed out that the ABYC specifically recommends against soldering connections. Good marine-grade crimps and adhesive shrink tubing are the preferred way to connect wires in boats.


Drip Loops
Drip Loop rigging
To reduce the probability of water seeping in through bulkhead holes, add a downward curve in cables just before they enter a bulkhead. Water splashed on, or running down, the cable will naturally gravitate to the bottom of the loop and drip off, rather than run to the bulkhead and seep in. (This was probably more important before we started using cable clams (see below))


Beware the Sun
Most people focus only on moisture when rigging a skiff, but you should also keep a eye on the sun. Devices that are "waterproof" are usually also sealed and pressurized with a dry gas to prevent fogging.

If they get too hot from being left in the sun, the internal pressure can build up enough to pop the case apart . We had this happen to both a sonar unit and a handheld GPS. This is NOT covered under most warranties! The lesson: try to locate electronics where they can get some shade in really hot weather, or be prepared to cover them with a wet towel.


Cable Clams
Cable Clams
These are nifty little gadgets for sealing off cable runs through exterior bulkheads. You have to drill a hole through the rubber stopper, then split it so the washer fits over the cables. Run the cable through the Cable Clam, then slip the washer over the cable so that it will be forced into the top piece when the top piece is screwed down. When the top piece is screwed down, it will compress the stopper so it flares and seals around the cable.

Cable clams have made it easy to add or remove devices that require cable runs through bulkheads, such as transducers, antennas, power cables, etc.


Anti-Bond 2015
Antibond 2035
Most people working around boats have heard of 3M 5200 and 4200. They are polyurethane adhesives that are incredibly tough, waterproof, and stick like grim death. Unfortunately, like grim death, they can be almost impossible to remove if you make a mistake. Anti-Bond 2015 is a solvent that actually removes 3M 5200 and 4200 adhesives.

Anti-Bond 2015 really works. It softens 4200/5200 and most other caulks, and loosens/destroys the bond enough so that the pieces can be separated. Once separated, application of more AB2015 allows you to scrape the remaining adhesive off with a fingernail or a hard plastic scraper.


Repairing holes
MarineTex
Here's an easy way to make clean repairs of holes in white gel-coated fiberglass: Clean the hole, then fill with white Marine-Tex epoxy. Leave a slight bulge. Then take a strip of mylar packing tape, and place over the hole. Flatten the glue bulge so that it is flush with the surface. Let cure, then remove.

You will get a smooth glossy surface over the hole. This technique can also be used to patch fairly large holes, if you can put some mylar tape behind the hole as backing. Fill the hole with Marine-Tex, and place another piece of mylar tape on top, and press smooth. The shade of white will probably not be an exact match, but it will be close.
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