Carver Owners Forum

I have a 1986 32 Mariner with a windlass switch issue. I cannot find the breaker.
I have been told that there may be another panel other than the main panel in the cabin.
Appreciate any help

You wont find another panel however you should find a breaker similar to this. Most likely located near the main on off battery switch.
https://www.amazon.ca/ZOOKOTO-Circuit-Breaker-Automotive-Waterproof/dp/B07GCVSBNP

What is the windlass make ? Have you seen a fairly large red button...push on/pull off, that is the breaker if maxwell.

Maxwell must have changed breaker type as I have had 2 maxwell units and both were like the link I posted above. Regardless, you are looking for an in-line breaker of some sort, not a panel.

A lot of the earlier models came from the factory with no windlass.......so it could be a retro fit installation, so the breaker could be anything, anywhere depending on the windlass maker, size, the installer and the year it was installed. For sure it will be in the main feed cable.

Sorry not much help...the hunt is on...

There is also the possibility that someone installed it without a breaker. If so, I would install one.

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I will keep searching. I have a powerwinch model 612.

Powerwinch......have a look for maybe something like this in the main cable from the battery.....it is a pic of their 25amp breaker they used on some models....

Do some troubleshooting first, because you might have two different circuits. On my boat, which was similar vintage and an aftermarket winch install, there was the main circuit from the batteries to the winch solenoids that was protected by a big breaker by the batteries, but there was another circuit - the control circuit - that fed the switches from sources at each helm and there was a separate smaller breaker in the panel for this circuit.

Check to see if you have any voltage on the big solenoids by the winch. If you do, then start troubleshooting the switch circuit(s) to see where they are fed from.

in my 1991 someone used a house type breaker high up inside the lower helm closet.... and nothing from battery in the engine bay to that spot

it works as an off/on switch but doubt that it will do much quick enough before it burns when stuck. Replaced the solenoids for a modern single block with remotes, as the foot switches were toast too.