Boat start issues

[Matt Garcia]

The last few weeks my boat has had some weird starting issues. I have brand new batteries and my boat starts 98% of the time out on the water. However every once in a while my boat will turn completely off and not start. It acts like it has no battery power at all. However If I try turning the key a couple of times it doesnt work. If I try it again, sometime shortly after it works. It has turned off while idlling and it turned off and ON while going about 5mph. There is no pattern to it, some days it wont turn off at all and one day it will turn off on its own.

So what could it be? I know its not the batteries. Is it a ignition switch issue? Bad ground? Thanks in advance.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

Check major cables and connections... being the red and black to the battery, main red to the starter, red from starter to ign relay.. wires from relay to ignition switch. Loosen them then re-tighten them to break any corrosion. The other issue is the starter relay. There are very tiny contacts in this relat. It's a small 1" x 1" cube located on the coil bracket at the back of the engine. I open mine with a small flat-blade screw driver and clean it once a year. It gets a powery white substance on it, and it will do EXACTLY what you are describing.

I have a pic of it.. let me find it.

[Timmy!]

Throttle lever switch? What about the emergency kill switch (the one with the bungee on it)? I know I've accidentally bumped my throttle lever (somehow) and the boat wouldn't start and then figured out what it was and felt stupid.

[Matt Garcia]

Check major cables and connections... being the red and black to the battery, main red to the starter, red from starter to ign relay.. wires from relay to ignition switch. Loosen them then re-tighten them to break any corrosion. The other issue is the starter relay. There are very tiny contacts in this relat. It's a small 1" x 1" cube located on the coil bracket at the back of the engine. I open mine with a small flat-blade screw driver and clean it once a year. It gets a powery white substance on it, and it will do EXACTLY what you are describing.

I have a pic of it.. let me find it.

A picture would be great. Didnt think of the starter rely. Thanks.

Throttle lever switch? What about the emergency kill switch (the one with the bungee on it)? I know I've accidentally bumped my throttle lever (somehow) and the boat wouldn't start and then figured out what it was and felt stupid.

I thought it was something simple like that when it first happened but that wasn't the case after not starting on a couple of different days.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

Here's the starter relay... The little 1" x 1" cube on the left. It can cause the exact problem.

Good Luck.

[Matt Garcia]

Here's the starter relay... The little 1" x 1" cube on the left. It can cause the exact problem.

Good Luck.

Ok thanks. Im not exactly sure where to look on the engine for this. I have a Marine Power engine so not sure if its the same.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

You can lay under the dash and see the wiring for the throttle lever switch and the kill lanyard. Check those as well... but Im still leaning towards the starter relay. If you have ever opened the engine cover and found condensate on the engine, then I would DEFINITELY replace it or open it and clean it.

They are cheap to replace as well. Mine's a 40 amp 4-prong Hella 12 volt relay.

Throttle lever switch? What about the emergency kill switch (the one with the bungee on it)? I know I've accidentally bumped my throttle lever (somehow) and the boat wouldn't start and then figured out what it was and felt stupid.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

At Summit... cheap.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

This is off a Marine Power 5.7

Ok thanks. Im not exactly sure where to look on the engine for this. I have a Marine Power engine so not sure if its the same.

[Matt Garcia]

This is off a Marine Power 5.7

Ok great, I have the same engine. Thanks for the replies.

[Timmy!]

You can get those relays at any auto parts store too for <$10.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

Yup... I just needed a picture.. LOL
Lots of "MARINE" parts are just auto parts with higher price tags.

[TeamAllen]

Matt, just checking on the progress. Any luck?

[Joeprunc]

Matt,
I didn't get a chance to check all the replies, but make sure the ignition switch terminals are all clean and tight. I'd pull them off, clean them, and apply a little dielectric grease to the connections, should help with future corrosion/oxidation.

Also check the perko battery switch terminals.