[C320-list] Wiring and power on old 320

[Nicholas Ward]

We have old 320 (1993).  We've had a lot of trouble with engine starting
and after replacing just about everything related to ignition we still
have problems.  A good boat electronic guy and a good deisel mechanic
told us our problem is with insufficient wiring (curiously our surveyor
said the wiring was ok).   We have a brand new starter battery and two
huge truck batteries but.. They are on the starboard side, far from the
engine.  The wiring is ?2g (about as thick as a #2 pencil).  It takes
all the batteries to start the engine.  We have now begun the task of
re-wiring and have (at least) 3 questions for the group.
1. what route do your wires take from battery to panel?  Our house
batteries appear to go forward into the V berth, then up the starboard
wall then dissapear somewhere. Its got to be like 30 feet of wire to get
to the panel.  Our starter batter cable also appear to take some crazy
route back into the aft cabin wall. I would hav ethough they would just
run under the cabin floor. 
2. As one solution we are contimplating moving the starter battery back
to the engine so it only has a short cable distance.  Has anyone ever
done that?
3.  Given the monstrous length of cable , what guage do you all use?

Nick
(almost named) #1