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Author Topic:   Circuit Breaker for Boston Whaler MONTAUK

The Chesapeake Explorer posted 07-11-2009 10:20 PM ET (US)
I bought a 20 amp circuit breaker [as a replacement for the original on a 1987 Boston Whaler Montauk]. What amps would I really need for lights and radio?
Thieves stole another battery and I was messing with my Cole-Hersee master switch.I got my wires mixed up cause there was no battery and when i put it in there were no lights on the boat, which I hashed out but in doing so I took apart a switch located in the rear with a push button under a plastic covering. Its been there 20 years and a few years back the bus bar it goes to corroded and i replaced it. In working with this "switch" the end broke off. I thought it was a circuit breaker for some 20 years. A trip to a electronics store and they could not tell the amps of my "circuit breaker" as there is nothing on it to tell the amp rating. The guy said "maybe its a switch". Is it a switch? Or circuit breaker?
I have the big master switch. Should I just get a switch push in and out like the original. Why was this switch put there in the beginning if it is a switch?
jimh posted 07-12-2009 08:35 AM ET (US)
On a small boat like a Boston Whaler MONTAUK 17, the primary power distribution circuit from the battery at the stern to the helm console was protected by a circuit breaker. Typically the circuit breaker was mounted in a small plastic enclosure on the cockpit bulwark near the transom. The rating of the circuit breaker typically would have been 25-amperes or more. Typically the circuit breaker was an E.T.A brand:
http://www.e-t-a.com/
The current demand of lights and radio would typically be:
RADIO = 7 amperes on transmit
NAVIGATION LIGHTING = 10 amperes maximum, depending on the type of lamps and the number of lamps
The Chesapeake Explorer posted 07-12-2009 10:53 PM ET (US)
Thats It Jimh thats what I have. So its 25 amp.. Thanks for that info!
The Chesapeake Explorer posted 07-12-2009 11:01 PM ET (US)
Actually I will get a 30 amp breaker.. Thanks
Chuck Tribolet posted 07-12-2009 11:27 PM ET (US)
What gauge is the wire? That determines the size of the
breaker. You want the breaker to trip before the wire gets
hot.
The gauge is should be printed on the wire. Find a place
that's been out of the sun.
Breaker size is NOT determined by load. Well, not at least
directly. Load determines minimum wire size, wire size
determines maximum breaker size.

Chuck
jimh posted 07-12-2009 11:34 PM ET (US)
The ampere rating is usually imprinted right on the plunger top.
Anjin posted 07-13-2009 12:35 AM ET (US)
I used a 30 amp on my Montauk 17.
jimh posted 07-13-2009 12:37 AM ET (US)
Typically the classic Boston Whaler boat primary power distribution from the battery to the helm console used 8-AWG conductors.
Blackduck posted 07-13-2009 01:42 PM ET (US)
Most instrument panels on Montauks of this era were marked 30 amp, in white lettering, next to where the Cole Hersee breaker was installed.
The Chesapeake Explorer posted 07-13-2009 11:30 PM ET (US)
The circut breaker on my boat is a E.T.A as Jimh stated.And looks just like the photo of the one he posted. It has no amp rating. It says AMP A only 28 V dc on the other side 200 some volts AC. The button pushes in and out disconnecting the power like a switch but it has a white line like its a circut breaker. The Whaler is a 1987 boat built in May 87. Thanks for all the info. As said I will go for a 30 amp breaker switch with a silicon boot on the outsidescrew thred to waterproof it .
striper swiper posted 07-14-2009 12:15 AM ET (US)
ETA brakers can be purchased from allied electronics.com
striper swiper posted 07-14-2009 09:13 AM ET (US)
This is where I purchased my eta for my 18 outrage .
They were very helpful and were willing to sell to an individual instead of only to wholesalers.
And its OEM , what whaler put in in the first place.
Allied electronics 1 800 433 5700
alliedelec.com

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Author	Topic: Circuit Breaker for Boston Whaler MONTAUK
The Chesapeake Explorer	posted 07-11-2009 10:20 PM ET (US) I bought a 20 amp circuit breaker [as a replacement for the original on a 1987 Boston Whaler Montauk]. What amps would I really need for lights and radio? Thieves stole another battery and I was messing with my Cole-Hersee master switch.I got my wires mixed up cause there was no battery and when i put it in there were no lights on the boat, which I hashed out but in doing so I took apart a switch located in the rear with a push button under a plastic covering. Its been there 20 years and a few years back the bus bar it goes to corroded and i replaced it. In working with this "switch" the end broke off. I thought it was a circuit breaker for some 20 years. A trip to a electronics store and they could not tell the amps of my "circuit breaker" as there is nothing on it to tell the amp rating. The guy said "maybe its a switch". Is it a switch? Or circuit breaker? I have the big master switch. Should I just get a switch push in and out like the original. Why was this switch put there in the beginning if it is a switch?
jimh	posted 07-12-2009 08:35 AM ET (US) On a small boat like a Boston Whaler MONTAUK 17, the primary power distribution circuit from the battery at the stern to the helm console was protected by a circuit breaker. Typically the circuit breaker was mounted in a small plastic enclosure on the cockpit bulwark near the transom. The rating of the circuit breaker typically would have been 25-amperes or more. Typically the circuit breaker was an E.T.A brand: http://www.e-t-a.com/ The current demand of lights and radio would typically be: RADIO = 7 amperes on transmit NAVIGATION LIGHTING = 10 amperes maximum, depending on the type of lamps and the number of lamps
The Chesapeake Explorer	posted 07-12-2009 10:53 PM ET (US) Thats It Jimh thats what I have. So its 25 amp.. Thanks for that info!
The Chesapeake Explorer	posted 07-12-2009 11:01 PM ET (US) Actually I will get a 30 amp breaker.. Thanks
Chuck Tribolet	posted 07-12-2009 11:27 PM ET (US) What gauge is the wire? That determines the size of the breaker. You want the breaker to trip before the wire gets hot. The gauge is should be printed on the wire. Find a place that's been out of the sun. Breaker size is NOT determined by load. Well, not at least directly. Load determines minimum wire size, wire size determines maximum breaker size. Chuck
jimh	posted 07-12-2009 11:34 PM ET (US) The ampere rating is usually imprinted right on the plunger top.
Anjin	posted 07-13-2009 12:35 AM ET (US) I used a 30 amp on my Montauk 17.
jimh	posted 07-13-2009 12:37 AM ET (US) Typically the classic Boston Whaler boat primary power distribution from the battery to the helm console used 8-AWG conductors.
Blackduck	posted 07-13-2009 01:42 PM ET (US) Most instrument panels on Montauks of this era were marked 30 amp, in white lettering, next to where the Cole Hersee breaker was installed.
The Chesapeake Explorer	posted 07-13-2009 11:30 PM ET (US) The circut breaker on my boat is a E.T.A as Jimh stated.And looks just like the photo of the one he posted. It has no amp rating. It says AMP A only 28 V dc on the other side 200 some volts AC. The button pushes in and out disconnecting the power like a switch but it has a white line like its a circut breaker. The Whaler is a 1987 boat built in May 87. Thanks for all the info. As said I will go for a 30 amp breaker switch with a silicon boot on the outsidescrew thred to waterproof it .
striper swiper	posted 07-14-2009 12:15 AM ET (US) ETA brakers can be purchased from allied electronics.com
striper swiper	posted 07-14-2009 09:13 AM ET (US) This is where I purchased my eta for my 18 outrage . They were very helpful and were willing to sell to an individual instead of only to wholesalers. And its OEM , what whaler put in in the first place. Allied electronics 1 800 433 5700 alliedelec.com