Catalina 30 Broken Fuse

[SV Fiasco]

Hello Cruising World,

So last week while taking the boat out I somehow stepped on a fuse holder and broke it. Now my engine won't start up and I don't know what this part is called in order to replace it. I have a Catalina 30. The engine is a Universal Diesel 25. This fuse holder sits outside of the engine bay. As you come down the companion way there's a fuse on the bottom corner of where the kitchen sink sits. If you are making your way to the V birth from the companion way then its on the bottom left corner on the outside wall of where the engine sits. I can provide pictures of the location if needed. Could anyone direct me to the place online where I can order a new one please.

Enjoy the weekend

Carlos

 

[dlochner]

Welcome to the SBO Forum.

Without a photo we're all guessing. Take a photo and post it. You'll get a quick accurate response. We don't even know what vintage of Catalina 30 you have.

 

[SV Fiasco]

Sorry about that. Its a 1981 Catalina Tall Rig. There's a button here protected by a metal plate. Right next to that is the black fuse holder that I stepped on and broke. Im not close to my boat right now so I couldn't post the actual shot. This is a screen shot of a boat with a similar layout.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

The boat and the model and the engine don't make any difference. This is a very simple electrical issue. But it is also very odd. How do you step on a fuse holder? What is it doing in a location where you can step on it? The part is a fuse holder and a fuse. It sounds like it must have been on a small wire, so small fuse, connected to the starter. To know exactly what it is you will need to trace the wire. Was it an in-line fuse holder and you had a wire displaced from it's original position somehow? Take a picture of the fuse holder and compare it with products that you might find on Blue Sea or some other electrical outlet. Find out the amperage of the fuse and replace it in kind. Take a picture of the broken fuse and post it. Somebody will recognize it for sure. It would be just as simple for you to go on a site like Defender Marine in the electrical / fuse section and find something that looks just like your broken part. I'm guessing that you don't need to go to Catalina. But I'm still not even imagining how you stepped on a fuse in the open saloon of your boat.

 

[SV Fiasco]

T-Bird....It sure is a Fuse Holder Been on westmarine and found the thing I stepped on. I agree, not sure why it was placed there. I think I might replace the fuse holder but keep it inside the engine bay. Theres also that button that sticks out but at least its covered by a metal plate. I just got the boat so I got some investigating to see what I actually own....

On another note, when I turn on the engine it sometimes gets stuck on full throttle. I have to choke it to turn it off and try again. Ive checked the pulley system that opens the throttle but everything seems like its moving properly. any ideas of why this can be happening.

 

[Kingjim91]

I have an ‘82 C-30. There is no fuse holder at the location you indicated, nor on any other C-30 I’ve been on. Yours must be a modification by the irascible Previous Owner. I agree with @Scott T-Bird that you’ll need to do some research to find a replacement.
I recommend trying to route the replacement to be inside the engine bay. And it wouldn’t hurt to trace the wires to find out what that fuse is there for.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Yours must be a modification by the irascible Previous Owner

@SV Fiasco.. Above is why a question like yours is always difficult to answer... Sailboats are modified over the years in non standard ways... At this point your whole boat could have been rewired with different panels/switches/fuses/batteries etc. They could be in different locations...

In addition the mfgs would often change the stock configuration.

Rigging is also often different. 98% of my current boat's wiring and most of the rigging is nothing like original. (same as my previous boat).

That is why photos are almost mandatory when asking these types of questions.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

For now....
Pick up a new fuse holder and a replacement fuse. If it was a glass fuse the fuse size is on the end cap. Blade fuses are color coded. That will get you up and running. Then you can research away or traces wires whatever is needed.

 

[SycloneDriver]

Stuck at full throttle, wow. That must be exciting to start, like a slot machine! Do you open the throttle to full to start it? Diesels can sometimes "run away." They typically consume the crankcase oil via the crankcase breather. Probably not wha'ts going on here because the engine cannot be shut down by normal means during a run away.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Excessive RPMs at startup

Best guess, a stuck fuel injector.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I agree, not sure why it was placed there.

Sounds like a previous owner's stunt. Catalina is not going to install a fuse holder where it can be stepped on.

On another note, when I turn on the engine it sometimes gets stuck on full throttle. I have to choke it to turn it off and try again.

I presume with a dirty old sweat sock ?

As a remote guess, maybe the PCV is sending oil vapours into the combustion air. Next time you have the engine running, pull the hose off the PCV and see what comes out if anything.

 

[Stu Jackson]

stepped on a fuse holder and broke it. Now my engine won't start up and I don't know what this part is called in order to replace it. I have a Catalina 30. The engine is a Universal Diesel 25.

The fuse most likely was the one between the start button and the starter solenoid. It was originally cleverly hidden underneath the alternator OEM. Many of us have simply relocated it to an easier place to access, because the OEM fuse holders tended to disintegrate over time. I extended mine to reach up and higher and behind the alternator. Looks/sounds like your PO went a little overboard, just tuck it inside the door after you assure yourself that that's what it truly is for.

CRITICAL UPGRADES - DO THESE OR ELSE!!! - Page 2

CRITICAL UPGRADES - DO THESE OR ELSE!!! - Page 2

c34.org

You should read that entire Critical Upgrades topic and you may also find this info helpful:

Engines 101 - The BIGGEST & BEST collection of M25 Series Universal Engine Information on the Internet, plus some M35, too This includes a link to the Critical Upgrades topic which has more engine information please read it too.

Diesel Engine - c34.org