www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 298 Vista and the electric windlass and horn quit working while we were out this weekend. I made sure the windlass switch located on the battery switch panel was in the on position and I can hear the windlass click but there is no movement. Any ideas why just the windlass and horn won't work but all other instruments do (wipers; lights; blower; etc..)? Thanks.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

My horn quit working over the weekend as well.

Check your fuse in the panel under the steering wheel. Mine was blown so I replaced it. It worked for about 1 second and blew again.

I hear there was a service bulletin back in the day due to some capacitor in the horn circuit but I have failed to locate the bulletin thus far.

Good Luck!

~Trevor

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2000 268 Vista

Do you have a breaker for the windlass in the engine room? Ours' tripped once this year, and I just re set it and it worked fine since. Not sure if a FW is set up the same way. The horn, I'm not sure, except that they fail often.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Thats funny too, my horn stopped working. I found, I did post this a few weeks ago after the storm. I found the the port side of the helm was NOT sealed. Water would run down the side if the helm, found the cables/wire bundle and leaked into the fuse box. The fuse them selves "looked" good. But there contacts corroded, I replaced the fuse & it worked.

I basically had the same problem with the cabin lights, BUT the were very dim. Again, replaced I the fuse and they came up to full brightness! I am thinking that this could be the same problem you are having. If not, you need to use a volt meter from the battery back to the windless to see were you are losing it. Only because, you are hearing click, the noise could also be from the relay that turns the windless on.

Good luck!

Thanks. I didn't know there was a fuse panel under the steering wheel.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

There is a breaker box down below but didn't think to look there. Thanks.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

I dont think our boats have a fuse panel under the dash. I would however check the main breaker panel in the cabin. It is odd to me that you can hear it click and still not getting any movement.

I once pulled mine in too tight and had a hard time getting it out (had to manually kick the anchor) and you could hear my control box click when I hit the buttons but like you, no movement.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Does a 298 even have fuses? If so, where are they located?

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Great question. All I know of are the breaker panels.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Now you have a 1999 model, mine is a 2007 V258. You would think both would have breakers, but mine only has fuses.

It may be different on a FW 298 from our 282 Monty, but just in case it is similar , this is what I have.

Breaker panel in engine compartment similar to this.

Windlass switch is on here.

Seperate breaker also in engine compartment, specifically for the windlass

Also have one of these for the trim pumps.

And of course, the main cabin panel, similar to this with AC and DC side.

Ours does not have a beaker here for the windlass.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

If it's actually clicking AT the windless, then it sounds like you may not be getting enough current to it or the solenoid inside it could be bad. Check connections for corrosion first and go from there.

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99 Horizon 190 - Volvo 5.7
06 Sea Doo RXP (79 GPS) / 05 Sea Doo GTX Limited (74 GPS)

UPDATE: OP here. Not enough current as JordanFTW suggested. It turned out that the rode was chaffing the motor wire and it finally cut all the way through. I am surprised it lasted 10 years but it was about a 3/16" thick wire. Thanks for everyones' help.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Cool! At least thats a pretty easy and inexpensive fix!

_________________
Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4