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I had a wonderful Fathers Day. We took the Mac to Lakefront Park, Saint Could, FL. I have posted before, this is a very nice marina on a lake that is basically 5 miles in diameter and averages 8 to 10 feet deep.

But there is always something that goes wrong, I have learned this, more detail below and sorry for the long post.

We had a light rain in the morning, but the forecast was supposed to be good after that. We drove there (about 30 min.) and 10 min. out rain stopped and the boat was pretty dry from driving down the freeway.

We rigged the boat with no problems.

I have learned, there is always something perplexing with the boat.

The water was about 2 feet low, had to back the boat past the end of the ramp dock. Have the boat in the water, floating, I jump into the cockpit. I turn on the power (I always put the switch on both unless I know I will be using the power without motor for a very extend period of time.

I lift the motor off the safety block, swing that out of the way and begin to lower the motor and it drops to about the same distance it was lifted and just stops, as though I had no power what so ever. Very strange since it had only been 19 days since I had her out (can the battery be dead in that short period of time)?

I kept hitting the switch, and then I put in the key and turned it, nothing, just as though there was 0 power going to the motor. I grabbed my portable jump battery, went down below and hooked it up to (what I believe is the start batter (have large posts like a car batter, it was the one on the left). What appears to be the house battery is the one on the right, had smaller posts and several thing hooked up to it.

I went up, nothing still, I switch to the other battery, nothing, I played with the switch, nothing. I was in a rush since I was sitting in the ramp (Good thing they have 3 ramps so you dont have cars lining up behind you), but I think I had left the charger on the motor battery?

I turned on the radio to see if there was power and there was (of course I know that could just be the house battery). Since I was in a rush I dont remember if I left the jumper connect to the start battery, but this time I went up and what I did was turn the motor with the wheel, and suddenly it was working. I dont think it was leaned over that much but can that prevent it from tilting up and down? I have a Suzuki 50? Or was the battery dead and after leaving the portable jumper on there for a few min. helped? Just dont know? I would think when you hook them up they would be like a new battery that the motor pulls from? I did have the switch on for jumping and it was fully charged.

Just hoping someone know what this is or has experience this. My concern is since I dont know what the problem was nor the fix, I am concerned about it happening again.

For the good news, had a great sail, overcast, so no sun, and no bimini! Brisk wind around a steady 10 to 12 knots, and we were cruising (with 6 on board) between 5 and 6 MPH (according to the GPS) with just the genoa. I have like sailing with just that and not even having the boom on the boat when we have all 6, I feel we have more room. But we need to get used to have the book there, just lazy on my part, one less thing to hook up.

Gem - it sounds like you have a bad electrical connection somewhere that is getting flexed when you turn the wheel.

You need to get this diagnosed and repaired as a safety issue - loose wires have high resistance > heat > fire

FIres on board are not fun.

It could just be in a low current control wire like a solenoid, but that still needs to be dealt with pronto.

Best shot at troubleshooting would be to lower the motor on the trailer and turn the wheel looking for changes in voltages on wires while you do this.

Also a careful inspection of the wire looms from battery to engine is in order, a difficult job, but thats why electrical intermittants suck...

Just had identical problem in brand new 26M after 5 hours. Was electrical connection within steering stanchion. Snap connector had not been 'snapped' together fully - and it fell apart after a bit of motoring/ailing.

Was your totally disable after that? Mine just wouldn't move up and down, but when I turned the wheel to straighten the motor and then tried it worked. I went out that day for several hours and up and down quite a bit without issue.

Gemini, also check the connections on the battery, because most likely you could of wiggled them when you connected up your jumper battery. Let us know when you find out what your problem was

The wires to the motor starter and the radio is different. Both go straight from the battery. Sounds like you have a loose connection somewhere, somehow.

All electrics worked - except engine - was turning but would not fire and would not tilt (its a Yamahah 50). First thought it was faulty dead man button - but turned out to be snap connector.

