terry_thatcher
Terence Thatcher
An issue has arisen among friends, How important is tinned copper wire on a boat? ABYC does not require it, but recommends it. Practical Sailor says as long as the end fasteners are covered in shrink tubing, it is not critical. When I add or replace wire, I always buy the tinned wire at a chandlery. Perhaps more important for my 43 year old Morgan, I think Morgan did NOT use tinned wire. If I cut or open some of the original wiring, it has turned black. But everything on my boat still powered with the original Morgan wire still works fine, including the things where I have seen black copper . Of course, nothing on the boat using untinned wire draws many amps. On the stuff that does, like the windlass and the Lectra San sewage treatment system, all the wire is massive tinned cable. For the water-maker and fridge, it is high quality tinned wire. I know some have rewired their boats, but except for the bow red/green that had bad splices, I have never had a problem. Comments and advice welcome. Thanks.