I purchased an '85 Rinker w/ '85 Mercruiser 170MR last fall. Battery was supposedly new 05/2003. Bilge pump was bad - replaced that. Horn doesn't work - don't use. Blower whines - don't use. Only thing to draw power other than starting is trim.<br /><br />Had charger on battery for about 1 1/2 days prior to launching boat mid-June. Battery dead at launch (possibly 10 hours most after removing charger) - used starting unit - ran fine. Boat left on boat lift - been needing to use starting unit every time - but then runs fine. Boat used every other weekend or so when we are up north at the lake.<br /><br />Boat killed in idle over weekend - sounded a bit rough (not terriable though) before killing. Starting unit wouldn't start boat either. After couple hours started but only w/ aid of starting unit again. Trimmed motor while pulling skier. Motor hesitated big time when ever I hit trim. Finally killed again. Wouldn't start. Time to come home from lake.<br /><br />Questions:<br />1) I'm assuming that battery must have a dead cell and therefore not holding any charge - I'll replace. But why would the engine really hesitate (almost to the killing stage) when trim is hit?<br /><br />2) is it possible that the bad blower & horn are pulling amps even when not used? Doesn't seem as though they should.<br /><br />3) would a battery that is so dead actually cause an engine to stall out? Doesn't seem like it should but with hitting the trim and the motor really hesitating it makes we wonder.<br /><br />Thanks for any input.<br /><br />Kurt
<br /><br />First: fix the blower and the horn. They are required by law and will get you a ticket if they don't work. Not running the blower for several minutes before starting could launch you and pieces of your boat all over the lake.<br /><br />Second: Have the battery tested. Sounds like it is so dead that if you pop a load on it you lose 12v and the engine dies.<br /><br />Third: Check your engine for charging to the battery; it may not be charging.<br /><br />Fourth: Get a meter and test your boat for power drain on the battery. That may be the original cause of all the above problems.<br /><br />Good luck and let us know what you find.