Spare fuses.....do I need them aboard? Which ones?

[tmh]

OK, my boat isn't here so I can't check the fuses right now, but maybe it's an easy question for someone who knows about such things. I have a 1985 Mark Twain 19' w/ a 305 mercruiser I/O. I do not know if the panel fuses are specific to Mark Twain or are the same as any Mercruiser from that period. I know there are several fuses on the instrument panel, one cuts power to the engine (learned th hard way) and I assume the others are for various other electrical circuits and guarge. I do NOT know if they are all the same fuse type or all different.

How do i figure out what I need onboard for spares? DO I need them at all? Are they easy to get for a 22 yr old boat?

I know this would be easier if I had my boat out of storage, but unfortunately it snowed another foot here over the weekend so it ain't coming out any time soon! Thanks for helping on limited info!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Spare fuses.....do I need them aboard? Which ones?

DO I need them at all?

ya'll only need em if they blow. as apperently ya've found out. and if ya don't have a spare and need one, yer sol. as for which ones. yer gonna have to be with the boat i think..i'd just take a few out and see what ya got , then go get some of the same ones at the parts store.......i could be wrong, but can't imagein they're anything special......just get the same ampeage ones ya got now. assuming the right one (amerage) is in there now.... if yer in question as to weather it's the right one, yer gonna have to find that out in a book on yer perticualr rig......as i'm trying to help pretty genericly speaking......at least ya got a fuse panel so it should be easy to take em out and see em.....i'm envious. i don't have a fuse panel......

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Spare fuses.....do I need them aboard? Which ones?

The question is what caused the fuse to pop.

 

[imported_airxsteel]

Re: Spare fuses.....do I need them aboard? Which ones?

Puddle Jumper is exactly right. Fuses don't just blow for no reason. Something is causing a fuse to blow, and that means usually faulty wiring or issues with the wiring and electrical system.

Track it down and see what the root problem is, otherwise, your going to have constant issues and it may come back to haunt you while your on the water.

I don't have a fuse panel either. That would be nice.
Make sure you get the right size fuses too. If you get a larger size and something is causing an issue, you might burn a motor up or catch something on fire.

Be sure to have a good fire extinguisher onboard as well, you never know.

 

[tmh]

Re: Spare fuses.....do I need them aboard? Which ones?

Thanks. I didn't actually blow one...my son was fiddling around with the switches (trying to get the radio on) and accidentally got one loose. It took me an hour to figure out why the boat wouldn't start back up....that's when I found out I had fuses.

So, good news is this is just for 'in case" one blows or breaks. Sounds like that shouldn't happen often or at all unless there is a problem. I may still grab a few spares for whichever circuits i need to get back to the dock. Things like the radio, etc. can go dead without stranding us on a lake!

 

[arthat]

Re: Spare fuses.....do I need them aboard? Which ones?

Perhaps it would be wise to have someone you trust and knows a bit about electrical sys. to go over the boat with you, record the type and amperage of each fuse. Keep the info. in a safe place for future reference. Then purchase a few spares of each type and amperage so in the event you "blow your fuse" on the water, you'll be able to get back to shore. Also the trusted person you choose to explain the elect. sys. to you can give some expert advice as to what to look for and how to trace back to the problem. I took this action early on and it has saved more than one good boating day.

Successful Boating,

Ar