I have a 1999 19' Pro Gator that I bought used around 15 years ago. It came with a flasher in the bow, eagle finder helm and a 12/24 65lb trolling motor. Good stuff for its day.
Jump to more recent years, replacing troller with a terrova 80lb, hds 7 gen 3 vs eagle, added a radio, added usb chargers, higher gph pumps...etc, I started noticing odd behavior, for instance, the hds 7 would randomly freeze or reboot(hot to the touch), radio gets hot and shuts off, usb randomly stop charging and random fuses blowing. Trolling motor will trip breaker if I run it long on high. Higher gph pumps didn't see much better even with bigger hoses and boat exit bung.
Not all the time, but often enough to be frustrating almost always later in the day.
Added 24v and 12v gauges last year to monitor voltages and both are at the bow, farthest away from batteries. What I found that if I turned on the livewell pump while the radio and hds is running, the gauge would drop over a volt. Later in the day it would drop 2 volts. For instance 12v to 10v.....not good. Or if I ran bilge and aerator together...
I like to fish from can't see to can't see, couple of trips a month. Not a tournament guy, but fun, chill, just happy to be on the water, unwind stress type fishing. Random, intermittent issues kinda take away from the stress relief.
It's time to do some electrical updates as the old wiring just can't supply the power needed to keep everything happy. Not to mention, not safe. Soapbox: Check your fire extinguisher.
Boat really needs carpet, but will have to push to next year. Feel electrical is now a priority. Soooo... bought a bunch of updates.
Replacing 8awg with 6awg for terrova with new 60amp breaker, had the old thermal type.
Re-purposing 8awg for power to new fusepanel and bow with new 60amp breaker.
3 new batteries with new connections and safety covers(didn't have before)
Terminal blocks and some hdpe boards that I will cut up for mounting. Using terminal blocks instead of butt connectors
New rocker covers as most have lost their print
New speakers
Copper dremel brushes to clean all connecting points, switches, gauges...etc. Don't want to grind them, just clean up surfaces.
Dielectric grease, THIN layer on connections to keep the corrosion down.
New ring and spade terminals for everything, they have glue lined 3:1 heat shrink
12awg wiring for most everything, switch jumpers, gauges...etc. overkill, I get it.
Td;Dr I'm updating electrical....would like to share that adventure