fuse assembly - how many amps?

[Suz_BMT]

I need to replace the fuse assembly on my 2100i but I don't know which one to buy. Neither Merc's nor Tige's websites tell you how many amps it is. Does anyone know how many amps this is?

[spharis]

Was that on the starter circuit?

[laserfish]

Looks like the 90 amp starter fuse on the solenoid. Just replaced my starter, and that fuse was there. They are not cheap.

[lee]

Looks like a 90 amp fuse that Mercruiser puts on the starter.

[spharis]

If that boat isn't under warranty anymore, I would just lose the fuse.

If you wanted to keep it, you can find a different style of fuse and wire it in depending on the price. A little mod can save you some $$.

[Suz_BMT]

Yes, it is the starter fuse. The boat's 10 years old now. What's my risk if I don't replace it?

Thanks for the advice.

[spharis]

The starter COULD (huge emphasis on could) overdraw and melt the battery cable or cause electrical issues or possibly fire. It is very very very very very very very very unlikely. The only other thing that I think goes through there is maybe the alternator charging. Again, very very very very very very unlikely you will every have an issue. That fuse is there to protect the wiring, not so much the components. My boat is a 97 and it has/had neither of those, and if it did, I would have removed it when I rewired it. Starters and alts go bad, but rarely will they cause any type of overload situation. Solenoids usually just go out, or the alt stops charging. Comparing to an auto is not a real good one due to the very shortened nature of the cables involved, but they are rarely protected, even in brand new rigs. Your ignition circuits and everything under the dash will have it's own fusing.