www.iFourWinns.com

Greetings -- The weather in North East, MD was warm enough this weekend to get into the boat and check out everything. One of my spring project is to add LED lighting to the swim platform. So I want to pull the panel down in the aft cabin to get to run wiring from the stern to the fuse box at the helm. I noticed that one panel in the Aft cabin ceiling has three screws or clips. Anyone know how to get the panel down? I tried to unscrew those three buttons/screws/clips but nothing seem to happen... Before I just yank the panel off and ruin something... How do I get the panel off. This is 2004 268 Vista. Any help would be appreciated.

Scott

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

On my 03 248 I take of the 3 screws and pull down on the panel. Its in there pretty snug but it does come down and that is how you access it.


What type of lighting are you going with and where?

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

Thanks Captwalt... All three of those screws seem to turn but not really go anywhere... Now that I know someone else has unscrewed them I give it another try... and you're right it looks like a snug fit.

Thanks,

Scott

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

Dont mean to ask a dumb question, but did you take the plastic caps off the screw heads? Once you do there is a regular phillip head under in. With them on they just spin and nothing happens.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Do you need to run it through there? In many boats (and I don't know that one) helm wiring is run down inside the gunwales, not usually in the cabin compartment. On the 348 you can get to the gunwale access hole by pulling out the chartplotter and reaching through that hole. I've seen other boats do the same sort of thing by pulling the whole dashboard panel out, with all the gauges and wiring still attached to it. Then you can run the wires back to the stern. Using fiberglass poles (the kind electricians use) makes it a MUCH easier job. They're also good because unlike wire fish tape, they don't rust.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

On the 268, you should just be able to take the throttle off, and fish the wires down and out through the gunwale to the stern. You may be able to do it the same way by just taking off the fuse panel and access it that way. I don't think you need to do anything in the mid berth.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

When I added a depthfinder to my chartplotter, I did all from above, I took out the storage box from under the helm seat, and the dash off. It worked but it was a b*****. Last year I was doing something...cant remember what, and took that same panel down, wow, if I would have known how much easier things would have been, you can get to all the wiring very easily and run up to the dash or fusebox. That panel is easier to take down the taking the box out under the seat IMO.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Thanks for all the advice... I am going to mount four of these lights on each end of the swim platform on the bottom obviously.

http://www.oznium.com/high-intensity-led-floodlight

Or at least that's the plan... then run all the wires together and run one wire to the helm. The use one of the empty switches to turn it on and off.

It seems okay in theory..

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

That was my experience as well when I installed my Amp and Windlass

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

I have a similar project I want to do with underwater lights. Keep us up to date with the install.

Good Luck!

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

Just pull the fuse box out and you should be able to get the wires run to the helm.

Again... thank for the fast and quick response. I'll try to take photo's of the project.

jsimon -- That wasn't a dumb question. I didn't know about it. It makes since now.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

This may be a dumb question but please consider I have not been on a V268. Along the starboard side of the aft cabin (pillow end of berth) isn't there a bulkhead with a storage compartment of some size above the pillow area? In my '03 V298 there is a compartment with a hinged door (flips up). If you remove this compartment (4 screws and it pulls out) you have access from below the helm all the way to the firewall with wire chases through to the engine compartment - all belowdecks. My '95 V278 had a removable access hatch that also gave you access to this area in the same fashion. Now both my boats are twin engine setups, so, again I don't know how your single lays out in comparison. All my wiring from the helm drops down into this area and then proceeds to the rear through this compartment. This would eliminate the need to pull down any ceiling panels and upsetting any trim or fabric. I'm curious to know your layout.

Bob

Hey Beer-garita

The 268 does not have that storage compartment, that is a product of the larger beam of the 2 models you mention, the 268 has a 8'6" beam, just enough for me to lay down in the aft berth at 6'. There is no room for a storage compartment.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

The 268 does have two mid berth storage compartments. They both flip up, but are located closer to the port side under the walkway by the cabin door. We store our cockpit cove in the large one, and towels in the smaller (aft) one. You could get to the engine compartment through the aft one,after drilling a hole, but they are farther away from the fuse panel and helm than the overhead panel or the starboard gunwale.
The other (huge) storage compartment under the mattress in the mid cabin, could possibly be used to run the wires through, and up to the helm, but I think that would be tough to do also.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy