Cables under deck in SR5.4

zubol · 23 March 2010, 14:18

Hello,

Could you please tell me how to put cables (engine cables, fuel cable etc) under deck in my Searider 5.4? Do I need to take all off?
I would like to hide them between engine and steering console.

Thanks,
zubol

chewy · 23 March 2010, 14:22

Has it got a flooding hull?

zubol · 23 March 2010, 14:40

To be honest I do not know the answer for your question.... It's my frist Rib and everything is new for me

If you ask about two holes on the front of the boat, they are closed. (picture)
But the is also a hole on the end which is opened.

9D280 · 23 March 2010, 15:46

Is the hole under the engine for a bung? It looks like it's been blocked (the "as built" is a huge hole in the transom in the area of the grey on your photo. The holes on the front are (were!) to let air in so it drains quicker.

Normally it's either all or nothing in the blockage dept, but a bung there to drain the cavity is a sensible idea.......

How many cables do you have? I use flexible cable trunking and the whole lot runs across the deck at 45 degrees , cable tie'd to the steering column, forms a relatively flat passage. Not tripped over it yet, but not quite figured out what to do with the throttle cables yet........

zubol · 24 March 2010, 10:32

The hole under the engine was made by the previous owner. I do not know for what, but when I remove RIB from the sea, water come out by the cavity.

I have one fat cable with all electrics, 2 cables to gear box and very stiff cable to the steering wheel which probably case the biggest problem to hide.

mdt · 24 March 2010, 12:34

The one thing to keep in mind with the searider is, there are 2 large flotation “tanks” under the deck. One just back from the bow and a larger secondary one at the stern from memory the stern one is about half a meter long and about 15cm deep this runs right along the full width of the hull. So you would be needing to cut into this which if it is a flooding hull is there to provide some back up flotation if the tubes get holed.

You could take the whole deck up and do it from scratch (as I have done) but this was down to the fact that deck was rotten. I would not really say it would be worth the work just to put the cables etc under the deck

Tim M · 24 March 2010, 13:07

Unless you're planning on putting a new deck in I wouldn't recommend putting the cables under the deck; it will be quite tricky. If you do decide to, yes you will need to disconnect everything at either the engine or console end. I would recommend the engine end as it's a bit easier. You may well find that some of your cables aren't long enough if they put them under the deck so you'll need new ones.

I say keep them on the deck. Spiro-wrap will make them look a lot more tidy and keep them all together out of the way

zubol · 24 March 2010, 16:04

thank you guys. It helps me a lot.

9D280 · 25 March 2010, 11:43

It just occurred to me that if you have the "deluxe" version, there is a good chancer your steering tube will be routed along under the stbd ttoob (as my old SR4 was). You can use cabkle ties or spirowtrap top keep everything under there - it doesn't sound great, but kept my deck cable free.

Also FOr your hole in the trransom, I would reccommend either closing it properly with a water tight bung or open it (and the bow holes) back out

MikeH · 25 March 2010, 19:48

We use land drain. The steering cable is attached to the deck along the side under the tubes and the drain is cable tied to this. It's very robust so it does not deform; it's got holes in it so it doesn't hold water and it bends in a nice curve.

It looks big but it never gets in the way and its never been a nuisance.

zubol · 29 March 2010, 10:14

What about under deck fuel tanks? Can I put any of them to SR 5.4 ?

9D280 · 29 March 2010, 10:25

That WILL need the deck removed!

No reason why not - I think someone here has done it before.

Nos4r2 · 29 March 2010, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

That WILL need the deck removed!

No reason why not - I think someone here has done it before.

They probably have, but it's a bit of a waste of time unless you use the whole underdeck space as it's not very big.

Fuel sloshing to the bow is likely to make you stuff quite well too-my hull is sealed and when it got half full of water it was a scary ride when you shut the throttle or crested a big wave.