Wire Source

[Hank Kivett]

I am in the process of installing a windlass on my CS 30 and in doing so sat down to estimate the amount of wire that would be need, according to the manufacture of the windlass...#4/#2/#1 gage,...and boy did i get sticker shock...by estimate the total wire cost from one better known marine source was over $1200 dollars. Do any or you know of any wire source or place that sells this. I am just a poor country boy and if this true there may be a windlass for sell on ebay soon.

[djmarchand]

Genuinedealz.com

[sparrowhawk1]

Not to be ironic but look on ebay and also Craigslist. Another option is to put a battery close to the windlass. with lighter wires connected to a battery isolator going to it to keep it charged

[FrankZ]

Originally Posted by djmarchand

Genuinedealz.com

This is my first stop in shopping.

[HopCar]

Hank, I'd like the opportunity to quote you on the wire. If you would email me, through my website, with a list of what you need I'll send you a quote. Let me know your zip code so I can calculate the shipping cost.
www.hopkins-carter.com

[Maine Sail]

Wire prices are all over the map, shop around... I am not a big fan of Cobra but Pacer, Ancor etc. are all decent. I used to love Berkshire wire, was the absolute best, but they are gone....

[JK n Smitty]

I just got some 1/0 AWG Ancor off of Amazon for a project at a good price. But there were 5 different listings and prices ranged from $9/foot to over $20/foot. Same wire from different suppliers on Amazon. Genuinedealz.com is still cheaper but I only need 2 feet for this project. I used them for a larger project I did last year. I didn't like the lugs and ended up buying Ancor lugs. Some of the quality just isn't as good.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by JK n Smitty

I just got some 1/0 AWG Ancor off of Amazon for a project at a good price. But there were 5 different listings and prices ranged from $9/foot to over $20/foot. Same wire from different suppliers on Amazon. Genuinedealz.com is still cheaper but I only need 2 feet for this project. I used them for a larger project I did last year. I didn't like the lugs and ended up buying Ancor lugs. Some of the quality just isn't as good.

I could have dropped two feet of end cuts/scrap in the mail to you.....

[JK n Smitty]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

I could have dropped two feet of end cuts/scrap in the mail to you.....

I appreciate the offer but you already spend enough time helping me between here, Sailboatowners.com and email. Oh and that time I called you.

Besides, I need to save up those favors for when I buy those Solbian panels and try to install them. I am sure I will mess that up and need some help.

Thanks,

Jesse

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by Hank Kivett

I am in the process of installing a windlass on my CS 30 and in doing so sat down to estimate the amount of wire that would be need, according to the manufacture of the windlass...#4/#2/#1 gage,...and boy did i get sticker shock...by estimate the total wire cost from one better known marine source was over $1200 dollars. Do any or you know of any wire source or place that sells this. I am just a poor country boy and if this true there may be a windlass for sell on ebay soon.

I estimate about 70 feet of cable, do you know your windlass current draw? Can I assume 60 amps? If so, you would need a 3/0 gauge cable for this. I wonder why they recommend smaller cable - wouldn't that impact performance?
@ around $8/foot for 3/0 it will be around $560. For a 2/0 it will it be $465.

By shopping around you'll be able to find good prices. My source is Greg's Marine Wire, good prices and good service (no relation).

[Dave852]

I have been buying from bestboatwire.com . Their tinned copper lugs are reasonable as well.

Just checked out Greg's, now I have another source with similar pricing, nice...

[exMaggieDrum]

Marine wire is way way expensive. I don't know of the best place to get discounted wire but there probably sources out there. Whatever you do though, don't scrimp on the wire size by going lower gauge then needed.

[CharlieJ]

And a fine point….
There are two types of AWG wire: Boat Cable and SAE. SAE wire of the same size (e.g., 2/0) has generally about 12% less copper than true Boat Cable.

[FrankSB]

Try elecdirect.com or waytekwire.com
Waytekwire has some minimum quantity restrictions.
I recently purchased HS terminals and split loom from elecdirect, and they sent me a 15% off coupon on my next purchase! With their free shipping and no tax (I am in CA, so I think we are at 9%) I will be buying my SAE and Marine wire there. Waytekwire charges shipping,but their $/per foot is lower.
As an example of how bad buying wire can be, sometimes I get backed into a corner on a job, and need some smallish amount of SAE wire, I run over to my electric "wholesaler" who gets almost exactly 4X what
I pay from an online source. It pays to shop for wire online.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

I could have dropped two feet of end cuts/scrap in the mail to you.....

I got two and a half feet of Trident two-inch corrugated exhaust hose for $13 last week on the same premise: it was the end of the reel and I only needed mixing elbow to Centek. So a good deal was had on both sides.