Newbie Needs Assistance, please

[Divinelife]

My husband and I have had our boat since May 2009. Always worked, regular maintenance, the works.

MOD EDIT - TMI

Below you will find the details of my question....but since I just signed up on this forum tonight....I am not familiar with the sub-topics here...and would love either some advice, or the appropriate forum to post on....

Thank you!

Its a Divinelife


1997 sunbird Corsair 180
18” ski boat
Inboard / Outboard
2007 Engine Block - Engine Volvo Penta 4.3 Liter V6 GLX
190 horsepower
Outdrive Volvo Penta - Alpha 1

Boat in working order September 2015.
Next time we went to use the boat (Oct?) , water was found in the engine compartment. Bottom part of engine was submerged. It was bilged out….and then (we were stupid enough to try and start the engine). Engine damn neared started….stalled, then, when we tried to restart….it was completely dead. Not even a click. Nothing, Nada.

Thoughts on what the issue is? I would love to have some knowledge before calling someone out. Any assistance would be appreciated!

Love, the "new" boat owner

 

[hemi rt]

Dead battery, if you have access to a battery charger try charging the battery for about 8 hours/overnight and then try it.

 

[jwall116]

You said boat in working order in Sep 2015 and the next time you went to use it was October of 2016??

I agree with the above, check your battery and all of its connections. Just because they look tight, does not mean they are. Also does not mean the connector isn't broken or corroded, wiggle the wires as well to inspect for corrosion.

After it stopped cranking did anything else on the boat work? Where are you trying to start the boat... driveway or in the water?

 

[Grub54891]

If the water was deep enough, it may have got to the starter, thus making it wet, and corroded the interior. Also the tin flywheel cover fills with water, and continues to eat up a new starter, You have to loosen the small bolts on it and let the water drain out of the flywheel area. And what was stated above on all wiring connection's. when I bought mine it was unknown if the starter had gotten wet, And was working fine for a few outings, the about 3 miles out it barely started, I got lucky. Found the starter to be totally toast.

 

[Divinelife]

Its definitely not the battery. Jwall - Sept 2015 boat worked....Oct 2015 it didn't - after the water got in the engine compartment. I replaced the fuses for the starter and bilge pump. When I try to start the engine, I can hear power going to the engine....but its not even clicking. Is it maybe the starter?

Grub - thanks for you answer....I have a feeling its the starter.

mod - you deleted the best part of my post, describing why I am a new boat owner LOL

 

[southkogs]

Is your battery fully charged? And, I would start checking the starter. You might try tapping on it with a light hammer or wrench and see if you can get it to spin a little, but the only way you'll know for sure is to pull it and have it tested.

 

[Watermann]

I agree with Grub, sounds like the starter got wet and has gone out. If you don't cover your boat it will continue to get ruined and remove the bilge plug when the boats not in use will keep the boat from filling with rain water if you choose to leave it out to the elements.