Know how to diagnose issues that can crash a boat's electronics.
Electronic equipment problems always seem to crop up at the worst possible time. The chartplotter bites the dust on the way out for a day of fishing, or the depthsounder blanks out during a transit of some questionable channel. Tech support is a wonderful thing, but self-reliance and the ability to recognize and fix simple problems is even better. A few basic troubleshooting tips can help bring ailing electronics back online.
The first step in troubleshooting any system or piece of electronics gear is something owners should have done before the problem even arose: read the owner’s manual. Having a basic understanding of how the gear or system functions and is installed (e.g., a block diagram) before troubleshooting begins is extremely helpful in recognizing and locating common problems. Most manuals have a basic troubleshooting section, which can get things moving.
The Basics
When a piece of electronics gear fails to turn on, start by checking the power connection at the unit for looseness or corrosion. If the DC power panel has a voltmeter installed, take a quick look to verify it shows the correct voltage and that all required breakers are on. How many of us have realized a “problem” was actually caused by a battery switch or circuit breaker being in the off position?
For electronics that work intermittently or lose certain functions, check the remaining plugs or wire connections, which can also suffer from corrosion or come loose over time due to vibration.
