Running steering cables and wiring harness over a fuel tank

[maineidyl]

While redoing my boat someone indicated to me that some of the newer boats have the steering cables and wiring harness running over the fuel tanks. I figured you could not do this. Is this acceptable or a huge no.
TIA
Tom

[SS Minnow]

While redoing my boat someone indicated to me that some of the newer boats have the steering cables and wiring harness running over the fuel tanks. I figured you could not do this. Is this acceptable or a huge no.
TIA
Tom

Over? Vague term. In my boat if you did not, then there really is no other option.

[maineidyl]

I mean laying on top of the fuel cell. There’s a clear run from under my console to the rear of the boat. Perfect run for my wiring and rigging.
Tom

[XstreamVking]

Run the wires thru some heavy hose like fire resistant fuel feed hose. Still not very good to have it ON the fuel tank but many boats do it. Fairly safe. Steering hose it won't matter. Lay em right on it.....

[Dave Strong]

Alot of wake board and ski boats do it.

Dave

[FUJIMO]

coast guard regs say no on new boat builds. and its a good idea not to. i would never run any hot wires on fuel tanks. the electronic fuel tank senders that require a 12v hot to the sender, i won't use.

[flabum1017]

coast guard regs say no on new boat builds. and its a good idea not to. i would never run any hot wires on fuel tanks. the electronic fuel tank senders that require a 12v hot to the sender, i won't use.

Especially if it's a plastic tank

[Dave Strong]

Especially if it's a plastic tank

We work on lots of Texas built wakeboats, Tigė to be exact, lots run harnesses and cable over plastic tanks. Supra and Moomba are others.

Dave

[flabum1017]

Thing is, people tend to believe it's ok to ignore common sense on stuff. Running anything on top of fuel tanks should be avoided for the simple reason of rubbing/chaffing. There are simple rules of common sense to follow such as not ty-wrapping fuel lines to electrical wires in bilge areas for obvious reasons, protecting against chaffing of the fuel system and location of service parts (like fuel filters) to prevent spillage and fumes in the bilges. I have seen way to many boats rigged in frightening manners.... mostly the position of the spin-on fuel filter.... in a location where it's impossible to change without spilling fuel into the bilge..

Just because a ski-boat manufacturer runs all the wiring, plumbing and steering systems over a fuel tank, that does not make it right; just shows they are too lazy to build a boat with proper rigging tubes to maintain a high grade of safety

[Dave Strong]

Thing is, people tend to believe it's ok to ignore common sense on stuff. Running anything on top of fuel tanks should be avoided for the simple reason of rubbing/chaffing. There are simple rules of common sense to follow such as not ty-wrapping fuel lines to electrical wires in bilge areas for obvious reasons, protecting against chaffing of the fuel system and location of service parts (like fuel filters) to prevent spillage and fumes in the bilges. I have seen way to many boats rigged in frightening manners.... mostly the position of the spin-on fuel filter.... in a location where it's impossible to change without spilling fuel into the bilge..

Just because a ski-boat manufacturer runs all the wiring, plumbing and steering systems over a fuel tank, that does not make it right; just shows they are too lazy to build a boat with proper rigging tubes to maintain a high grade of safety

No it just shows no rules are enforced. I'm not saying it's good just saying it's done and they get away with it.

Dave

[flabum1017]

No it just shows no rules are enforced. I'm not saying it's good just saying it's done and they get away with it.

Dave

True that, I really don't think the Coast Guard does their job on every boat or parts manufacturer. They are supposed to inspect and approve each model boat, but bet they never even see most of them. Take the spin-on fuel filter kit you get from Mercury, OMC, Sierra etc.... there are supposed to be two hose clamps on every fuel lin connection, but the fittings they provide with the kit, you can barely get one hose clamp on. Many boats come through here where you cannot reach many of the sea valves without dis-assembling stuff like exhaust systems and such. There is a lot of poor designs out there that should have never gotten Coast Guard approval.

[XstreamVking]

Coasties are more geared toward homeland security side now. They have machine guns on their boats, not safety manuals. BIA is the governing body and a lot of mfg's are skipping the common sense requirements mandated by the BIA. I still follow the BIA standards when I rig a boat. EXCEPT the check valve in the pickup tube.

[j_martin]

When I first started bass fishing in the 80's, most boats were hay wired in unbelievable ways. Mine as well so I rewired it with proper wire, looms, fuel line separation, and fuses or breakers. Got laughed at when I showed it off at the first Minnesota state tournament I attended......until an expensive boat with uprotected and undersized wiring to the trolling motor and ty-wrapped to the rubber fuel line in the gunwale caught fire, burned to the waterline, and sank.

I had 2 or more boats in my yard getting re-wired for a coupla months.