blown fuse = no start

boatman37

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May 14, 2015
Messages
1,273
a couple weeks ago i started the boat up in the driveway on muffs. also replaced my cigarette lighter socket that wasn't working. today put the boat in the water. backed down the ramp and turned the bilge blower on and its running. hit the key and nothing. not even a click. first thing i did was checked the fuse. its fine? hmmmm. so checked the fuse next to it that is for the cigarette lighter. marina owner is now in the boat with me, still on the trailer but in the water. he says no that wouldn't be it. yep, cigarette lighter fuse is blown. so he says well yeah its blown but that won't affect your ignition. so for the heck of it i pull another fuse and swap it for my cigarette lighter and the boat fires right up???? so apparently my ignition switch is being fed by the cigarette lighter? i bought the boat from the original owner so it was either like that from the factory, which i doubt? or he did it? its a 1986 sea ray sundancer. thoughts?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Jul 23, 2011
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49,911
I think you need to go thru your wiring
 

boatman37

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Joined
May 14, 2015
Messages
1,273
just to add, i know why the fuse blew initially. there is an old 'map light' that plugs into the lighter and i tried it out the other day. it didn't work so i threw it out but didn't realize the fuse had blown. i am assuming thats what caused it to blow. now the mystery is why is my ignition tied into my lighter?
 
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