My 1970 came from the factory with non tin and most is a ok still. I would use regular wire and use the liquid tape on the conections and you will be fine.

Mike

Mike,
I was thinking mine is mostly wired with non tinned also, but wanted to look before I made that statement. I know a bilge pump I added aft by rudders is non tinned.

Roger

Marine grade wire usually has more strands, to enhance flexibility, as well as the tinning. A Marine friend that worked on choppers said that tinning, in the USMC, was verboeten. Theory being that tinning stiffens the wire and causes thw wires to break where the non-tinned meets the tinned wire.

That said I've done what Doc is considering but I only tinned back as far as the crimp on connector. I used some marine grade on my long runs but THHN elsewhere our wires are stiffer and, I think, less likely to work themselves to a stress break. (Now Doc behave, I know what you might make out of that last sentence) Supporting the wire close to the terminal will also reduce the wire motion that would lead to the strands breaking.

Check out DelCity for wire prices, their website is a bit difficult but prices reasonable and shipping is from Wisconsin.

Crimping wire ends has changed in the past few years. Crimp fittings can now be purchased pre-loaded with dielectric compound. So many people want to add high powered sound amplifiers to their boats that require 4 gauge wire for power supply. Getting a good crimp connection on this size wire usually means having a crimper that can be squeezed in a vice or pounded with a hammer. Usually, I let the supplier crimp the ends on the wire, but it makes for a little messier installation because the length of the wire is not down to the inch -- sometimes off by a foot or more, and hopefully too long.

Recently, Harbor Freight had a hydraulic crimper on sale for $50 that could crimp 0 to 8 gauge fittings with lots of force. I was thinking about buying one of these, and wondered if anyone on here has used one or has one. MY concern is that a hydraulic tool might corrode and not work in a few years, while the mechanical vice crimpers seem to always work. Jeff, any experience on this?

Paul

For what it's worth -

I'm an electrician, by trade, and I never use THHN or TW wire on boats. And I'm sitting on a LOT of it, believe me. Just not worth it. In addition to the flexibility that marine wire provides, it also carries more amperage. I would, however, consider welding wire...

Also - After crimping my ends (with a crimper), I solder anything #6 or larger - easy enough to do, with a torch and a little patience. Just heat up the crimp end until the solder sucks in a bit. Then shrink wrap the wire to the fitting.

John

Similar characteristics to marine wire, in strands and flexibility.

Even in fresh water, I would used tinned wire - it is a lot easier to solder. Welding wire is bad on boats because it is not tinned and the little wires corrode very quickly. Even if it is tinned, the flexibility is not needed, better to use regular stranded wire.

You can get marine grade wire fairly cheaply. Try Skycraft in Orlando, www.skycraftsurplus.com . They have actual marine wire for $1.65/foot, http://skycraftsurplus.com/wire.aspx?page=3