This is a big problem for me. The outboard motor does this
every time it's 1st time in the water cold just off the trailer, it
"turning on the key, the
starter motor just clicks, turn the key again and it clicks again,
after about 20-30 clicks on the key to start, the starter motor starts
to spin catching the top gear to crank" sometimes I have to manually
spin the starter motor to the "catch" position then hit the key to
start, sometimes it'll just click, but the more agressive you get with
clicking juice to the starter motor by turning the key to the on
position, the more it becomes "alive" and starts to crank normally.

I've managed to get the motor to start every time but it's very
annoying to have to sit there at the boat dock (with everyone watching)

while I click, click, click, click, (take motor cover off), click,
(spin the starter motor by hand), click, click, (starter motor starts
to move), click, click, and then finally the starter motor "clicks in"
and cranks and starts, pushing the key to choke (of course).

Running the motor for a few minutes cures it totally. I can restart the
motor fine all day after getting it going.

I'm thinking now I either have a potential circuit problem to the
starter motor, perhaps a solenoid, or a bad starter motor is there any
way I can
troubleshoot this prior to taking the boat back to the marina for
another look? I do have a volt meter available.

I'd appreciate any insight on diagnosing / troubleshooting (list) if
this a circuit problem,
juice to the starter problem (need voltage numbers and how to check),
or if I have a bad starter motor (intermittently failing - how do you
check that - other than swap in a new part?)...etc. Has anyone
experienced this "cold" type of clicking behavior from the starter
motor?