1998 221 DCX rocker switch panel?

[Dougs97221]

I’ve have bought my first Champ this month. I’m actually resurrecting a 1998 221. Gauges and rocker switch’s robbed along with most everything else.
I am in need of some help with the rocker switch panel. It looks like there were lights to indicate they were active beside each switch but not for sure. I have to replace the original panel and would like to stay pretty close to original.
Also the the wiring is a mess, any diagrams or schematics would be nice if they exist.
Thanks

[Tx Champ]

Might check with Carol at C&O Marine on the switch panel. C&O bought all of Champion's new old stock when they shut down the Mountain Home plant and moved everything to Murfreesboro, TN after the Genmar acquisition. If she can't help, Mark Major (Major Manufacturing on Facebook can make the panel. Switches can be obtained from Rocker Switch Pros, but they are not all the same. I'll see what I have for wiring on a 98 model. I don't recall seeing any panels with lights beside the switches. What you're seeing is probably breakers with rubber covers. If any of the switches were lit, it would be the switch itself. If you don't have a picture, you might start asking for one here and if you're on any of the Facebook Champion groups.

[Dougs97221]

Your probably reading right about the holes being for fuses. I’ll try to take a pic and post it.
thanks

[Dougs97221]

I meant breakers instead of Fuse.

[Tx Champ]

I've got a soft copy of a 98 manual but whoever scanned it, did a piss poor job and the schematics are unusable. I'll keep looking.

[Dougs97221]

Thanks
let me know if you find anything.

[trashmanssd]

The wiring in those older Champions look intimidating but can be greatly simplified. I cut out 90 percent of the wiring from my brothers 1999 191 Champion and re did all the wiring my self. Only wiring I left was the nav and Anchor light wiring, fuel gauge wiring. Gray wires go out to your nav and anchor lights, brown wires go out to your bilge and livewell pumps, blue wires go to cabin and dash lights, pink is fuel gauge, orange is power feed to a specific item after a switch. The wire feed from the motor should go to the ignition and you can look up those color codes by your motor brand. they only got to ignition and a few gauges and to kill switch very basic. a little research and patience you can do this your self.

[trashmanssd]

I bought the switches for my brothers boat from New wire marine (link below), they can also make a custom plate for you if you give them the measurements and what you need. I got the custom laser etched Contura V backlit rocker switches, they look amazing and are easy to read and understand what the switches are for. From a quick search I think you have same set up as my brothers boat with a row of switches and circuit breakers beside the drivers seat. if thats so I can get you a picture of his to see what it looks like and what switches you will need.


https://newwiremarine.com/

[Tx Champ]

Doug, you don't want to go cutting out wiring.

[trashmanssd]

Doug, you don't want to go cutting out wiring.

Yes, you do not need to go removing a bunch wiring it was what I did as I have a lot of knowledge of 12 volt wiring. The place TxChamp posted for the Plate looks awesome and the rocker switch places looks like same product from a different supplier. I Should have said if the wiring is a mess to the point that it has you questioning is its repairable there are ways to fix it or replace it. New wire Marine can make you a custom plate and put the switches in it and they will prewire all of the switches so that all you have is a couple of labeled leads coming off it to attach to the boats wiring. Post a few pictures of you switch panel area and the current state of the wiring.

This is some of the options from newwire marine. Fully wired isn't cheap I am sure.

[Tx Champ]

...Fully wired isn't cheap I am sure.

I'm sure it's not, and they have good intentions but I have one sitting on my bench they wired for a 210 that I'm having to rewire because it's not going to work they way they wired it which was without a schematic of the wiring harness.

[trashmanssd]

Tx Champ sounds like you know a ton about boat wiring as I do. I am currently fixing a hot mess of bad patch work of previous peoples work on an acquaintances new to him 1998 Nitro. Fixing a lot of wiring and removing a lot of leftover transducers and wiring from previous electronics. Also replacing and repairing the livewell pumps and valves and hoses.

[Tx Champ]

I've got a little over 45 years in electronics, analog, digital and RF circuits. Retired in 2018 and I was building the rocker conversions for Champion's MegaLink systems in my garage until I went back to work full time in Aug of 2020. When I retire again, I'll probably go back to building the conversion kits.

R&B Switch Panel Rear-a.jpg R&B Switch Panel-a.jpg R&B Bow Panel Rear-a.jpg R&B Bow Panel-a.jpg R&B Breaker Panel Rear-a.jpg R&B Breaker Panel-a.jpg Harness-a.jpg

[trashmanssd]

Thats some beautiful work.

[Tx Champ]

Thats some beautiful work.

Thank you!