Given all the troubles I've had with getting the boat started, which have been due to loose grounds,
leaving switches on, etc, I decided to bring the boat home and check it out before the outing
planned for yesterday and today.

Great intentions. I tightened the ground on the engine, and then went to check the hot wire to the
solenoid. Well, lucky me, there was a sticker right there showing the torque for the nut on the
solenoid! So I got out my trusty Craftsman torque wrench, which I've used only on my motorcycle, set
it for 8 n-m, and proceeded to tighten the nut.

I couldn't believe how loose it was. After two turns of about 60 degrees with the wrench, I'd still
not felt the 'click' indicating the proper torque had been achieved. I was surprised at how tight
that damn nut was supposed to be. But, I started to give it another turn when 'POP', the Bakelite
plastic housing broke off. (Yes, I used a whole lot of foul language!)

So, I called my local Yamaha guy, who gave me an 'Oh ****, that's expensive.' He then told me he
couldn't get parts from Yamaha because he'd not sold any new engines lately. He carried Triumph
brand boats, and as they went bankrupt last year, he's not gotten any to sell. Upon checking, I
found they've been bought and will be produced in Minnesota instead of NC.

So, I called TriState Marine, the big Parker and Grady White dealer up in Deale, MD. They didn't
have the parts, but could order them. For just the solenoid, the wanted about $570, For the complete
starter assembly, the price was about $700. I almost cried. I took the boat up so the service guy
could look at it. He recommended leaving it so they could best determine what was needed. Of course,
that would add another $95/hour labor charge. I left the boat, thinking I'd probably made a $1000
boo-boo with the torque wrench.

Then I came home and called my buddy, Tim. Tim, after hearing the story, started ROFLHAO. When I
asked why he was laughing he said he couldn't believe how badly Yamaha was ripping off people, and
that he could get the whole starter assembly (a Hitachi product) for about $85. So, based on the
advice of Tim, I went back to Deale and got my boat back.

Thanks, Tim. You're a lifesaver.

And, you'd *better* make a reasonable profit on this deal!!