Wiring on 190 Bay from bow lights

[GSmith]

I just spent the day trying to run trolling motor wires form the bow to the rear batteries on my friends 190 Bay. We got wire fished from the rear of the boat to the center console. however were unable to feed wires from the bow thru the tube containing the bow light wires and trim & tilt wires that go to the center from the bow. We kept hitting a block around the bait well. Trying to get rid of the front trolling batteries and just use the rear two to operate the motor. Anyone know what to do, besides pull the center console out?
My friend wants to cut an access port on the right side of the console toward the front to see where the tube that contains these wires is.

[sritz05]

Yes I performed the same task on my 190 what a pain. I ended up running heavy 6ga and several 10 and a pair of 8's. I fished from the front and ended up taking out the guide tube from the front and replaced it through the foam with three pieces of the 1 " poly irrigation tubing it took my son and myself better than three days to accomplish this mod. I ran large wires for my 36 101 rip tide. When you fish from the front you must select the correct tube I think there was two one into the front battery compartment and the other went to the front of the bait tank. The person with the longest and smallest arms available will be your greatest friend as the fish when going in from the front will be at the (looking forward) right side of the bait tank and it make a sharp bend. I ran the wires from the back to the front out the fuel boot smaller ones. I then fished up through the access hole next to the bait tank and then into the tubes I bet we used a quart of dish soap in the process but with a lot of effort all went as planed. I now am glad I ran the extras as I have started putting in plunger type leds in all of my hatches and the bait well to boot. If you are wondering the extra wires are for my Tow charging system I made that keeps my 4 bank battery system fully charged while I trailer to my locations. I think I have some Pic's in the photo gallery section sritz05 if not I may have some at the home site if needed.

[Smitty]

I just spent the last week-end running wire from the stern to the front trolling motor so I can use battery 2 and charge it while running! The fist thing you need to do is run the wire fish from the back to the front, that way it will be easier for the fish to make a 45 degree bend through the large PVC pipe pipe at the console, and fish the wires to the center console. Unfasten the gray floor plates in the console for easy access. This is a 2 step process, wires to console and console to bow. Once there,,,sit down, drink a beer, and look very closely at the center console, AND RESIGN YOURSELF THAT IT HAS TO BE REMOVED!!!! Once you have done that, remove the cooler seat and purchase 8 2" 7/16 stainless screws (not phillips, bolt heads, screwdriver doesnt fit good here!) with plastic washers (good for waterproofing), you will never tighten the old bolts from the bottom. Remove all screws from the center plate to the back of the floor. Remove all screws from the baitwell. This will take 2 people, disconnect the gas line and vent clamps clamps. Pry up the gray floorplate to be able to access the 4 screws that hold the center console on. There is a lot of rule there holding the console there, so I took an old drill bit and kept drilling away at it until enough of it was removed to get a 24" pry bar under it and pop it loose. Take a break here, and have another cool one. 2 of you lift up the console until the fuel hoses seperate, and set the console back enough to give you access to the front of the bait well and be able to grab the wire fish that you ran from the bow through the tube. THat's it, run the wires from the console to the tube in front of the baitwell with the fish. Put the boat back together, and all done!! 2 of us did this whole job in about 4 hours last weekend this past week-end, we also moved the cooler/seat back 1.5 inches so the ridge around the cooler doesn't hit my calf,,it is way more comfortable this way. Once you resign yourself to the fact that the console HAS TO BE REMOVED. things will go a lot easier!!! You can run a wire fish all day, and all you will do is hit the bottom front of the baitwell!! Hope this helps, I'm using my front holder as a cooler/fishbox,,only have 2 batteries in the stern (instead of 2 in front and 2 in back because I can't charge them) and can keep # 2 battery (trolling motor) charged while running!!! GREAT MOD!!!

[JR_Gar_Fisher]

This can be accomplished without removing the console/bait well. It just takes a few more “cold ones”. I ran my TM battery charge wires and an extension cable for a bow mount locator. It is however not so much fun. I began by cutting the end off my fish tape and covered the sharp end with electrical tape. Also a little bend about ½” from the end will help get it by the bait well. Once it is pushed through from the bow and hits the bait tank you just have to push hard. The fish tape will curl around in the area under the bait well access cover. You will have to use a bent coat hanger or wire to hook it and pull it out the opening. Start by running a string only and do all the pulling from the bait well opening. The transducer cable has a big connector so I ran it first and pulled back another string for the charge wires. I spliced the charge wires in the console. Stealth on the run chargers “ROCK”!!!!! I never have to plug in.
At this point I would usually say “Luck and beers” but you have been there already!
JR