I'm posting this in the event that someone else does something similar
and thinks that this newsgroup might offer any real advice.

The reverse polarity was properly fused and did no damage. There is a
very, very small chance of doing damage (from the Yamaha expert I
contacted), and my other problems were related to the idiot that
damaged my boat in the first place.

Now, you fools should learn to not answer things you don't know about.
That is the most distressing part of the internet. I expected someone
(in the 33 posts so far) would say, "Well, El Penguini, that wasn't
smart, but here's what you need to do...." or provide some personal
experience. Other newsgroups I've talked with have provided that help.
But the internet isn't what it used to be, know that you don't have to
be educated to get connected.

So, while you all enjoyed yourselves, sitting smugly in front of your
computer offering such sage advice as, "Have your wife connect your
battery" and "Look for the plus sign," I figured out another source of
information that was actually helpful.

If you think this is help, you're confusing helping others with
masturbating. Both feel good to you, but only one feels good to both
people.