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I plan to relocate the fuse block on my 97' X. It is currently located just forward of the Mast in the cabin ceiling. I'd like to move it back to the port side just inside the companion way, the way the newer X's are. Has anyone done this? Is there room between the deck and liner to push a fish tape and pll in a few conductors?
Dik...

i did exactly what you are planning. mine is a '97 boat also. i made a custom switchboard from marine plywood with 8 switches + control leds, 5 breakers (if i remember well, my boat is 2 1/2 hours from here and under 1 ft of snow) as well as a vhf main switch and atteries voltmeter. there is plenty of room behind the liner (i located it where you may actually find the black cover plate). i'd consider to mount the switchboard with hinges to have easier acces (i screwed mine in but will modify). provide some moisture protection as you will eventually have some water drip from the winch basement just above. i had this and will mount a piece of plastic at the inside top of the board. new marine sealant on the deck openings (winch base, cleat) and some wd40 spray on the electric parts will also be helpful.

my wire plan: starter battery all aft behind the aft berth close to the transom (previous owners choice to have short cable distance tio the engine). house battery under the cooler next to the cb trunk almost in the center of gravity of the boat. shorepower charger in the head. cables between starter batt, charger and house batt running thru the starboard bilge (both batts are connected via a switch and a west marine combiner).

from house batt to switchboard: i managed to bring a thick speaker wire from starboard to port bilge under the cabin floor. i found a narrow way thru in the very aft corner of the under cooler compartment and could stick my fishtape thru to the other side. other owners on this board did not be so lucky and had to go the longer way thru the stern or bow bilge.

i then routed the wire under the galley sink, there up behind the stringer who forms the cabin top reinforcement and offers you a kinf of cable conduit up to the ceiling liner. i then want back to the switchboard by stuffing the wires behind the liner on the seperation between lower and upper part of the liner. sounds complicated and it is! you'll need a lot of trials and creativity to rewire your mac x!

... but it is worth the effort. from the switchboard to the loads i wnent thru the ceiling liner reniforcement stringers (you know what i mean ?), forward to the old switchboard location and from there up to the mast plug outlet and more forward to the bowlight. i promise you a lot of fun ! be shure to have a good fishtape, talcum, a helping hand and a lot of endurance!

Thanks Norbert,
I was wondering bout using the deck support on the port side for a conduit. Now I know I will. I already found the little chase in the bilge that you mentioned... I never thought about water from the winch though. I may mount mine on the companion way side of the cabin ceiling to stay clear of this.
Give me a good fish tape and 8mm of space and I'll get my wires in.
Dik...

dik, i would not mount it on the companionway side. you will have rain and overcoming sea water there, and in a rough sea you will unintentionally operate the switches with your body when going up or down. although you cannot see the control lights there i'd prefere the inside position.

Good point, thanks...
Dik...

My 2001 has the fuse panel inside the companionway and I added an additional one right next to it. If I had it to do over again, I would locate the new panel on the side of the galley (just over the battery compartment). This is where I installed my "1-2-Both" battery switch and it would be allot easier to run wire to and from that location.

Mine is re-routed to the v-berth's vertical fiberglass panel between the forward dinette seat and the port settee... from there I can see it from the companionway and easily check to see what's on and what's not! My batteries are located just behind the panel, under the v-berth's port side* so the wire run is quite short to the fuses, minimising any fire hazard.

* (I have water tanks under the starboard v-berth which balances things nicely).

Kevin,

You may have squeezed the batteries to port of the ballast vent? ... and the water bag under the forward dinette seat? Or, did you remove some flotation to get both batteries and water supply into the forward compartment under the v-berth? If so, did you try to replace the foam anywhere?

I didn't actually do the modification - it was on the boat when I bought it - but I don't think any floatation was removed, and as I have an early 1998 boat, my vent is under the step - there is no forward vent (yet!). The area used is *just* aft of the bulkhead in front of which the v-berth floatation is located. The water is located similarly, just underneath the forward dinette seat-back. I'll post a couple of pictures that may make it clearer....

Batteries: (... no giggling or finger-pointing, please, these are pics from when I purchased her... I've since upgraded it with a solar controller and am also in the process of upgrading the cheesy wiring as well.)


Water tanks: (two really cheap K-Mart tanks, connected together with tubing and secured via tie-down strap to the bulkhead... note the fill nearby on the seat... I've since added an air vent... these tanks work well, are very inexpensive, and fit beautifully. The demand-pump outlet was disconnected in this picture - I was adding a filter just after the pump.)