Boat won't start

[Rob]

Went to fire up the boat in the driveway before taking it out a couple weeks back, and it won't turn over.
-Battery is fully charged (tried two different ones)
-Cable is nice and clean, and well terminated on both ends

When I try to crank it, the motor makes a click.  Additionally the power trim won’t raise or lower the motor.  Just a little bit of electrical whining when I try to move it.

I am NOT mechanically inclined.  I plan to take it to a shop to have it looked at, but I fugure it is probably something simple that burned out in the motor.

My question to the fine folks of Hunt-Wa are:
1.    Any ideas to the cause?  (again, assume a good battery and cable connections are fine)
2.   Any reputable mechanics suggestions in the Lynnwood/Everett area that work on Mercury motors?  It is a 60 HP.

[92xj]

Battery.
The two must not have a complete charge to them.
Hook it up to your running vehicle with jumper cables. 
The click sound and no electric trimming screams no power.
If you complete/full power to everything including the power trim I would then tap the starter with a hammer and then try the key.  But start with jumper cables from a running vehicle to the battery.   

[lostbackpacker]

what year motor?  2 stroke or 4 stroke.  I can help ya but need more information first

[Bookworm007]

Your not getting full electrical power somewhere. I would double check grounds, starter solenoid and might just replace the battery cables since they are cheap and the most likely culprit.

[gaddy]

had the battery load tested??

[Rob]

I have not had the battery tested (I don't have the equipment to do this - remember, not my specialty.  if you need an excel model built, or a project planned, I'm your guy.  If you need mechanical work done, go to anyone but me!)

I do have two relatively new, well cared for batteries that I fully charged and tested without any luck.  It is possible I have two bad batteries, but they are both under 2 years old, stored inside, and well cared for.  Trying it with the truck battery is not a bad idea…

I removed and stripped open the battery cable on the battery end of the starter cable and checked the wiring.  Bright silver wires, no corrosion at all.  Ire- terminated the cable and cleaned up the posts (although they were pretty clean to start with).  I removed the housing and checked where the cable terminates to the engine and it also was tight, clean, with no corrosion.

What I am thinking is, something between where the battery terminates to the engine, and where the power is distributed, there must be some kind of power unit that has failed.

Is this what the solenoid does?

(this is a 2 stroke 60 HP Merc, that I am guessing is a mid 1990’s model.)

[92xj]

Youve started in the right direction by checking the wires.  Since they have no corrosion, I'm still leaving on your batteries are not charged enough.  Simpply on the fact that you hear a click when turning the key AND you have no power to trim up or down and I am going to assume, no other power to anything on the boat?
Try jumper cables.  That will either eliminate the bad batteries or tell you it's an easy fix by replacing the batteries.
Also, did you follow the power wire/cables from the batteries to where they go, checking for cuts, cracks, etc....

[wildmanoutdoors]

If you fully charge your battery and take it to Schwab they will load test for free. Deep cycles should be replaced every 2 years.

[magnanimous_j]

What I am thinking is, something between where the battery terminates to the engine, and where the power is distributed, there must be some kind of power unit that has failed.

If you are getting weak electrical performance from other systems like your motor lift, the culprit is most likely the battery. I just had the exact same problem with my motorcycle a few weeks ago after sitting unused in the garage for months. Batteries don't like to sit.

Try these guys. best prices, and free shipping from Oregon. I got mine in a couple days. Couldn't be happier with the experience.

http://www.batterystuff.com/

[Rob]

hypothetically, if the batteries were 100%, and the cables were totally fine,

What would be the next thing that folks would look at?

I'll research the battery and cable situation a bit more, but wondering what other ideas might be next to check.

[Rob]

I should also note, this boat has not sat all winter - I get her out every 4-6 weeks.  And she sits in a garage between soaks.

[Russ McDonald]

Everything you describe is a battery.  With trim not working which is a seperate system from the the starting so the only thing that is common with both is the battery and cables.

[92xj]

hypothetically, if the batteries were 100%, and the cables were totally fine,

What would be the next thing that folks would look at?

