Normal to have electrical wires in the bilge?

[hpeer]

I’ve done a cair bit of underground electrical work. Believe me running electrical line in meet environments is a normal practice, unavoidable. As long as you retain cable sheath integrity it should no be a problem. Splicing first wet/underwater locations needs to be done carefully, but is done routinely.

[Mike Banks]

Some wiring in bilges is unavoidable. Anything beyond the leads to individual equipment ought not to be found in bilges.

[ttex]

If it bothers you make it neater. Otherwise go worry about something else. I PROMISE you there is a bigger issue somewhere else.

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by pallantejm

I've recently purchased a new boat and the previous owner had the electrical wiring down in the bilge area. The electric toilet cable, fish finder, and bilge pump wiring can be seen in the image.


Curious as to if this is normal and if there is any advice to make this neater. Where should wiring ideally be placed/ran throughout the boat? Can this current setup cause any damage in the long-run?

Definitely not ideal.

Per ABYC, any wiring in the bilge to safety equipment must have waterproof connections.

Ideally, where ever practical, all wiring is above the height of the battery terminals, where ever possible and safety equipment (comms and nav lights) I is connected to an emergency battery, high in the vessel, that can remain operational despite a significant flooding event.

[Knotical]

All the grounding wires on our boat are routed and attached to a keel bolt in the bilge which has some water and the wires are immersed, transporting electricity from lightning rather than our 12v system.

Bilge pump wire is attached to the top of the pump and is not immersed.

The rest of the wires don't go through the bilge.

Depth and speed transducers are below the shower grate and that area is usually dry.

[captchetco]

Whether in the bilge or out make sure you use marine rated wire. Auto wire will start having problems in wet locations very quickly, and in "dry" starting in about 2 years. Auto wire does not have to have vapor proof insulation, and its larger diameter conductors develope surface cracks, which allow corrosion easier. Indeed some auto wire does have vapor proof insulation, but there is no way to tell unless it has a marine rating. Costs more.