Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

[j7676]

Hello,

I have a Four Winns 190 Horizon with Volvo Penta 5.0. I have had this same issue for a couple seasons. The boat will start fine when cold. After a couple hours of tubing with stopping and starting the boat, it will suddenly not start. Starter tries to turn over but doesn't even come close. If I charge the battery for a few hours the boat will start fine. Does this seem like an alternator issue or something excessively draining the battery? I appreciate all comments.

Thank You.

Jess

 

[Don S]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

Sounds a lot like you have it hydrolocked. aka water in the cylinders.
Does it diesel when you shut it off? Do you get to your tuber and just shut the engine off after a run and coast to a stop and let the wake hit the back of the boat?
You should be bringing it back to idle, let it idle for a minute as you move toward the downed tuber, and then shut it off.

 

[j7676]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

Don,

Thanks for the fast reply! I am pretty conscious of coasting before I stop as I know that hyrdolocking is a possibility. I live on a pretty calm inland lake without a lot of wake. I forgot to mention that I have new starter and battery from last season. Any other ideas are definitely appreciated.

Thanks,

Jeff

Sounds a lot like you have it hydrolocked. aka water in the cylinders.
Does it diesel when you shut it off? Do you get to your tuber and just shut the engine off after a run and coast to a stop and let the wake hit the back of the boat?
You should be bringing it back to idle, let it idle for a minute as you move toward the downed tuber, and then shut it off.

 

[j7676]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

I have been doing some testing this morning. I put in a fresh battery and fires right up. When I raise and lower the prop with the engine ON I hear a loud whining sound when the prop is moving and for a second after I take my finger off the switch. I always thought that it just needed to be lubricated. When do the same thing with the engine OFF I do not hear that whining sound....all is normal. Also, when I raise/lower with engine ON the dash meter drops from 13 to 11 (no sure if that is normal.)

During the course of using the boat I am raising/lowering a lot since I go through a few sand bars to get to main part of the lake...plus the starting/stopping of the engine. So my battery is definitely working hard (assuming raising/lowering prop is hard on the battery.

Doing some research this sounds like an alternator problem. Could this be just bad belts? Is it difficult to test the alternator without taking it off? Is the alternator easily accessible? Is this something that a mobile marine mechanic can do on site without pulling the boat out? If I need a new alternator, what should be the approximate cost?

Any other suggestions of what the problem might me is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Jess

 

[Don S]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

How about a full model number of the engine. Volvo has been using the 5.0L engine since the early 70's some Chevy, some Fords and all kinds of different drives.

 

[j7676]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

Can't find a model number on it....just says Volvo Penta everywhere. The engine is 5.0GL and on outboard says "SX" and it's a 99 Horizon 190. Hope that helps.

Thanks again.

How about a full model number of the engine. Volvo has been using the 5.0L engine since the early 70's some Chevy, some Fords and all kinds of different drives.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

Have you tried to see how much current is being drawn when trying to hot start? There are ammeters that fit over the cable

 

[j7676]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

I am definitely not a DIY'er. If I can't fix it with a hammer, screwdriver or pliers I leave it to experts!! Basically accepted the fact that I am going to need a mechanic to step in but wanted to help point him in the right direction to avoid any unnecessary expenses. Was hoping that describing the issue would be enough....but have been a boat owner long enough to know that that's usually not the case.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

You say the trouble is after the engine has ran and sat for a couple of hours then won't start. Does it crank over very slowly, not at all or does it just make clicking noises? Being an I/O it probably has an ammeter or volt meter. what does it read?

 

[j7676]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

I will have the non-starting issue after using the boat for a couple hours....either at one time or over a few days. I can be on the water and all is good and then the next second it won't start. It will try to start but I can tell it's not going to turn over. If I put a fresh battery in (I have two), or charge the battery that was in the boat it will start right up. One battery is new from last season and one a few years old. Same issue with both batteries.

With a freshly charged battery the on dash volt meter will be a hair over 13. Today I ran the boat for 30 minutes and it seemed to now be slightly under 13 (meter only goes from 10-16).

Basically the battery is slowly dying after a couple hours of use of starting/stopping the boat and raising/lowering prop...and there is a whining sound which sounds like a belt when raising/lowering prop when the engine is running that is NOT present when raising/lowering prop when the engine is off.

Again, I definitely appreciate the advice.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

Bad rectifier bridge in alternator will prevent charging and can allow the alt to make all sorts of noises. If you put in a fresh battery and let it sit a few days does it slowly go dead? Maybe you should pull the alt and get it checked

 

[j7676]

Re: Boat won't start after approx two hours of use

Thanks Jimmbo. If I let it sit with a fresh battery all is good....even for a week. It's just a couple hours on the lake and suddenly it won't start. I think it's the alternator as well. Having it looked at this week. I'm just not that "mechanical" so I just wanted know what I should be concerned about so there are no surprises....or if this was a common issue.

Thanks Again.

Bad rectifier bridge in alternator will prevent charging and can allow the alt to make all sorts of noises. If you put in a fresh battery and let it sit a few days does it slowly go dead? Maybe you should pull the alt and get it checked