I had a similar situation. when in neutral (remote control lever) and turned the key the battery seemed weak. I could hear the starter bump but not turn the motor.

After jump starting the motor. and calling it a day. (Then finding out the battery is just fine) and also finding out that i had to drive 2 and !/2 hours for service with a 3 week wait .....I had to give it one more shot to solve the problem.


Turns out the control lever, while in neutral, can at some times not give a good connection. Now I move it to the '' sweet spot" and it cranks every time. So the your problem could be similar.

I had a similar problem. In my case the motor would raise, but not lower. I suspected a bad solenoid and ordered a replacement. When I went to install it I discovered a faulty ground wire connection to the original. I put the new one in anyway, and now have a good spare. I haven't had any problems with the tilt since.

Electrical problems are very difficult to diagnose, as we've all mentioned. If you can't locate the cause yourself, it may be necessary to have the circuit gone over by someone who is experienced with energized lines.

From personal experience, I have learned that college isn't really expensive when compared to replacement costs of components I've ruined during my 'learning' process when doing my own repairs. The up side is that I can diagnose and repair almost anything, given sufficient resources, but there was a cost!

Hmm, that's not it. . . well, that's not it either. . . let's try this. . . AAAAAHHHHHH sssssszzzzzzzzssssssttttttttttttt Smoke, cough, gag. $$$$$

Most repairs on board are relatively straightforward and easy, just need some cash, patience, and be willing to take a little risk. That does not apply to electrical. The patience and risk is the same, but the cash can get very, very high - very, very fast if you end up frying out your expensive motor, or as Cat said, start a fire. Can't see the danger with electricity. Although most problems are as simple as a disconnected connector, you're working with sensitive and expensive equipment, which you are safety-dependent upon. Needing your engine when you've created a short lurking there in the wiring harness for that perfect time to arc is not unlikely. We call it Murphy's Law.

Do what you can to locate the obvious, but use caution, disconnect the battery - negative post - and see what you can see. If all connectors are tight, no chaffed lines, no swollen or bubbled wires, there may be something hidden that if you dig into may end up costing you more money than paying to have someone experienced looking into it for you.

I'm not an advocate of paying for repairs and I rarely do, but what was it Clint said in that movie - no, not 'feeling lucky, punk?'

. . . oh yea - 'A man's got to know his limitations.'

Michael

Update: finally got a chance to take the boat out today, first time since the original post of June 19! It looked good because the weather wasnt too hot first thing in the morning (still 85 and humid) but cloudy! Plus my 18 year old son was off work to help.

Great day boating on the Harris Chain of Lakes (Mount Dora, FL).

At the ramp, had the boat floating on the trailer and since no one was there (8 AM on Sunday) I experimented with the motor going up and down. Conclusion is that the motor tilts up and down with no problem. But, a BIG BUT, if I turned the motor to the port (steering wheel to the port) it will not tilt up or down, but if centered up and down no problem. After feeling confident this was the case we decided to go out.

It wasnt too hot since it was cloudy and early in the day. First time it was just my son and I with no ballast (always had a boat full). According to the GPS, we were doing 17 MPH on full place and 6500 RMPs on the Suzuki 50.

After 4 hours or so and a nice lunch in Mt. Dora we headed back to the ramp. Still no one there (I love this place, no crowds)! Pulled the boat out and parked.

Now I was going to test this up and down on dry land. Same conclusion, it is almost like there is a switch that is engaged one the motor is put hard to port. I didnt try hard to starboard, should have but by now Noon and the sun out, was just too hot! I opened the motor cover and checked all the wires; I believe it is not anything like that. Now, on the starboard side of the motor there is a sticker that says, This side up for storage and transportation. Meaning that side is up when the motor is put hard to port.

Maybe it is by design for transportation to disengage the tilt motor?

Any one else have this experience or does it have to be a connection issue?