Wiring Diagram for 2002 Explorer 215

[Capt. Bob]

Based on your description- aft bilge, fish box discharge & cooler drain, it seems like I don't have a fwd bilge after all? If this is the case I'm goiing to install one anyways at this point, just because!

Indeed, it does not appear you have a forward bilge but I can't say for sure since I've never seen the inside of the 215 EX hull. That stated, you may not really need the forward bilge. My 91 gets very little use(forward pump) and the forward compartment has been sealed off (by me, not design) and no longer drains to the rear bilge.

Of course you will need a couple of access points (one for the pump and one for the thru hull connection). On the older WACs that is accomplished via the removable panel under the cabin cushion on the starboard side. I'm not sure you have those either.

What is your opinion of the top in the pics? Top too big? just right? goofy?

Top looks good. As SB stated, you'll need to put some time and thought into getting a proper and secure mount.

Good luck.

[seabob4]

Agree with Bob, the top looks good!  Definitely gonna be some adequate headroom under it!

BTW CB, your cabin looks excellent!  

[Capt. Bob]

BTW CB, your cabin looks excellent!  

Your are correct, my cabin is still in very good shape for a 23 year old hull, it's just........
This was the only pic I could come up with to convey the location of the thru hull access and it just happens to be RickKs 230. :o

Both cabins are identical (mine's a tad cleaner ) and both have aged very well.

Thanks.

[Rookie]

We're thinking of trolling the Atlantic vs. drift fishing. Not sure if that would produce more pitch/roll than drifting. I always beleived that ALL boats were too small in the ocean. Aqua-Shade in Sarasota will install a custom half tower (I hear they're called for a cuddy) with a canvas top. It would be lighter up top but end up being $4K when all said and done. Too much scratch. Basically, our current sunbrella bimini looks like a 30 yr old tee shirt that's been washed 500 times. It's sort of held together but you can also see thru it. A new custom one outfitted with a clear windshield will be about $500. We were hoping to leverage that cost against a half tower to help ease the pain.

But this pitch/roll thing is something to consider. Perhaps there are other members out there who have experiencd a before & after half tower effects and chime in.

I think I'm over the fwd bilge thing. Being there's no discharge for it, it seems I don't have one. Besides, I need to replace the macerator pump and that doesn't look fun. Hopefully the wiring will pull out of the pie hole for me to power it with.

Thank you for your input!

[Capt. Bob]

I think I'm over the fwd bilge thing. Being there's no discharge for it, it seems I don't have one.

It took me a while to find this.


This is the starboard side of my 91 WAC. Note the thru hull locations.
The one high in the stern is for the rear bilge discharge.
The one amidships, along the decal(which is just above the waterline at rest) is the livewell discharge.
The forward one is the front bilge discharge.

Note that this bilge discharge is not located as high as the rear discharge. Logic would indicate that the lower mount is due to the fact that a higher mounted thru hull (and hose) would be visible in the cabin. Something to consider if you ever decide to install. You may be able to remove a panel in the cabin and find access higher up and further to the rear so the discharge isn't visible.

Just thoughts.

Good luck.

[Rookie]

Thanks for your continued help!!! Nice looking boat by the way. What size trim tabs do you have? Did you ever redo the upper gel coat or is it original? Ours has some spider cracking that I will need to address later.

I'm going to put this fwd bilge thing on the back burner and focus on other things to get the boat blue water ready. I will be installing my new gauges, electronics, upholstery.....and hopefully the half tower as soon as possible. I will post the before & after photo's when complete. Stay tuned!

[seabob4]

Rookie, just noticed you're in Kissimmee.  Gonna drop her in Lake Toho by chance?  That would be a sight to see, helluva bass boat!

My buddy lived off Boggy Creek Rd., we used to fish Big Lake and East Lake quite a bit...Fell's Cove was a good spot on the eastern shore for bass...  

[Capt. Bob]

Thanks for your continued help!!! Nice looking boat by the way. What size trim tabs do you have? Did you ever redo the upper gel coat or is it original?

My pleasure.

Thanks.

They are 18" x 9" .

No, it's original but it requires work to keep it up. It photographs better than it looks in person.  So do I.

[dburr]

But this pitch/roll thing is something to consider. Perhaps there are other members out there who have experiencd a before & after half tower effects and chime in.

From the looks of the top, you should be adding about 150-200#.  A few more assumptions and a swag or two with a little math and I think you're going to be ok as long as you are not going to be a complete zipperhead and lay side to in a sea that will cause trouble..

If you would like to see what happens with the weight, open a spreadsheet and put some numbers in. Weight, where it is located in the vertical plane (arm)  and multiply the two together to get a moment.  The assumptions. 2000# boat with an arm of 10" gives a moment of 20000.. Put 150# at 72" shifts the arm up about 4". Then put 3 200# people on the deck (15" )and the arm goes down a bit.  50 gallons of fuel at 5" and it will go down even more.. Net change is not that much, so a guess is that you will not notice much of a difference in the way she is going to roll.  

 

If you are going to go through the exercise, remember that you add weights and moments, never add arms.  Just like doing a weight and balance on an airplane.

[Rookie]

Rookie, just noticed you're in Kissimmee.  Gonna drop her in Lake Toho by chance?  That would be a sight to see, helluva bass boat!

My buddy lived off Boggy Creek Rd., we used to fish Big Lake and East Lake quite a bit...Fell's Cove was a good spot on the eastern shore for bass...  

Why yes, I did take it on Toho and was worried the whole time about hitting bottom. We live off Boggy Creek Rd ourselves and Toho is convenient for "mock" sea trials before we take it to blue water next month.

[seabob4]

Too funny!!  I've been in the middle of big lake, halfway between downtown Kissimmee and Southport, hopped over the side to cool off...and been not even chest deep...