Battery hooked up in reverse

Here is an update. I check it out last night with a continuity tester and went through and check all the fuses, the circuit breaker, the battery switch, all were good. At the engine there was a 12v-80amp fuse that blew. There was a spare fuse on the engine so I change it and restored power to it. The tilt worked. I was losing daylight so I didnt have time try and start it and see what else went. I tried the radio and that didnt work. I will have to see if there is a fuse in the back of it. I will have to go through everything saturday to see what other damage it did. It blew an 80 amp fuse but didnt trip a 40 amp circuit breaker. I dont understand that. I should have another update monday. Thanks for your help.
 
The trip/blow curves of breakers and fuses is quit different. Most breakers will allow a spike and not trip, where unless you have a slow blow fuse they blow pretty fast.

I'd still be a little worried about the breaker tripping if somethning shorted. Salt air has a way with things.
 
I just hope the fuse caught it in time before it got anything else.
 
I got it started last week and seems to be fine. I am running down all the other things I blew. Radio was out, bilge didnt work, stereo doesnt work. I fixed the radio. It was a fuse. The bilge pump was fried. I still have to replace that. I have not gotten to the stereo yet. I hope thats just a fuse. but the main thing is the engine started. I hope nothing else is wrong when I get it on the water. I hope to have it in by the end of the week. I will give a final update at that time. Thanks for everyones help.
 
Glad to hear it.

When you run motor check voltage at battery, voltage should be higher at battery vs. engine off.
 
Just an update. I got it in the water last weekend and took it for a little ride and everything seems fine for now. So a good leason has been learned the hard way. Make sure you hook up your battery correctly. Thanks for everyones help.
 
All's well that ends well. Glad it worked out in your favor, and thanks for posting.