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Yeah, I have a 1986 268 sundancer and my batt switch is in the same place as ten years. Even has the lock too. Do they even make the lock one anymore?


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Mine is a 1989 268 and it appears to be the factory position of the selector switch but it is not keyed. I guess I will look into how much work it would be to move the switch up onto the deck. My only worries about having it located on the deck was that I was how it would react to having more exposer to the elements but if others have no probelms than it must not be an issue. I would love to see some pictures of someone that has it up out of the engine compartment.

 

Mine is in the bilge also, and I've been brainstorming ways to move it up and under one of the gunwales. Maybe a winter project.

 

The problem with moving your selector switch is, when it rains, the 268's get wet under gunwales toward the rear of the boat.

My switch is always set to "ALL" and I never change it. With new batteries and keeping an eye on DC usage, you should never get them too low to start the motor.

Also, adding an on-board battery charger/maintainer is less expensive in the end and a better option. Your batteries will always be on full and you basically will be converting your DC lighting to 110v AC by using the on-board charger/maintainer.

With an on-board charger/maintainer, you can leave your selector switch to "ALL", always have a full charge in the batteries, and never have to go into the engine room to turn the switch on.

I ran a set of 110 wires from my plug under the dinette, to an outlet I mounted at the back of the boat. I then fed the charger plug wire up to the new outlet and plugged it in. Done.

 

I moved mine to where all the wires run up from the bilge to the deck on the starboard side. The little compartment with the door. I also put the breaker switch for the windlass in there too. Mine was located on the port side, as mentioned above, where the carpeted section slants rearward and it was basically upside down and was a pain to see. If I get a chance I will take some pictures.

 

I never thought of that location for the switch but that is a great idea. Did you need extra cable? What guage cable did you use. I understand the two ables running to battery and how that hooks up but is it just one more cable running to alternator?

I moved mine to where all the wires run up from the bilge to the deck on the starboard side. The little compartment with the door. I also put the breaker switch for the windlass in there too. Mine was located on the port side, as mentioned above, where the carpeted section slants rearward and it was basically upside down and was a pain to see. If I get a chance I will take some pictures.

 

I too, am planning to move my switch. Someone suggested that I use "welding cable" of the same gauge as the battery wire because it's more flexible. My concern is the elements of salt water....

 

I had barely enough wire. The wire size is 2 AWG which is what the boat came with. The cable running to the alternator should be coming off of the starter. The only thing I have running to the switch is the cables from the battery banks and then from the switch to the starter. You could mount your battery charger leads to the switch also, but I have mine running to the batteries.