Hi folks,

I can't get any real answer outta my dealer regarding this.......here's
the situation:

I just bought a brand new 2005 Tahoe Q4Sport runabout with the 4.3l V6
Mercruiser in it. After the second trip out on the water, I was
checking things out in the engine compartment and noticed that the big
50amp circuit breaker that sits sorta behind the flame arrestor was
missing......looked like the dealer just caniballized it for some other
boat sale? The hot wires that would've normally been connected to the
circuit breaker were just left dangling in atop the engine. Anyway, I
called the dealer (Bass Pro Shops right outside Baltimore, MD) and they
said don't worry about it and to bring it in and they'll put a new one
on. So they set me up with an appointment that was nearly two weeks
out!

Anyway, finally made it in there and they put a new circuit breaker on.
I asked the tech what it was really for, since the lack of it didn't
seem to stop me from doing anything at all.

I mean, everything worked just fine.....starting, running around, all
electronic components and gauges!!

I'm thoroughly confused here. The Mercruiser book says that it's for
"engine overload protection", whatever that means.

The lead tech there at the dealer said he believes it was for
recharging the battery, and that I've just been using raw battery power
for everything while out on the water. But I thought this was an
automobile engine and that once the engine is running, accessory power
requirements were then used from the alternator.

Can someone explain the purpose of that cicuit breaker please? I've
really been spooked by this whole series of events.

Thanks much!!