My launch may be delayed - marina messed up hatch backfeed

Creekwood · May 17, 2017

What a bummer. My launch may be delayed and its a long weekend coming. I went to do the normal pre-launch routines, but the power backfeed through cigarette lighter to pen the hatch didn't work for some reason. So I tested tried the other outlet in the cabin, and it worked. So far so good. get things set up, and then decide to take a look at that cockpit lighter outlet. I take it out and the ground wire behind it looks burned and it has disconnected. Strange. So I test the wires that feed it (red and ground), and they are shorted (that is, they are connected somewhere in the circuit. Very strange. Off goes the battery switch. Open up the dash switch panel and the entire black (ground) circuit wiring is melted across all the switches and has clearly melted some other wires. Could be a big rewiring needed.

It appears that when they winterized and closed the hatch in the fall, the mechanic must have crossed positive and negative with the back feed cable. No fuse on a negative wire so it put all the power the wrong way. They did not admit to it (yet) and have said they will look at it last week (yes, its now "this week"). First time they have messed something up. I am pretty angry about it, but accidents happen. We'll see. They better not try to blame me (I recommission in the spring).

On a related note, once they get this fixed, I am going to install a fuse on the ground wire behind the socket. Normally not needed since the fuse is only needed on the power in side. It would have saved all of this if there was one on that line. I don't know why Sea Ray would not do this on all boats where backfeeding is part of the routine for closing the hatch in winter.

skibum · May 17, 2017

Now that stinks. I sure hope the mechanic / marina steps up and makes things right for you.

When sizing that fuse, you need to keep in mind that the ground wire needs to be able to handle the entire current load from all of the circuits that it is providing the ground to (and that can be in use at the same time). It might have to be to be a fuse with a higher amp rating.

As unusual as that sounds, you are the second person this year that I have heard of with this issue. The other was self inflicted on the part of the (non-SR) owner. He hooked his battery up backward and fried a bunch of wires in his harness. They say things happen in 3s, so I'm wondering who the 3rd person will be.

Molson · May 17, 2017

Man that sucks. My boat is still in my backyard too, waiting on some parts. However, I have never backfed through the lighter port. I've always hooked up the shorepower and energized the converter/charger which supplies 12v, hatch works perfectly. Shut down shorepower and hook up the batteries as normal.

Creekwood · May 17, 2017

Molson said:
Man that sucks. My boat is still in my backyard too, waiting on some parts. However, I have never backfed through the lighter port. I've always hooked up the shorepower and energized the converter/charger which supplies 12v, hatch works perfectly. Shut down shorepower and hook up the batteries as normal.

I was stored this year in offsite storage building with no power so could t do that or top up the battery charge before launch. Plan A was to do that commissioning and buff and wax hull sides. Plan B turned out to be complaining to the service dept and waxing on the waafter launch at the dock (poorly).

good news is that I got a message earlier today that they have done the repair. Looks like my experience of good service continues. I did not mention the marina earlier but anyone in Georgian Bay Area can PM me.

Gofirstclass · May 17, 2017

But did they reverse your props?

Just kidding, of course. Good luck with your fix and getting back on the water.

Molson · May 18, 2017

I'm pretty sure I know where you boat from, and where you're stored. I was going to offer up my generator but I doubt you can run it in there.

Mike Blake · May 18, 2017

Creekwood said:
What a bummer. My launch may be delayed and its a long weekend coming. I went to do the normal pre-launch routines, but the power backfeed through cigarette lighter to pen the hatch didn't work for some reason. So I tested tried the other outlet in the cabin, and it worked. So far so good. get things set up, and then decide to take a look at that cockpit lighter outlet. I take it out and the ground wire behind it looks burned and it has disconnected. Strange. So I test the wires that feed it (red and ground), and they are shorted (that is, they are connected somewhere in the circuit. Very strange. Off goes the battery switch. Open up the dash switch panel and the entire black (ground) circuit wiring is melted across all the switches and has clearly melted some other wires. Could be a big rewiring needed.

It appears that when they winterized and closed the hatch in the fall, the mechanic must have crossed positive and negative with the back feed cable. No fuse on a negative wire so it put all the power the wrong way. They did not admit to it (yet) and have said they will look at it last week (yes, its now "this week"). First time they have messed something up. I am pretty angry about it, but accidents happen. We'll see. They better not try to blame me (I recommission in the spring).

On a related note, once they get this fixed, I am going to install a fuse on the ground wire behind the socket. Normally not needed since the fuse is only needed on the power in side. It would have saved all of this if there was one on that line. I don't know why Sea Ray would not do this on all boats where backfeeding is part of the routine for closing the hatch in winter.

Or, you may have a bad ground for that circuit.

Creekwood · May 18, 2017

Molson said:
I'm pretty sure I know where you boat from, and where you're stored. I was going to offer up my generator but I doubt you can run it in there.

Thanks for the offer! I do have my own portable generator that I should have brought to the storage. I have a few hours tomorrow AM before launch to get a quick buff/wax done now that they have the boat back down at the marina ready to go in.

Talked to the marina today and its fixed. They don't think it was a bad backfeed, but IMO that is the only thing that makes sense. Mike's comment about the bad ground circuit might make sense, but there have never been any issues before last fall's winterization. Also, it was only the ground wires that were melted, not the positives. I think that they did cross the clamps when backfeeding.

Here is what it looked like:

villain style · May 18, 2017

Hope it all works out with the fix.....

My launch may be delayed - marina messed up hatch backfeed

Creekwood

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skibum

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Molson

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Creekwood

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Gofirstclass

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Molson

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Mike Blake

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Creekwood

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villain style

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