Boating Lessons Learned:  Use Wiring Labels

BLUF: When I have to disconnect wiring I like to label both the piece of equipment and the wires so that I can confidently reconnect the wires to the correct terminal.

I am currently working on a project to replace the ignition switch on a boat. At first glance it looked like a straight forward job and it looked like it would be easy to remember which wires go where. But when I began to install the new switch I stripped the terminal screw on the battery connection so I had to leave the job unfinished while I went back to the store to get a replacement switch.

If you look closely you can see the Wire Markers

Well it is now day 2 of the job and I have not gotten back to the store.  But I am confident that I will get the wiring straight because I marked the wires before I took them off.

A pack of wire markers lasts a long time, years in fact, so they are a low cost investment.   The better quality markers run me over $20 per pack but they are worth it compared to the lower cost labels that are available at the big box stores.  They stick better and stay on the wire through heat and rough handling.

I find that the labels pay dividends long after the job is complete.  Years ago I was looking to purchased a boat that was owned by an electrical engineer. He had labeled just about every wire in the boar and had a notebook with sketches to boot.  When I saw all the care he put into organizing the systems I had more confidence that he had maintained the rest of the boat as well.  I did not even dicker with him on the price.  I could see that the boat was well worth the price that he was asking.  I can’t put a dollar value on the impact those labels but it surely was more than the $20 that they cost him.

Boating Lessons Learned:  Use Wiring LabelS

This post is for informational purposes only. The content herein has a single theme: Mistakes …. or as I call them “Boating Lessons Learned”. While there may be elements of this site that appear to be advice about how to do some task you can be assured that it is not a complete and accurate “how to”. I am partially describing how I did something and what I learned. Do not rely on this information because Mcmanusboatworks.com makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and is not liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.