On Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:01:34 -0000, Inno wrote:

On May 22, 6:15 pm, "JimH" wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message

hlink.net...



There are usually 2 paths 12v takes on a small boat once it leaves the
engine area. The first is thru a harness that probably has a plug on the
engine end. This set of wires runs your ignition, instruments, and
anything else that the boat mfr. deemed necessary to operate from the
ignition switch. The second path/s, which should be fused but often is
not, runs everything else on the boat. The origin for all of these paths
is either the + battery post or a terminal on the starter. The common
ground on your engine should be a stud on the back side of a cylinder head
or the -battery post.

Your problem went from intermittent to solid. Did anything work right
after you changed the battery? Could you have left off a wire that should
have been connected to the battery?

Try this simple test. Turn your blower on and start wiggling all of the
wires that you can get your hands on in the engine room. If the blower
sputters or runs when you touch something, you have put your hands in the
problem area.

Some of the things that could be causing you grief are internal or
external corrosion of wire terminals ( particularly if they are steel).
Corrosion on the studs or posts they are connected to. A loose connection
could lead to arcing, which will cause a totally bad connection and or
insulation melting. A bad engine harness connection ( only if this is your
only source of 12v under the dash).

Good luck,
Jim
P.S. Keep a meter on your boat at all times.

The harness could certainly be the source of the problem. I have the same
engine on my boat and had to disconnect the harness in order to remove an
upholstered trim panel while installing a new swim ladder last Sunday. We
splashed the boat that same day and prior to doing so I reconnected the
battery and tested for power without starting the engine by turning the
ignition key one click. None of the gauges lit up so I checked the battery
switch, which was on and battery connections, which were tight. Finally
it occurred to me that I had disconnected the harness (located at the top
front port side of the engine) earlier in the day. I reconnected it,
tightened the holding strap and................I got power!

Perhaps the harness connection was bumped or otherwise loosened and it is a
good place to start.

I have not seen a "battery switch". Where would this be?

Mine is mounted behind one of the batteries. You're looking for something
like one of these: http://tinyurl.com/2wdhv3