Banter, why I will never own another Stingray...

ric · **Posted:** Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:01 pm

There is no fuse panel or provisions for add-on accessories. The main 8g power wire comes into the helm directly into the reset-able breakers starting at horn, courtesy light, nav lights, radio, blower, then ignition with spade terminal jumpers using those add-a blade connectors. Standard terminals, unprotected. Not marine grade. The ignition of the boat has nearly 12 points of failure before it's powered. Ground is shared via the ground terminals on the back of the gauges. No bus bars. Zip ties uncut, very rough fiberglass in un-seen areas that wires touch.

Stingray's wiring diagram PDF's are not 100% correct and they do not show ground wires.

I asked Stingray why did decided to omit any provisions for end users to add accessories wired into the helm like GPS, fan for cuddy, etc and they responded they did have one, but it's used by the courtesy light that's standard on my 2009 model.

So as a happy stingray owner my next project is to run another 8g power wire to the helm and install a 6 fuse accessory panel with ground. Use that to wire TV, GPS, 12v power outlet in cabin. Also re-wire ignition 12v positive and ground to new circuit so when the 11 other spade connectors corrode and loose contact my boat won't shut down in a busy channel with swift currents in foul weather.

It's not a four winns and I understand that, but good lord... I'm sure there's far worse boats being made but this my first time seeing such a cheap ass install on a 35k MSRP boat.

jvthundercat · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:45 am

And yet, we would love to have ours back! Nice handling boat.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:32 am

jvthundercat wrote:

And yet, we would love to have ours back! Nice handling boat.

Yeah that's what they all brag about. The hull. I agree it's a really good hull, but did they forget to hire an electrical engineer?

jvthundercat · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 4:42 pm

Can not speak on that, as we never had any problems with ours.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 5:27 pm

jvthundercat wrote:

Can not speak on that, as we never had any problems with ours.

They changed the wiring harness in 2008+ that removes the standard marine fuse panel and went with the ghetto money saving setup. Push button breakers suck, they're cheap and very slow to react. They saved .50 cents and instead of using a bus bar went with 6 crimped unsoldered un protected jumpers to link power to each one. Left zero room to grow or to add any more for accessories. It requires running new power/ground wires and installing a new fuse panel under the dash (where it used to be) so one can add accessories. Cheap bastards.

LouC · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 5:50 pm

They all save money somewhere unless it's s Cobalt or Formula.... On my FW the glass work on the stringers and bulkheads was just awful, as was the bad job of glassing in the deck that was stapled in with hundreds of nasty rusty staples. Fixed all that in the resto.

EvilZ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 5:57 pm

I always wondered why breakers weren't used more in cars and boats....seems like a better way to go than having fuses that have to be replaced......

ric · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:30 pm

EvilZ wrote:

I always wondered why breakers weren't used more in cars and boats....seems like a better way to go than having fuses that have to be replaced......

they're not as good as fuses (much slower) and when they fail you're stranded. fuses can be sized based on how fast you want it to react. Cheap and simple to replace. etc.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:09 pm

EvilZ wrote:

I always wondered why breakers weren't used more in cars and boats....seems like a better way to go than having fuses that have to be replaced......

Just for reference. Our boat has a whole panel of breakers, and several fuses as well. I was happy to see that when we were shopping for a new boat. Of course our 268 as well as our Monty 282 had many breakers. Cruisers always do. There were a few times they were nice to have.

As Lou says, many builders cut corners where they can to keep cost down. But IMO, electrical and structural are two areas that should not be compromised.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Breakers can be sized according to the desired load also......that's why you have different amp breakers just as you have different amp fuses......they react no faster or slower - a 5 amp breaker will trip just as fast as a 5 amp breaker. Only difference is the 5 amp fuse is garbage after it reaches failure point and 5 amp breaker is not.

If i am not mistaken a breaker is more expensive than a fuse??? Maybe what they did is limit the overall load you can put on the power supply line by restricting the ability to add on....maybe they did have an electrical engineer that designed a system that's idiot proof to save a boat and someones ass.

I always wondered why they had a fuse panel that was capable of letting you add-on to the point of overloading the entire circuit.....just cuz there is space to add on to a fuse box doesn't mean the power source is able to carry the full load if you turn on all accessories at once.....unless of course you are one to rely on the main "breaker" or "fuse" to blow.

You cant be upset with a manufacturer for not setting you up for unanticipated add-on's like televisions in a cuddy....i would imagine the Cabin Cruisers are set up for such accessories.

Just a thought

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Its no big deal - tie on the wires to the existing line and pull them thru - tie on an extra line so you can pull original back when done....hook them up and your in business. You could have been done in the time wasted to whine about it:)

ric · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:34 am

No stingray boats since 2008 are setup to add any accessory, including cabin cruiser. You want to add something you gotta add your own fuse panel and wiring from the battery.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:41 am

You get what you pay for. Just one of the reasons Stingray was not on our list for a new boat, doubt they will ever be. They make decent boats, but not what I would spend my money on. Too many better choices out there. As long as a Stingray works for you, nothing wrong with that.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:54 am

Cap'n Morgan wrote:

You get what you pay for. Just one of the reasons Stingray was not on our list for a new boat, doubt they will ever be. They make decent boats, but not what I would spend my money on. Too many better choices out there. As long as a Stingray works for you, nothing wrong with that.

It was just the first small cuddy available after a long summer with no boat. All in all it's a very well built, build quality on par with Four Winns and in some ways better. It's not going to fall apart or have cosmetic issues any time soon, materials used throughout are top tier quality. Lacks features though, it's just a plain ole boat.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Well - i guess if you think about it - who would think to check out the ability to expand the electrical system when inspecting or searching for a boat. I certianly would not have looked farther than corrosion or unprofessional runs and connections.

Really though - it shouldn't be too tough to add. I just pulled over 750 of wire at the house....so tugging on 20 feet shouldn't take but a few minutes.....or......if your main wire run is heavy enough you can do away with the current connetions all together and install the expandable board you want.

www.iFourWinns.com

Banter, why I will never own another Stingray...

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