Electrical problems

[stallion69]

I'm a new boater and hope someone out there can help me. I left a light on in the cuddy for two weeks, when I went over to take the boat out for a fishing trip the battery was dead. I got the battery jumped and the motor started just fine but there was no power to any of the instrement gages nor would the motor tilt. I took the boat out and ran it for just over an hour, the battery did not charge. I tried restarting the motor again, the battery was still completly dead. Any ideas about this. The boat is a Bayliner, Trophy with a Merc "Black Max" 175, thanks for your help.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Electrical problems

2 possibilities.....<br />>battery badly sulphated from being dead for so long<br />>charging system bad on engine<br /><br />Take battery out of boat and charge for 2-3 days at a slow charge rate 2-5 amps max. Reinstall battery, start engine and measure voltage across battery terminals. If voltage increases to 13+ , rock on, if the battery voltage stays down around 12.8 or less, check charging system....<br /><br />*if battery won't start engine after being charged, take it in to a auto shop and have it tested