Ignition switch- hour meter

[Darryl]

Last night in the garage,my son was showing off the stereo to some of his friends in the boat and left the push button ignition switch on all night. 96' Naughty with chev. The key is not required to be turned for stereo operation. I originally thought that engine hours would accumulate with the push button engaged. I am 95% sure that zero hours accumulated. I had previously warned my wife and son of this precaution but am glad to see that this is not the case. Is there any draw on the battery if this button is depressed and no accessories being used? Is it true then that hours will only accumulate with the button engagrd AND the key turned? Comments appreciated.

[Onthewater]

sounds right. If you have a clock on the dash the battery will power that with the ign switch on, but that is a very minimal draw.

[NautiqueJeff]

On my '94, I left the ignition push-button on whenever we left the boat in the water so that I could leave the auto bilge pump on. No hours accumulated on the hour meter unless the key was on. I would think it would be the same for your boat.

[Darryl]

Come to think of it the depth meter operates also. Any one end up with a dead battery. Makes sense to have the auto bilge on if in a body of water all night. Thanks for the input, I guess it's rock on. Previously I didn't think it was worth it to have the music on, engine off, and still rack up hours. I bought this immaculate 96' in the Spring with 74 hours, now have 160 hours,it's been a good summer in Portland/Central Oregon.

[lcap]

Forgot mine all the time. Battery died a few times when the kids left the stereo on all winter.

Left my auto bilge on when the boat was in the water. Started it up every few days to make sure the battery wasn't dead and the pump was working.

It rains alot in Seattle in May, June and half of July

[Dr.John]

My '01 has less than 15 hrs. and I too was concerned with regard to resale, and the believe-ability factor, so I took photo's showing the gauge hours and the photo is dated. Yes, it would be possible to fake it I suppose, but somewhere there has to be some level of trust.
The addition of another mechanical hour meter is not a bad idea at all, and I will probably do that. Cheap insurance!

[efox]

Hour meter doesn't run unless the engine is running. I left my boat in the water for a week and it went dead at the end of the week after a lot (like 8") of rain fell in an evening. I have an Optima deep cell, so it can handle the cycling of charing well. I have accidentally left the breaker punched overnight and there has been no noticable difference in the battery. Leav e the radio on though, and you have a different story.

Eric

[nms1991]

The older boats that have a separate gauge for the hourmeter will rack up hours if the ignition switch is left on with the ignition breaker pushed in. But on the newer boats with the hour meter built into the tach the hours will not changed unless there is a tach signal from the engine. On the newer limited and up boats with a fuel injected Chevrolet engines the hours are actually coming from the computer on the engine and they don't change unless the engine is running.

[NautiqueJeff]

Not so sure about that. My '94 had a seperate gauge, and it didn't accumulate any hours unless the key was on.

[Onthewater]

our 88 doesn't either, how old are you talking?

[882001]

my 88 doesnt either. im sure its on right now. i dont seem to have any reason to turn it off. that in dash clock is garbage.

[M3Fan]

Guys, he did say switch & breaker on at the same time (nms1991). With just the breaker on, the only draw is the clock (or anything else you have hooked up to the circut). I've had it on for weeks accidentally. No dead battery. I've had the auto bilge on every night for up to a week with no drain either, in case anyone was wondering about the draw from the AB.