www.iFourWinns.com

Our 2005 288 Vista was finally delivered by the dealer 3 weeks ago. It has been a continuous learning process but all indications are that she is a wonderful vessel. I have a minor issue to address i.e engine sync doesn't work. Anyway, the issue that concerns me most is the voltmeters in the instrument panel. Only one works. We have a two battery system; one engine battery & ships system battery. My question is: Is this normal since we only have one engine battery thus one voltmeter connected? In a three battery system I am assuming both voltmeters would be working? As I understand in the manual the two engine alternators are charging both batteries through an isolator.

Both voltmeters shoud work regardless of 2 or 3 battery set up.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I believe your owners manual should have a wiring schematic in it. If not then check the FW website for it. They usually have PDF files for the manuals. The schematic can tell you how things are supposed to be wired. Like how the voltmeters are wired from the helm back to the engine.

Iirc, the helm voltmeters show the voltage for the respective engine. One port, one starboard. There's often a 3rd gauge down in the electrical panel for the 3rd house bank (if there is one, of course). That's how our 348 is set . Yes, both should be working. Gauges are notorious for failing. Yours may need replacing.

There's probably at least 2 wiring connectors between the gauges and the engines. You'd have to check the voltage at the gauge first. If it's not present then you'd check that engine's alternator. Then you'd have to trace along the wiring to find out where it got interrupted. Connections can work loose over time, or get corroded. Electrical gremlins can rack up a LOT of a mechanics billable hours. A bit of DIY debugging can save a lot of money.

Any time you get a used boat you should be prepared for what the previous owners might have done to it. But if I were buying the boat from a dealer and it wasn't an as-is sale then I'd expect them to deliver me a boat with all systems functioning properly. Go over the boat and prepare a list of what is or isn't working and get them to deal with it.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista