I woke up early this morning and decided to install the aux trim switch I bought not long ago. Like we're supposed to I store my boat with the drive down which means to move it I must raise the drive. I guess I'm getting older and fatter and it's just getting harder to climb up the side of the trailer to reach the trim control at the helm. I got this switch from Bass Pro Shops http://www.basspro.com/Transom-Trim-Control/product/1154/59036, partly because I had enough Bass Pro points to pay for it and partly because I just like the way it looks. I was slightly surprised by how large it actually is (see last pic) but I do believe that it is appropriately sized, any smaller an it would be too fragile I think.
Install was super simple, took longer to round up my tools for the job.
1) Locate a spot. I chose this spot on the port side opposite the gas fill (see pics 3 & 4). It is a flat spot that's easy to get to both inside and out. It's also right above the trim pump.
2) Drill the hole for the wires, then fish the wires trough the hole and mark the screw/bolt holes. Now you can drill the bolt holes.
3) Mount the switch. The switch comes with crappy black aluminum screws. I got stainless steel bolts (also had SS screws in case I wasn't able to bolt it on). I put locktite on the bolts and sealed the penetrations with silicone.
4) Locate and connect wiring. With the location I chose the pump and wires were directly under the switch. The switch comes with 18" leads and I was able to connect them to the wires coming from the pump. It took just a bit to figure out which wire was what. I simply cut them and touched them together, you have a hot wire, an up wire and a down wire.
The first picture is to show the tools I used. Not too involved and I did the whole thing in about 40 minutes, including rounding up the tools.
Next project will be an LED bow light, but I'm still waiting on that part to come in.
P.S. the drill is the admirals, or at least that's what I told her. Funny, I never noticed until now that it still has her maiden name on it.