Blowing Ignition Fuses

[SurlyBob]

Hi! I’m a new owner here. New to boats as well. A week ago I picked up a 2003 182 SRX and have put 10 hours on it since. About halfway through the week, and after a very strong rain, I started blowing ignition fuses while out with the kids.

After the storm and prior to heading out I had emptied the bilge. I have since learned the drier the bilge the longer I go without blowing the fuse. My assumption is that there’s enough water getting in there and splashing around (it accumulates I’m assuming as the kids climb up and over the back switching turns on the toys) that it hits something and shorts it out.

I now carry a pocket full of fuses when we’re out.

My bilge pump won’t get every little bit of water. I’ve got bilg cleaner showing up today to help with that; otherwise, I’m replacing the bilge pump.

Besides spraying everything with WD-40, any idea what’s happening and what I need to do?

 

[SurlyBob]

Update - upon further inspection I found a mess of wires (outside the wire looms) laying in the back of the bilge with terrible electrical tape connections. I’m guessing that’s it. We’ll find out soon enough.

 

[Lazy Daze]

(EDIT: Looks like you were typing your second post at the same time I as typing mine. No electrical connections should be made with electrical tape)

Water in the bilge is normal (from, as you said, water dripping off of the kids). Rain is another way water gets in there. Other than that, the bilge should stay bone dry.

BUT... the fact that there is water in there should NOT be causing that problem under normal circumstances. I suspect you have open/old/frayed connections laying low in the bilge. I would start by getting in there and inspecting things really well. You've got decent access to the lower bilge in that boat so it's not "too" bad. Some boats are much worse.

FYI, just tilt the boat up high and remove the garboard drain plug to remove all the water (assuming it's on a trailer). You should ALWAYS be removing the plug, anyways.

Otherwise... a sponge or a towel on a stick will sop up the rest that the pump can't get.

 

[SurlyBob]

Thanks for confirming. It was definitely the loose poorly spliced wires. We ran a few hours yesterday without issues.