Partner melted the wiring in the boat

[Uncivil]

Just got back from a back country lake fishing trip and I get a phone call from my partner in our 16 foot aluminum with a 70 evenirude. We recently put in a dual battery system and because we needed two batteries to test it I put in my trolling motor battery. Well because I needed it for my trip I pulled it and told my partner. Well he went to use it today and he planned to put in his trolling motor battery. So he puts it in and then checks the #1 battery and finds it is discharged. So he switches over to battery number two and Flame on. It seems he reversed polarity on Battery #2 when he connected. The fire exteguisher I mounted at the contro console came in handy but all the new wiring is melted. Now we have to try and find out how much damage has been done but it looks as if our fall Salmon and Sturgeon fishing is done for a while. Any suggestions on what we should be looking for as far as damage goes?

 

[jonesg]

Re: Partner melted the wiring in the boat

Check the engine, boat wiring is simple and obvious but the powerpack can easily fry . If it starts and runs ok...run and buy a lottery ticket!.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Partner melted the wiring in the boat

Just got back from a back country lake fishing trip and I get a phone call from my partner in our 16 foot aluminum with a 70 evenirude. We recently put in a dual battery system and because we needed two batteries to test it I put in my trolling motor battery. Well because I needed it for my trip I pulled it and told my partner. Well he went to use it today and he planned to put in his trolling motor battery. So he puts it in and then checks the #1 battery and finds it is discharged. So he switches over to battery number two and Flame on. It seems he reversed polarity on Battery #2 when he connected. The fire exteguisher I mounted at the contro console came in handy but all the new wiring is melted. Now we have to try and find out how much damage has been done but it looks as if our fall Salmon and Sturgeon fishing is done for a while. Any suggestions on what we should be looking for as far as damage goes?

It's not possible to determine what was damaged from your description, but I suspect both batteries and all the cables between the batteries and the motor have been damaged beyond repair. If you have a battery switch, that was probably ruined also. There may be a fuse under the motor cowling and it may be blown.

That said, someone who knows what he is doing and has the tools and materials handy could rewire that boat in a few hours, no need to miss your fishing.