Confusion About Fuse-Panel/in-Line Fuses/breaker - 2011 Xpress

[martintheduck]

I bought a 2011 Xpress H18 a few weeks ago and in 5 trips she has been great to me. Other day I had an issue with the trolling motor going out. I started poking around in the wiring because I thought I might have blown a fuse. Ultimately, the on/off on the footcontrol was loose, so I managed to fix the problem and trolling motor is fine.

 

NOW - When I was poking around, I realized my boat doesn't seem to have a fuse panel. From what I see all the electronics are running to a breaker at the battery. The only fuses I found on the whole boat were in the outboard... I think there were only 2 in-line fuses. So my question, or I guess my request: Can someone explain to me how this type of fuse setup works? How would I go about adding another fishfinder? Are there other inline fuses between, say, the trolling motor and the breaker on the battery which I just didn't see?

 

Basically, I'm just all kinds of confused about this type of setup and have reached dead ends on google. I'm familiar with fuse panels, but have no experience with this type of setup. Thanks guys.

[Wayne P.]

You should have a circuit breaker on the Red ( positive) wire attached to the trolling motor battery/s

 

You should have a fuse panel somewhere under the driver's console.

You should have a circuit breaker on the 10 guage wire on the starting battery that powers the fuse panel.

 

The fuses on the motor have nothing to do with what the boat has. They are part of the motor wiring harness.

 

You may have additional small fuses at the starting battery for added pumps or accessories.

[J Francho]

 

Basically, I'm just all kinds of confused about this type of setup and have reached dead ends on google.

 

Call Xpress.  Have your hull ID ready.

 

501-262-5300

[martintheduck]

You should have a circuit breaker on the Red ( positive) wire attached to the trolling motor battery/s

 

You should have a fuse panel somewhere under the driver's console.

You should have a circuit breaker on the 10 guage wire on the starting battery that powers the fuse panel.

 

The fuses on the motor have nothing to do with what the boat has. They are part of the motor wiring harness.

 

You may have additional small fuses at the starting battery for added pumps or accessories.

 

Have a breaker on red trolling motor. Have a breaker on the red of cranking battery. Followed the crank battery wire up until it enters the hull and can't find where it leads, so I took off the panel where the throttle is installed - found all the wires leading up into the console and to the bow.... nothing was leading towards any fuse panel. I did see what looked like 2 in-line fuses. Removed the radio and speakers from under the console too to see if something was hidden under there, but found nothing.

 

So this is a big ole' let down. Time to learn yet ANOTHER wiring system. Crap.   Geez I hate electrical flow

[martintheduck]

 

Call Xpress.  Have your hull ID ready.

 

501-262-5300

 

 

 

Tried calling them. Put on hold. Then got an answering machine. For shame. Just going to swing by the local dealer and talk to them.

[J Francho]

I'd be persistent, though the dealer might be able to help, too.

[Wayne P.]

Odd that a boat of that quality doesn't have fuse panel somewhere.

[J Francho]

Mine is under the console, but the trolling motor has inline fuses on the positive leads.  I suspect this is due to the trolling motor being optional in size, and amps.

[Wayne P.]

Mine is under the console, but the trolling motor has inline fuses on the positive leads.  I suspect this is due to the trolling motor being optional in size, and amps.

 

That is as it should be.

[martintheduck]

Odd that a boat of that quality doesn't have fuse panel somewhere.

 

That's what I'm saying! If there is one, it's freaking HIDDEN!

[martintheduck]

Mine is under the console, but the trolling motor has inline fuses on the positive leads.  I suspect this is due to the trolling motor being optional in size, and amps.

 

Do you have to remove anything to get to it? 

[martintheduck]

I am so friggin' angry right now. I FINALLY found the fuse box. I didn't imagine I'd have to literally remove the whole underside of the console to get to it. Good grief. I really hope  I never blow a fuse because that thing will be a PAIN to replace!

[Long Mike]

I once had an '86 Tracker.  To get to the fuse panel I had to lay on my back and squirm myself under the console.  Mind you, I'm six/three and tip the scales at about 225.  By the time I got under the console my feet were sticking up in the air like a loose woman in a bawdy house.  To make matters worse, I could work with only one hand.  .  It didn't take me but a couple of visits under there to convince me to assemble my own fuse panel.  So I built a fuse panel I could  reach without having to go inverted.  About a month later I sold the boat.

[martintheduck]

I once had an '86 Tracker.  To get to the fuse panel I had to lay on my back and squirm myself under the console.  Mind you, I'm six/three and tip the scales at about 225.  By the time I got under the console my feet were sticking up in the air like a loose woman in a bawdy house.  To make matters worse, I could work with only one hand.  .  It didn't take me but a couple of visits under there to convince me to assemble my own fuse panel.  So I built a fuse panel I could  reach without having to go inverted.  About a month later I sold the boat.

 

That genuinely made me laugh! I'm 6'2 and squirming under there was a real pain. I'm thinking I'll be moving it somewhere easier to access.