Basic electronics question from a rookie

[Glock Diver]

So I'm accessorizing my "new" '97 225 Osprey.  I managed to replace the old VHF this weekend, and cut a hole for a surface-mount; also upgraded the 3' antenna to an 8'. My new radio is DSC-enabled, so I've connected it with the Garmin GPS. The Garmin was not hardwired in by the prior owner, so he relied on its battery.

My question-  What's the best place to connect the GPS power?  I do have some basic electronics skills, but no experience wiring a boat. I look under the console, and there's a mass of wires... just not sure which is the best to use.

Question 2- the GPS mount is on top of the helm, and I'm hesitant to drill a hole in the horizontal surface to feed the wires through (figuring rain/water will drip through fairly easily on a horizontal surface). Is there a better place to drill the hole?

P.S.- has anyone noticed that under the Photo Gallery section here on Classic Aquasport, there's a spec sheet or owners manual for just about every AS model except the 225?! What gives! ;)

[MarshMarlowe196]

There might be another way to hardwire your GPS, but I just connected mine directly to the starting battery with terminal rings.  SeaBob would probably know more about your electronics in that particular AS.  As far as where to drill the hole- seems if you drilled a hole anywhere other than the horizontal surface of the console (like a vertical surface), you'd have to run the wire awkwardly.  You could always add a rubber grommet to the wire to keep the rainwater out, and seal it with some 4200 or something similar.

[Capt. Bob]

My question-  What's the best place to connect the GPS power?  I do have some basic electronics skills, but no experience wiring a boat. I look under the console, and there's a mass of wires... just not sure which is the best to use.

Question 2- the GPS mount is on top of the helm, and I'm hesitant to drill a hole in the horizontal surface to feed the wires through (figuring rain/water will drip through fairly easily on a horizontal surface). Is there a better place to drill the hole?

P.S.- has anyone noticed that under the Photo Gallery section here on Classic Aquasport, there's a spec sheet or owners manual for just about every AS model except the 225?! What gives! ;)

You may have a fused buss strip in that mass confusion. It is there for that very purpose. In the older models they used the "Ben Franklin" style glass fuse. One side will have a large gauge red wire bringing power from the battery to the strip on upstream side of the fuses. On the downstream side of each fuse is a screw connection for attaching a power feed (like your GPS) to an accessory. There is usually about 6 connections (sometimes more, sometimes less) for power distribution to various accessories that you might add (VHF radio, lighting, GPS, blender  and so forth). You should also have a ground buss. Same type of strip without the fuses, having a large black wire on the upstream and a series of screw connections downstream for each accessory ground.
Since you have a "newer" Aqua, you may have a different type of fuse panel but the the theory is the same. Post a pic of what you're looking at and we can point it out.

As Bad stated, drilling down from the top just requires a good seal. 3M 4200 or a silicon sealant will work, though the grommet looks "pro".

As far as reference material goes, I'm trying to locate some of the newer material from an Aqua (former) Dealer here in the Panhandle but this stuff is hard to come by.  I'm amazed at the older material that the Mods have posted. That stuff only seems to exist here anymore.

[seabob4]

Glock,
Agree with my friend Bad on the sealing of the hole.  Only needs to be a 1/4" (5/16" to make it easier), and since the antenna can either be flush mounted or mounted in the "mushroom" fashion, I choose the flush mount, hence no grommet needed.

On the backside of your helm there will be a ground buss, and there will be a positive terminal strip.  This strip is fed by a 10GA wire, which is fed from your batt, or batt switch if you have one.  Use a jumper to power up one more slot, then pull your GPS power from that slot on the opposite side.

Your keys are on there way, should be UPS.  I had Proline CS ship them this morn.  You'll see them no later than Fri.

BTW, take a pic of the backside of your helm, and I should be able to walk you through it.

Bad, how is KW doing?  Did you see our new owner just bought Fountain?  OMG, sister companies with Reggie...

Bob C

[MarshMarlowe196]

KW is doing well, comparatively.  They're still in the skrimp and save mode, but it seems the financial noose is loosening a little bit with sales steadily rising, which is good for everyone involved, especially Dear ole' Dad.  KW surprisingly doesn't have a very big dealer network, but pops is working on changing that.

