Literally spent all day trying to run a NMEA backbone cable from the engine room to the helm on my 370 DA. Found a tube which looked like it would work -- already had a few shift cables and a transducer cable from the previous owner. It's a black flexible plastic hose. Well now I am stuck with about 2 feet to go. Can't pull the cable thru. Can't get it to come back either. So close but so far. What's the trick?
Running NMEA Backbone -- Epic Fail
- Thread starter Golfman25
- Start date
- Dec 31, 2006
- 2,823
- Boat Info
- H2O Therapy
2006 Sundancer 48
Novurania 430DL
HighField 340-FCT
Yamaha EX-R
Raymarine
PADI DM
- Engines
- Cummins QSC 540's
Using a fish tape? Going to have to pull it back out one way or another. Use wire lube next time.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,571
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
I’d pull back first and see if you can work it back thru, see saw motion.
Otherwise the old engineering maxim applies.
If it’s stuck, force it. If it breaks, it needs replacement anyway!
Otherwise the old engineering maxim applies.
If it’s stuck, force it. If it breaks, it needs replacement anyway!
jmauld
Well-Known Member
- Jun 9, 2020
- 2,844
- Boat Info
- 2010 Sundancer 390
2016 Sea Hunt Ultra 211
- Engines
- Twin 8.1l of gas guzzling iron
Try running a small cord through, then connect the two together and pull hard.
370Dancer
Well-Known Member
- Oct 2, 2006
- 2,488
- Boat Info
- 1998 370 Sundancer
- Engines
- 380hp MAG MPI Gen VI with V drives
I'm heading to the engine room this morning, so I'll have a look at what I did, and report back. Pulling hard on a cable with 22ga or smaller wires in it will not lead to a happy ending. Find the path of least resistance. It probably won't be in the chase tube. Too many stiff cables with bends where it comes up to the helm.
On my 400DA there was a 2-inch duct for wire between the engine room and helm - it even had a fishtape in it. But, when they assembled the deck to the hull that duct got pinched between the structures and was useless. Maybe yours suffered the same fate.
jmauld
Well-Known Member
- Jun 9, 2020
- 2,844
- Boat Info
- 2010 Sundancer 390
2016 Sea Hunt Ultra 211
- Engines
- Twin 8.1l of gas guzzling iron
Sorry, I meant to say a small nylon cord, not wire. I have a pull cord in both of my boats and you can use it to pull wire through the chases. It helps to have two people so that you can wiggle it when it gets into a jam.
mrsrobinson
Well-Known Member
And this is exactly why I don't want to run thicker gauge wire from the engine compartment to the salon for a new amplifier... Ugh
I’m not having fun.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,571
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
There are other pathways, that are bigger/easier, but may require some resealing once complete.
jmauld
Well-Known Member
- Jun 9, 2020
- 2,844
- Boat Info
- 2010 Sundancer 390
2016 Sea Hunt Ultra 211
- Engines
- Twin 8.1l of gas guzzling iron
What do you use to reseal the openings?
Remember when your trying to put something in a hole it's always good to use lubricant. Hand sanitizer dish washing liquid and for going through small short pull spit will work . If you only 2' away you could try pulling some hand sanitizer in the wire way and pull it back and forth tell it starts moving. You can buy wire lube at Lowe's .
I find in boats they like to tape individually wires to each other which cause problems when your pulling in my new wires.
Halfhitch
Well-Known Member
- Aug 24, 2021
- 836
- Boat Info
- 1988 Laguna 23CC
- Engines
- 1988 Mercury 135 Black Max twins
I had to check to see if I had mistakenly got on the Bikini thread.
No one ever said that's to much lubricant.
I use fish tape with 550 chord attached to it. Have at least double the length of 550 chord you'll need for the run. Once you punch through with the fish tape/550 chord, attach your lubed wire to the 550 chord and pull it through. Once you pull the wire through, pull another foot or two of 550 chord and leave it there. Cut off the 550 chord on the other end but leave a foot or two there also. That way, should you need to pull more wire, the 550 chord is already there for you to attach wire to..
Skybolt
Well-Known Member
- Nov 11, 2014
- 6,452
- Boat Info
- Reel Nauti
460 EC
- Engines
- Detroit 6v92TA
(Low profile's)
Alison Gears
Westerbeke
12.5kw Genset
I've never heard of that either and I've snaked 100's of wires.
You need a flat steel fish tape or flexible fiberglass screw together rods and get that through first. Then pull the parachute cord through with the wire or visa versa depending on which way through. If there isn't a hole to fish through you may need to make one.
Nater Potater
Well-Known Member
- Oct 19, 2020
- 2,646
- Boat Info
- 1992 300DA Sundancer
- Engines
- Twin Merc Alpha I Gen II I/O's with 5.7 V8's
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Premium-Synthetic-Clear-Lubricant-1-Quart-51028/100660159
"Clear and colorless for easy cleanup - won't stain". Hm-m-m; sounds like the answer to more than one "operation".
"Clear and colorless for easy cleanup - won't stain". Hm-m-m; sounds like the answer to more than one "operation".
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,571
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
There are several areas in these boats were electrical and plumbing run through various bulkheads, stringers or other structures. Sea Ray usually sealed them up with globs of silicone or similar sealant.
I have been able to work a corner loose on the bulkhead between the cockpit and the cabin to run all sorts of wires.
