Boat won't start

[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.