Cable tidying

[Dan Gurney]

My control cables are running across the deck from the console to the engine. The previous owner, who rigged it himself, cable tied them together but the ties move along the cable meaning that they are all splayed out now and therefore more difficult not to stand on.

I'd like something to keep them all bound up together and possibly afford them some protection, preferably without having to disconnect them all. I was thinking spiral wrap, perhaps the heavy duty kind used on plant equipment to protect hydraulic hoses but I've only been able to find it for sale online in 20m rolls.

Has anyone any experience doing something similar, or idea for solutions that might work. The cheaper the better; I seem to spend money faster in the off season that I do when I'm putting fuel in the thing!

[ScubaBoy]

You can get flexible conduit of various diameters that is split already, just slip over the wires/cables: Split Convoluted Sleeving - Electrical Equipment for Boat, MotorHome & Caravan Owners

Regards

Scubaboy

[scubaqua]

At a proffesional fishery store (where they sell stuff for fish trawlers) I bought a "water hose" with a diameter of 2".
Cut it open in the length and put it around the cables. Works great...

[Chris Caton]

flexible hose from a garden centre / pond supplier, just split the hose to get it over, it will close up on itself soon enough n just put a cable tie on the ends to keep it neat

or if you really want cheap, get some strong whipping twine, tie it off on one end to bind everything together, then just go along the length of your cables etc doing a half hitch every 75mm or so, then tie it off at the other end, keep it tight n job done

[hadd]

Originally Posted by Clamchowder

My control cables are running across the deck from the console to the engine. The previous owner, who rigged it himself, cable tied them together but the ties move along the cable meaning that they are all splayed out now and therefore more difficult not to stand on.

I'd like something to keep them all bound up together and possibly afford them some protection, preferably without having to disconnect them all. I was thinking spiral wrap, perhaps the heavy duty kind used on plant equipment to protect hydraulic hoses but I've only been able to find it for sale online in 20m rolls.

Has anyone any experience doing something similar, or idea for solutions that might work. The cheaper the better; I seem to spend money faster in the off season that I do when I'm putting fuel in the thing!

Spiral Cable Wrap, Loom & Cable Management, Cable Tidy | eBay I used this stuff on my last rib it take a bit of time putting around the cables but does a great job of holding them all together

[jambo]

Originally Posted by hadd

Spiral Cable Wrap, Loom & Cable Management, Cable Tidy | eBay I used this stuff on my last rib it take a bit of time putting around the cables but does a great job of holding them all together

Yea that's what Ribcraft use

[hadd]

Originally Posted by jambo

Yea that's what Ribcraft use

it's great stuff billy

[HUMBER P4VWL]

If not using spiral, careful with trimmed cable ties around split hoses on deck. May as well have razor blades lying around if people are barefoot in nice weather!!

[scubaqua]

So: don't trim cable ties.....than they ar not sharp, because of the flexibility. Only disadvantage: doesn't look so nice, but nobody gets hurt.

[Dan Gurney]

Think I'll get some of that spiral wrap. Thanks for the input guys.

[boristhebold]

Go to a place which sells ponds and equipement, they will have large roles of great conduit of different diametres, you can then spec what length. probably cheaper than a chandlers and just as good.

[9D280]

I used "Copex" - but to make it a little less trip hazard-y I used 4x 30mm dia runs which I then tie wrapped together with the ratchettuy bity hiding i nthe recess o nthe underside.

This method has 2 advantages:
1) I could group the cables to gether in "destination" bundles, thus keeping them enclosed for as much of the run as possible. (my A-frame cables the copex is stuffed up the bottom of the frame pipe so is totally enclosed the whole way)
2) across the floor I had a 30mm high x 120-ish mm wide "flat" cable run instead of the 3" diameter trip hazard you get sticking miles off the floor with one big one.

....and Copex (other brands are available!) is avaialble at a sensible price from any electrical wholesaler.