I'll research the battery and cable situation a bit more, but wondering what other ideas might be next to check.

Hypothetically the only other thing that would make sense would be a cut power wire to your trim button and to your starter (but not even starter since that is most likely making the "click" noise).  Those two things, completely different things that run off of power, going out at the same time is one in a million I would think.  Unless, your motor is locked up and the trim tube is seized up with rust and junk, but those happening at the same time, one in a million as well, I would think...

Trace wires, looking for breaks, corrosion, and all your grounds.  Thats where I would start is my batteries were 100% good.

[gaddy]

starter solenoid & connections, ignition switch?? power runs through something to get somewere. all it takes is a bad connection or ground. had problems on my fuse block that gave me fits once. a little corrosion killed a mess of functions.

[Buckmark]

Ground connection.....
Got a volt meter? They are not expensive and would be a huge help..

[Rob]

Thanks everyone, I'll report back once I figure out what is happening.

I must have  been stuck in a different line when they handed out the mechanical ingenuity genes!

[92xj]

What did you try last night?
What worked/didnt work?

[Rob]

I did not get home until after 10pm last night so I was not able to test anything.

I did however have a "duh" moment while mulling this over. 

I focused in on the positive contact, but I never checked where the negative contact terminated to the engine, nor did I check the cable to see if it had corrosion inside the wire casing.

That will be my first order of business when I look at it today/tonight.

[92xj]

Cool deal,
Keep us posted.
I'm sure we can talk you through this and help and any way we can.  It's nice doing things yourself and also saving labor cost of $90+ an hour taking it to the shop.

Grounds are problematic for me when dealing with electricals near water.  I have to redo the grounds on my boat trailer often because of the water and corrosion. Its the devil!

[Rob]

I appreciate the help and ideas!

[littlemac]

As stated by many, get a jump box or jump from a running vehicle.  I have had to many Merc's to count and inevitably they start every year when supplied by a "good" battery.

The least expensive first step you have is to jump it.  Make sure to hook it up properly as a common mistake is reverse polarity and it blows the  fuse.

The click at the starter and lack of power to trim are the "classic" telltale of insufficient power.  I get it virtually every spring and curse my multiple battery start water toys.

Keep it simple, Jump It!

[Boss .300 winmag]

Get yourself a trickle charger if you don't have one, hook it up every time between using it.

[kisfish]

What did you find out?

[Rob]

Was out all weekend,  but I managed to poke at it Sunday night.  I tried jumping it and got the same symptoms.  All the connections are solid, clean and tight. 

I can't tell a solinoid from a spark plug so it looks as though it is time to get it to a mechanic.

[92xj]

If you hooked up it with jumper cables from a running vehicle and still got the clicking and your other electrical items didnt work while hooked up, you have a ground disconnected somewhere.  If you got electrical items to work while hooked up with jumper cables but still got the click when trying to turn it over, your starter is locked up or your starter is good and your motor is locked up. 
This has me very curious of the outcome of this.  I wish I was closer to help you. 
Keep posting your findings and the things you try with detail.  This thread will help a lot of people in the future searching the forums for boat problems.

[PolarBear]

You need to test the voltage coming in to the motor.  It could be a break in the wire if the battery is actually fully charged.  The solenoid should not effect the trim unit.  I wish that I was closer.  My guess is that it is something very simple but I am crappy at diagnosing stuff over the interwebs.  Your best bet is take a volt meter and check every connection.

[Max the dog]

99% likely Bad ground. Even if it looks ok, take it off and clean it and make sure its tight on all connections (problem is probably on battery side, which explains why other users not working well).  You could also use your jumper cables to bypass the main wires as a test.  Just because cables pass voltage doesn't mean they will handle the high current(amps) of a start.  Good luck

[Machias]

Kill switch?  Blown fuse?  The guy I bought my bass boat from had the same issue, tore it all apart to find out it was a blown fuse.  6 cents later it fired right up. 

[xxlx7]

if it just clicked once, its the starter contacts.