Nervous System
Today’s boats are complex machines which leverage technology in many places, from the helm to the engines. Tying the destinations together results in an electrical backbone which is sensitive to clean, uninterrupted, power. Now, most of us are unaware of this Achilles heel of boat construction, however, it’s easy to conceive of pinch points.
Last week, a friend of mine had a starting battery die suddenly due to a defective cell. The battery was a year old when it expired, well short of the normal 60-month threshold.
Another friend had his ignition switch suddenly jam in the off position, preventing power from flowing to the boat’s vitals.
And a third boating buddy forget to shut off the radio when disembarking which caused both batteries to drain down to “near-dead” status overnight. The oversight required removal of the batteries to charge them at home.
Boats are wonderful forms of transportation and relaxation, however it’s important to note that we’ve come a long way from small wood rowing skiffs. In spite of the best efforts of manufacturers, boats are becoming increasingly sensitive to power outages. Check into the status of the backbone, and the component usage process to ensure you don’t find yourself in a compromising position any time soon.
