access wire harness to starboard navigation light

[craigdouglas]

I have Maxum 3200 src and my starboard navigation light stopped working and once we took it apart we found one of the wires was broken inside the boat. We need to access the wire harness which is located on the starboard side at the top above the bow bunk. IT is behind a wood cover and we can feel the screws but they are under the leather cover. I don't want to damage the leather cover but I do need to remove the wood strip covering the harness. Suggestions please.

[shrew]

What is the distance from the helm to the light? Can you simply use the old wire to pull a new wire? These things are usually the result of corrosion, not a parted wire.

[craigdouglas]

It is about 14 feet. The wire harness in behind wooden strip which totally finished with leather so you must remove the wooden strip which covers the harness channel. How do I remove the wooden cover over the harness channel without damaging the leather cover? The screws under the leather cover.

[shrew]

If that is the marine leather upholstered panel that covers the transition from the hull to the deck (right above the porthole for the settee).....then....on my 2800, that was screwed through the rub rail into the back of the panel to mount it.

The only way to remove it would be to remove the rub rail cover, then unscrew the wood screws. Then caulk and re-screw when done. Otherwise, you're going to need to destruction rip it from it's installation from the inside.

That is why I suggested either using the existing wire to back-pull (pipe dream since it is likely fastened with wire ties. The other option is to use fishing tape.

If you look at a few pics online for various models, they all look similar. There is going to be 2 bulkheads between the helm and the light. It is either running overhead through the head, or behind the locker behind the toilet. Technically, you could run a new circuit anyway you want. The overhead portion looks like the side deck above. I'd pull that locker and see what's behind it.

[craigdouglas]

Originally Posted by shrew

If that is the marine leather upholstered panel that covers the transition from the hull to the deck (right above the porthole for the settee).....then....on my 2800, that was screwed through the rub rail into the back of the panel to mount it.

The only way to remove it would be to remove the rub rail cover, then unscrew the wood screws. Then caulk and re-screw when done. Otherwise, you're going to need to destruction rip it from it's installation from the inside.

That is why I suggested either using the existing wire to back-pull (pipe dream since it is likely fastened with wire ties. The other option is to use fishing tape.

If you look at a few pics online for various models, they all look similar. There is going to be 2 bulkheads between the helm and the light. It is either running overhead through the head, or behind the locker behind the toilet. Technically, you could run a new circuit anyway you want. The overhead portion looks like the side deck above. I'd pull that locker and see what's behind it.

Thank you for the information and suggestions. I wonder how they installed the the screws under the upholstered panel. I would just like to remove the panel and their would be easy access to the wire harness.

[shrew]

IF they screwed from the inside, then they did so before they upholstered that piece. If you're absolutely certain the screws are under the upholstery (which would make more sense to me than how they did in my boat), then you could do the following:

1) Cut an extremely small slit to expose the screw heads.

2) Remove the screws

3) remove the panel.

4) When reinstalling, use screw caps.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=marine+up...ref=nb_sb_noss

There are many kinds to choose from. This should cover the slits you made and still provide a somewhat finished look.

[craigdouglas]

Originally Posted by shrew

IF they screwed from the inside, then they did so before they upholstered that piece. If you're absolutely certain the screws are under the upholstery (which would make more sense to me than how they did in my boat), then you could do the following:

1) Cut an extremely small slit to expose the screw heads.

2) Remove the screws

3) remove the panel.

4) When reinstalling, use screw caps.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=marine+up...ref=nb_sb_noss

There are many kinds to choose from. This should cover the slits you made and still provide a somewhat finished look.

Shrew,

Thank you for all your your time and suggestions. I will review all your suggestions and it sounds like this is going to be a winter job. Maxum doesn't make the simple repair of a wire easy. I will have research whether fishing a wire is possible. I think we can feel the screw heads through the upholstery but I prefer not to damage the upholstery. A friend suggested that that when the boat was manufactured all harneses were placed and then whole top of boat was installed. I guess this is possible. Thank again for all your help.

[yahoo82]

Sounds like there’s a good chance they were screwed on from the back through the rubrail. I’m not familiar with your boat, but if you do find buried screw heads and need to poke a small hole, you may find these could be used to cover it. They just snap onto a standard screw-in snap head.

https://www.greatlakesskipper.com/search/?q=Snap+covers

[mmwjr]

Yes the lower and upper hulls sections are wired before joining them together. Most other things such as deck fittings are also installed prior to joining as well. If you can get a small blade behind the panel you can cut the screws off then use Christmas tree pegs to reinstall.

https://www.amazon.com/Buy-Auto-Supp...435177658&th=1

[craigdouglas]

Originally Posted by yahoo82

Sounds like there’s a good chance they were screwed on from the back through the rubrail. I’m not familiar with your boat, but if you do find buried screw heads and need to poke a small hole, you may find these could be used to cover it. They just snap onto a standard screw-in snap head.

https://www.greatlakesskipper.com/search/?q=Snap+covers

Unfortunately there is foam(thick) then the upholstery.

Thanks again

[geoffm70]

The wires run behind the trim in the cabin. That trim is held on by screws through the rubrail. Every 3rd screw I think goes longer into the trim.