Running wires thru the radar arch

[Boater420]

Hello all,


I'm installing blue LED speaker rings behind the factory 6.5's in the cockpit. I need to run 12v to these rings from a switch I'm installing on the dashboard.

I've got the starboard wire run as the speaker is right next to the dashboard. My question is...

Is it possible to run wire for the port speaker through the radar arch? I would imagine the starboard side has a hole since the wires for the mast light must run through this spot. I see many access covers I can remove but is there a hole on the port side where the arch attaches to the boat to snake a wire through?

Have a Happy and safe 4th of July!

Kevin

 

[Bucit]

You should be able to run a fish tape through the arch.

 

[Mike Blake]

You can do it. Some are a pain in the AZZ!

 

[Boater420]

Thank you very much. I'll be at it tomorrow morning.

 

[bbwhitejr]

I have run numerous wires through mine. Used a thin steel fish tape and then put in a couple of strings. Now I can remove a couple of inspection plates and pull a wire or two very quickly. Make sure to leave a string for next time.

Bennett

 

[northshore]

I'm still seeing a therapist about last years adventure running a new radar cable thru my arch.
I'll second the fish tape.....

 

[Gofirstclass]

And I'll second the idea of pulling extra strings when you use the fish tape. I would suggest that you use parachute cord. It slides easily past obstacles and is easy to work through the arch. As has been mentioned, leave a length of the parachute cord up there so the next time you want to pull a wire through the arch it's already there. Oh, and pull another length of parachute cord with it.

 

[BritLady]

I'm still seeing a therapist about last years adventure running a new radar cable thru my arch.
I'll second the fish tape.....

LOL I think my husband would agree with that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rcknecht]

I hooked up my led speaker covers to my courtesy lights... I spliced the courtesy light wires behind the storage compartments at the bottom of the arch... This requires less work and no new switch on the dash...

 

[Do Over]

I hooked up my led speaker covers to my courtesy lights... I spliced the courtesy light wires behind the storage compartments at the bottom of the arch... This requires less work and no new switch on the dash...

excellent idea

 

[Boater420]

I hooked up my led speaker covers to my courtesy lights... I spliced the courtesy light wires behind the storage compartments at the bottom of the arch... This requires less work and no new switch on the dash...

I leave the courtesy lights on while underway in case guests or the Admiral need to make their way around the cockpit or down below. Since the LED rings are blue and above the waterline they must be shut off while underway.

That's the idea behind the switch on the dash. I'd love to wire them into the courtesy lights but the local Police in my area are plentiful and would stop me in a heartbeat for cruising around with blue lights illuminated while underway.

 

[Sous]

I leave the courtesy lights on while underway in case guests or the Admiral need to make their way around the cockpit or down below. Since the LED rings are blue and above the waterline they must be shut off while underway.

That's the idea behind the switch on the dash. I'd love to wire them into the courtesy lights but the local Police in my area are plentiful and would stop me in a heartbeat for cruising around with blue lights illuminated while underway.

With the savings in time, effort, and busted knuckles you can justify buying the Admiral a flash light!! :grin:

 

[rcknecht]

I leave the courtesy lights on while underway in case guests or the Admiral need to make their way around the cockpit or down below. Since the LED rings are blue and above the waterline they must be shut off while underway.

That's the idea behind the switch on the dash. I'd love to wire them into the courtesy lights but the local Police in my area are plentiful and would stop me in a heartbeat for cruising around with blue lights illuminated while underway.

I have not had a problem with the Po Lice yet... My cockpit lights are blue too... So are my spoiler lights... The Police lights spin and their boats are small, so they have not mistaken my boat as one of their own...

 

[Lazy Daze]

Here's an idea - although I have only done this on aluminum, tubular arches - like what you might see being used with CC's T-top or a WA's hardtop. With those, a lightweight string and vacuum will get the string from one side to another. Sometimes I attach a section of plastic bag to the string to give more surface area for the "suction". Use tape if you need to seal the vacuum hose to the opening.

 

[Gofirstclass]

That's the idea behind the switch on the dash. I'd love to wire them into the courtesy lights but the local Police in my area are plentiful and would stop me in a heartbeat for cruising around with blue lights illuminated while underway.

Are you sure, or are you speculating? I'm not aware of any law on the books that restricts the colors of lights that you can have illuminated in a boat. There are probably some laws about having flashing/rotating blue lights, but that may not even be the case.

If you want the gospel truth, call a sheriff's department and ask them the statute number of such a law. Then you'll know.

 

[Mike Blake]

I'm still seeing a therapist about last years adventure running a new radar cable thru my arch.
I'll second the fish tape.....

I still see that same therapist on weekends.......Dr Crown Royal

 

[Sous]

Are you sure, or are you speculating? I'm not aware of any law on the books that restricts the colors of lights that you can have illuminated in a boat. There are probably some laws about having flashing/rotating blue lights, but that may not even be the case.

If you want the gospel truth, call a sheriff's department and ask them the statute number of such a law. Then you'll know.

I agree completely, but if the po-po are as active as the OP says they are, this might give them a reason to stop you. Best to avoid the issue all together.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Are you sure, or are you speculating? I'm not aware of any law on the books that restricts the colors of lights that you can have illuminated in a boat. There are probably some laws about having flashing/rotating blue lights, but that may not even be the case.

If you want the gospel truth, call a sheriff's department and ask them the statute number of such a law. Then you'll know.

Unless I'm mistaken, the way I understand it is that while running the boat you can have no lights showing (regardless of color) other than navigation lights. The idea is that we all know to look for red/green/white in certain combinations/locations, but if another color is added, we may not know exactly what we are looking at or what direction the vessel is travelling. I believe the intent of the law is to go after people running with docking lights, underwater transom lights, spotlights, etc - not so much a lighted cupholder or speaker - but the law doesn't discriminate.

 

[rcknecht]

Unless I'm mistaken, the way I understand it is that while running the boat you can have no lights showing (regardless of color) other than navigation lights. The idea is that we all know to look for red/green/white in certain combinations/locations, but if another color is added, we may not know exactly what we are looking at or what direction the vessel is travelling. I believe the intent of the law is to go after people running with docking lights, underwater transom lights, spotlights, etc - not so much a lighted cupholder or speaker - but the law doesn't discriminate.

This is true, however, with all the drunk yahoos on the water, the more you light up your boat, the less likely some one will hit you... At sea lights are very meaningful and excessive lighting would be a no no.. But in crowded coastal waters, with novice boaters and drunks, I want to be seen...

 

[Lazy Daze]

This is true, however, with all the drunk yahoos on the water, the more you light up your boat, the less likely some one will hit you... At sea lights are very meaningful and excessive lighting would be a no no.. But in crowded coastal waters, with novice boaters and drunks, I want to be seen...

I don't disagree with your line of thinking, at all. Let's face it, at certain angles where you can only see a white light... it can be hard for a sober person to see boats in some low-light situations. I guess it's a fine line we have to play between abiding by the law and what lights we run... and of course how we talk and interact with the person with that blue, spinning light!