53 - Wire chase

[MikeP]

I am rewiring/adding wiring for my new 24HD dome radar and the Newmar 32-24v converter to power it.

One of my pet peeves has been that there is no easy way to get wiring from the lower helm to the console above the lower helm. I was thinking of putting in a PVC or suitable plastic chase between the lower helm and the overhead. I'm considering 1.5" pipe running vertically from the console area just to the right of the wheel/hinged helm running straight up to the overhead.

Anybody done this and have advice or any other way to get wires from just about anywhere on the boat to that overhead console?

 

[yachtsmanbill]

C'mon Mike... ya gotta ask yourself why would bubba put a chase from helm to overhead console/flybridge helm when he can just run another 30 feet of wire, and shifter stuff and radar cables etc? That would really eliminate the challenge wouldnt it?
Dont cut yourself short. Use a piece of 3" PVC and make it look nautical! Even the sales brochure on SAMs site shows a wood chase but I didnt like the square look... ws

2-1/2 inch shouldve been larger!

always try to re-use Hatteras furniture to appease the purists!
This stuff all got covered by an old wiper motor box used as a side console for switches etc... Why crowd yourself on a 58 foot boat???

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Dont forget an additional overhead unit for the extra stuff. Bubba hates wires hangin' and lookin' home made dont he?? ws

Throw those stupid bubba chart lites out too... or donate them!

 

[MikeP]

Thanks - I've been fooling with a PVC chase all morning, trying different color paint to see what "blends" best at the helm. I thought black might be ok but I tried gloss and then flat and both stand out too much. Currently I'm waiting for some "hammered copper" paint to dry. The color is similar to the wood though it's unfortunately glossy. If that doesn't look ok I'll try wrapping it with cord.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

That was jute rope with a coat of matching red oak stain... its toned down a bit over 2 years... ws

 

[bigbill]

the PO of my boat made a square box out of wood, the same width as the support between the center and side windshields. its not very big, but it holds all of the wires that i need up top.

 

[Trojan]

My 43 has a 7inch sq wood tube going from the the lower helm to the fly bridge.

BILL

 

[MikeP]

I'm trying to make the smallest diameter chase I can that will still do the job. I want the minimum obstruction to vsby. Right now I have a 1"dia PVC in place and it seems to be fine - still has room for plenty more wiring.

Still evaluating though...

 

[jim rosenthal]

I thought it looked great. You could always box it in if you wanted to...

My boat has a chase coming down at the front of the salon, to the chart table area. A bout 6" square. And full, because the steering hydraulics, the throttle and shift cables, and all the wiring are all crammed in there. It ought to have been bigger.

 

[Angela]

I have that kind of a chase on my flybridge that carries all the wires from underneath the flybridge helm to the things on the hard top, above. I find that chase to be very annoying in terms of being right in my line of visibility. Yes, I can look around it, but it's annoying. If I could "wish" it gone, I would. I sure am glad my pilothouse doesn't have one. Couldn't you use a fish wire to run what you need in the original chases that are on both sides of your boat in the pilothouse to run what you need? That's what we do. And on our boat, I'm sure there is plenty of obsolete stuff in those chases that can be removed.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

"...Bubba didnt quite grasp the concept at 'lectrical engineerin' school when the instructor said to 'Go home and cram for the test' " ! ;-)) ws

The chase that I installed is little more in the way than the vertical bar dividing the lower windshield... Unless youre wearing the punishment posture collar and unable to turn your head, you should be constantly moving around trying to get the big picture. I guess some people are scared to death when driving and have the white knuckle grasp of death on the wheel and tunnel vision to go along with it! ws