@Fountain-

I was reading something about that actually.  I'm not quite sure how all that worked itself out, but it appears Fountain ended up only having to pay about a 1/4 of the total $ amount they were in the negative.  I'm happy to hear that Fountain survived (for now); they're a good company to work for from what I hear.  In any case, being involved with Reggie and his boats has to be nothing less than exciting  8)  .  I've had the pleasure of meeting him once; great guy.

[Capt. Bob]

P.S.- has anyone noticed that under the Photo Gallery section here on Classic Aquasport, there's a spec sheet or owners manual for just about every AS model except the 225?! What gives! ;)

You mean like this?



Well it's obvious my scanner at work is at best, poor but I tried.
This comes from the 1997 catalog.

[seabob4]

And look, she has the porta-potti option!

I tell you what, that brochure brings back some fine memories...Thanks, Bob

[wingtime]

And look, she has the porta-potti option!

At first I was looking for a porta-potti.... Then I spotted the live well potti  LOL

How did that brown trout get in my live well?!?  LOL

[Capt. Bob]

And look, she has the porta-potti option!

At first I was looking for a porta-potti.... Then I spotted the live well potti  LOL

Wing,
That will work for sure  but look to the right of the well and you can see the "hide-a-way" under the front console seat.

[seabob4]

Believe it or not, AS came out with an "enclosure" that slipped over the opened console seat and draped down around the front of the console to afford some privacy...by the time you got the thing in place and secured, you'd have poop down your leg and in your shoe!  

[Glock Diver]

Capt. Bob- Thanks for sharing!     Now if we could just get a moderator to create an Aquasport 225 section in the Photo Gallery, you'd have a place to post that brochure!
I could only make out some of the fine print/specs on the left side... any chance you could zoom in on that text?
(I did learn that my front bow lockers were actually insulated fish boxes! ...or insulated coolers, more likely.

~~~~~~~~

seabob- I'll get a chance to look for the connections you mentioned sometime this weekend. We have a cold front coming thru SW Florida, and the winds won't make for nice boating, but the nice low temps will make a great weekend for boat projects!    If I can't figure it out, I'll snap a picture and post it.

[seabob4]

Glock,
Waiting for the cool weather ourselves.  Hell, the wife is out on the porch going, "Well?..."

Keys get there yet?  Want to know if they work.

Bob C

[Glock Diver]

Keys get there yet?  Want to know if they work.

Bob C

They sure did!  (Just PMed you).  They look exactly the same as mine, so I think they'll work fine.  One of 'em even had the nice rubberized coating!

Will get a chance to actually try it in the ignition tomorrow.  Probably won't be going out  :( with the small craft advisory in effect, but I'll do a few boat projects in the cool weather.  Unfortunately my boat can't be parked in my driveway here... stupid HOA regulations...  Otherwise, I'd go test 'em now. But they should fit just perfect.  

[seabob4]

Glock,
Didn't check my PMs.  Now, onto the livewell/washdown system.

I've got a seatrial on a Proline 32 Express tomorrow AM, twin 250 Verados.  I shall dress appropriately.  Heading out of Dunedin by Honeymoon Island/Caledesi.  I hope the owners put up the canvas!

Bob C

[Capt. Bob]

Capt. Bob- Thanks for sharing!     Now if we could just get a moderator to create an Aquasport 225 section in the Photo Gallery, you'd have a place to post that brochure!
I could only make out some of the fine print/specs on the left side... any chance you could zoom in on that text?

GD,
I'm pulling out the flatbed scanner I have and will be creating both jpegs and .pdf files of the four catalogs I picked up. Hang tight for a little longer (I'll do the 97 cat first) and I'll burn you a cd. You can then view it on your box with what ever photo editor you have. When I scanned what you see on the Forum, it's compressed so that I can get it to photobucket and then it's reduced again to meet Forum restrictions. Looks bad I know but when viewed with the computer at work, it reads just fine so.....
Hang on, it's coming. I think you'll enjoy reading what was out there in 97.

Currently, the Admins can't (and neither can we members) post to the Photo Gallery. This is a software problem the Forum has been dealing with for some time. Rick wants to post any and all Aquasport related data we can come up with and I just got lucky getting these. So give me a little time and I'll contact you so I can get you this info.

PS.... For anyone else with a "Gen II" Aqua, I currently have a 95, 97 2004 & 2005 catalog/calendar. If interested, give me a PM.