Marine Mechanics

SAMIAM · 06-08-2014, 02:38 PM

After my boat was delivered this spring, I noticed that there was a problem with the batteries. It would start on battery # 1 but would not start on battery #2 or #1 and #2 together, however on #2 it would operate the trim but not start the motor.
Soooo off we go to the marina (no point in names, we all make mistakes) where they said that #2 battery was weak (2011 boat w/175 hours) and they replaced it for $172.00. This was on a friday and I used the boat over the weekend and nothing had changed.....still dead on two terminals which told me my old battery was probably fine and it was an electrical problem of some kind. So I went back to get my old battery back and it had already been picked up for recycling.
When I explained that the new battery had not solved the problem the mechanic told me that, clearly it was an electrical problem causing the starter to call for both batteries, that it might be a warranty issue and would take several hours of diagnosis. Bummer
Long story short......,I happened to run into my old buddy Tup Goodhue who was in the business at Goodhue Marine for many years and told him my tale of woe. Tup said there was nothing wrong with the electronics, probably just a little corrosion from storage.
Sure enough, pulled the cover.....one shot of WD40 and I'm all set.
Not trying to bash anyone, just saying it's not a bad idea to get a second opinion. Learned a lesson but it cost me $175 and a good battery.

06-08-2014, 02:38 PM	#1
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,909 Thanks: 337 Thanked 1,686 Times in 592 Posts	Marine Mechanics After my boat was delivered this spring, I noticed that there was a problem with the batteries. It would start on battery # 1 but would not start on battery #2 or #1 and #2 together, however on #2 it would operate the trim but not start the motor. Soooo off we go to the marina (no point in names, we all make mistakes) where they said that #2 battery was weak (2011 boat w/175 hours) and they replaced it for $172.00. This was on a friday and I used the boat over the weekend and nothing had changed.....still dead on two terminals which told me my old battery was probably fine and it was an electrical problem of some kind. So I went back to get my old battery back and it had already been picked up for recycling. When I explained that the new battery had not solved the problem the mechanic told me that, clearly it was an electrical problem causing the starter to call for both batteries, that it might be a warranty issue and would take several hours of diagnosis. Bummer Long story short......,I happened to run into my old buddy Tup Goodhue who was in the business at Goodhue Marine for many years and told him my tale of woe. Tup said there was nothing wrong with the electronics, probably just a little corrosion from storage. Sure enough, pulled the cover.....one shot of WD40 and I'm all set. Not trying to bash anyone, just saying it's not a bad idea to get a second opinion. Learned a lesson but it cost me $175 and a good battery.