Electrical help!

I was out on the lake a couple days ago and my boat (2002 outback ls) died/lost electrical out of the blue. I towed it home and used a voltmeter to find power going into the main breaker but not leaving it, even though it was not tripped. So I replaced it, turned the key heard the fuel pump power up, turned the key off. today I went to take it out and the battery was dead, so I switched to my backup battery and smoke started pouring out from under my dash. a couple of wires melted (I think to front lights) and the bottom of my circuit board burned through a connection. I'm not sure if I switched a wire while trouble shooting. Anybody know where to get a new circuit board? and where to start trying to find out what my problem is? how dumb/possible would it be to take power to the dash out and use the boat until I get a new board? Thanks!

Melted wires is a pretty good sign that something was shorted somewhere. Did you replace the main breaker with a new one of the same amperage rating? I wouldn't recommend using the boat until you have positively identified the problem, taken corrective actions, then verified the corrective actions (e.g. verifying repairs are not shorted/grounded etc via voltmeter etc).

Thanks for the good advice. I followed the wires and they ended at a cigarette lighter that is wired from the battery storage area. It looks like they were knocked loose, touched, then welded themselves together. I was able to jump the burn in the circuit board, and unhook those wires from power until skiers choice gets back to me about a new one. Hope this helps someone else who has a freak electrical issue later.

Two wires shorted together will do it every time!