Did I cause any damage to my boat?

[tcbass]

Got into boat to grab my bro's iceshack that was on the shelf. Afterward noticed that the key was turned 1/2 on. So all of the instruments appeared to be on. Couldn't see if the lights in the instruments were working. If this key was turned on the whole time it would have been about 6 months. I'm assuming the bulbs have burnt out by now. The boat batteries were hooked up to the 3 bank charger so the batteries weren't drained. It's a 2000 Crestliner Fishawk.

 

1.)  Did I do any damage to my boat?

 

2.)  Did I burn out the instrument bulbs and if so, how hard is it to replace them?

[BassnChris]

Hope not. If they are burnt out you Should be able to reach the bulbs from below maybe ?

thats one of the reasons I don't leave the key in the boat........I'm worried I will leave it in the on position.

[Ski213]

Probably depends on the boat and how it's wired. I'm not 100% positive but I'm pretty sure on mine as long as the master power switch is off nothing really gets juice other than that switch. Yours may be completely different. 

If there was a constant draw on the batteries I don't imagine it's good but if it was just lights it was small. A plus is the charger being on. Somebody who knows batteries would be better suited to comment on that. 

If the bulbs are bad they shouldn't be terrible to replace. There again it probably depends on the boat. Myself I'm actually thinking of removing some of my instrument lights for night fishing. 

[tcbass]

35 minutes ago, BassnChris said:

Hope not. If they are burnt out you Should be able to reach the bulbs from below maybe ?

thats one of the reasons I don't leave the key in the boat........I'm worried I will leave it in the on position.

 

 

 

Yeah, I usually always leave my key out too, but I must have forgotten it when I winterized the motor.

[Fishing Rhino]

I'd recommend a switch near the battery in the positive battery cable.  Turn it off when the boat is not being used.  It will also deactivate the trim and tilt on your motor, so no one can play with it, and it will prevent rain from getting into the tilt switch and activating it.

That's poor wording.  It won't prevent rain or spray from getting into the switch, but it will prevent it from activating the switch.

You definitely do not want that to happen when you are towing the boat.  The transom saver can drop from the trailer and act like a vaulting pole on the lower unit.  That could be very ugly.

[F14A-B]

Yes! Abandon ship! 

[Al Wolbach]

I left my keys on, but with main power switch off,  for a few days without damage. You are probably fine

[WIGuide]

I doubt you did any damage. It depends on how the boat is wired. Some boats have instrument lights wired to the key so when they key is on they are on, others have them wired to the nav lights so they're only on when you flip that switch. Either way a bulb is an easy replacement. Most gauges have a twist in style connector in them so all you do is turn it a quarter turn and pull it out.