Help - dead on the water

[SDSeville]

Well, my family and I are floating on Lake Mohave waiting for Boat US towing. My 1986 Sea Ray Sevilee with Merc 470 were crusing just fine for 2 straight days when all of a sudden ...sputter...then about 5 seconds later ...dead. No electrical at all. Starter won't turn no power to radio or anything. Battery seems fine because our tube inflator works just fine when connected straight to the battery.

Any suggestions?

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Help - dead on the water

Do you have just the one battery? No battery selector or on/off switch in the boat?

Mark

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Help - dead on the water

look for the big circuit breaker on the engine. see if that tripped.

after that, start checking connections

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Help - dead on the water

Check your fuse holder behind the dash....connected to the ignition switch. A loose connection killed all my power the same way. had to jiggle it to get it to work long enough for me to motor back to dock. Replaced it, problem solved.

 

[DaveG55]

Re: Help - dead on the water

Things I'd check;
Battery cables, bothe cables at both ends but especially the negative cable where it attaches to the block. All other wiring connections and plugs, fuses and circuit breakers. Ignition switch.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Help - dead on the water

I had a perko switch with ony one battery. Removed it and no diff.

In tow, now but checked connections behind dash and all looks good.

Also tried the breaker switch and nothing. Good thing I have Vessel Assist. I will look more when on the traier.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Help - dead on the water

Blower went dead about 10 minutes prior. It wsn't even a year old. Not sure if that is connected or not.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Help - dead on the water

I don't know the exact wiring of your boat but on my Maxum, there is a main feed from the battery to a post under the dash that then feeds the dash panel. You mentioned checking the connections behind the dash but maybe the next step to try would be if you have a little tester light to see that if indeed you have a similar setup, is that post getting power.

Mark

 

[Don S]

Re: Help - dead on the water

Are the battery cables clean and tight and the cables themselves in good shape? They also have 2 ends to each cable.
You aren't still using wingnuts are you? Regular nuts or nylocs and a wrench is what's needed.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Help - dead on the water

Thanks for all the help guys! I was towed the 7 miles back to the Marina and took the boat back to the hotel. I know I said it before, but I am sooooo glad I have Vessel assist.

In the hotel parking lot I went thru all of your posts and checked out what was suggested. It Turned out the end of the battery cable connected to the starter solenoid was just loose enough for the cable move a little and touch one of the other bolts on the solenoid -- shorted evrything. Rerouted and tightened and started right up. Back on the water in the morning!

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Help - dead on the water

.. but I am sooooo glad I have Vessel assist.

Vessel Assist=to get you towed back to port
Vessel Assist=your online Iboats forums to get you leaving port
(ok, corny:redface: I know. Someone has probably written this before I just haven't seen it).

Seems appropriate for those of us that have asked for help and those that have spent up to the last 8+ years of their lives helping us.

Good to hear it was a simple (free) fix.

Mark

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Help - dead on the water

Vessel Assist=to get you towed back to port
Vessel Assist=your online Iboats forums to get you leaving port

You could not be more correct. I wouldn't even have been on the water in the first place this week if it wasn't for the great iboats people. When the economy went sour a few years ago, I had to sell me newer boat. With the help of the guys and gals on the restoration forum, I learned enough to buy an older boat and completely restore the inside of the boat (stringers, transom, deck, and upholstery) to make it better than new. I had a mechanic go through the motor, but the engine forum has kept me on the water with fixes for several gremlins that have popped up.

With a crappy economy and 2 kids in college at the same time, I could not possibly be continuing to enjoy boating without the help of all of you on this site.

By the way, we wen't back out all day Wednesday and the boat ran perfect. We were able to enjoy the last day of our visit to the lake thanks to all of your help. That was especially nice since we were 350 miles from home.

Thanks again everyone