[alanw]

Originally Posted by Reelist

The operations manual calls for a 3 amp in-line fuse. It also calls for a 5 amp thermal breaker. Is it either/or? Thanks again.

Forget the 3A fuse from the manual, I think it's a misprint. Their FAQ says use a 5A fuse or 5A thermal breaker http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=7625

Use the breaker instead of a fuse if you can because it won't need replacing if tripped. I got one from WM http://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue-s...rs--P006557607

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Just a single fuse will do just fine. My fishfinder isn't fused at all, I just run mine strait to the battery. The possibility of a short is pretty slim to none, if you have wired it correctly.

Your call but I would always use circuit protection. A shorted wire smoking inside your yak (or worse) while your offshore is a disaster. There's a huge amount of energy in a battery.

Originally Posted by momo fish

And if I run a fuse does it matter which wire to connect to?

The non-grounded side is what's fused. On our plastic kayaks we don't have a grounded chassis so you can fuse either side you want since it makes no difference to the circuit. But, ground the positive side since that's what people are used to and it makes it less confusing if someone else were to work on your yak.