Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by davis422 on 08/02/11 - 2:28 PM

We have a 1992 50 horse Johnson on our boat and are having issues. At the start of the season it would'nt fire up so I jump started it and it ran. When I shut it off it would not start again. I figured my battery was bad so I got a new one and it ran fine for our entire day.

The last two times I went to take it out it would not start. It will sluggishly turn over but not enough power to get it going. So I jumped it again today and after it sitting on the jumper cables for a bit it did start. I let the motor run for a while figuring this would charge it. Shut the motor off went to try it again and I was back to the sluggish sound of the starter trying to turn.

I thought it might be the alternator but would'nt it eventually die while I was out on the water? I also stored it with nothing hooked up to the battery in case something was drawing it down.

Any thoughts would help.

Posted by CES on 08/02/11 - 2:46 PM

Your motor has a magneto and doesn't need the battery once it's running. It generates it's own spark.

Sounds like to me that your engines charging circuitry has gone bad.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 08/02/11 - 3:08 PM

I always stress the importance of a Voltmeter either a separate gauge or built into a Fish Finder, GPS, whatever...

Do you have a Voltmeter?
If not, get one........
Then you will know at a glance whether your charging system is charging the battery or not......

Posted by Michael A on 08/03/11 - 5:39 AM

If you are jumping it with the existing boat battery and it turns over fine, the battery must be ok. A new battery should have the power to start that engine for weeks without charging unless you have high current drain from other electronics. To check charge system. Get a know good battery. Put a volt meter on it and note reading. Leave volt meter attached Start engine and rev it up in neutral. Does voltage reading increase to a level higher than it was before you started engine? If yes, engine is charging. If not you have a charging issue, most likely the rectifier

Posted by davis422 on 08/03/11 - 6:27 AM

It is not charging and am taking it to Bamforths Marine in Brunswick today. When I explained it to them they said it would be an easy fix. Thanks for the help.

Posted by tedious on 08/03/11 - 10:50 AM

davis422 wrote:
It is not charging and am taking it to Bamforths Marine in Brunswick today. When I explained it to them they said it would be an easy fix. Thanks for the help.

Davis, if it turns out you have a bad battery, I have a very usable freebie and battery box I am trying to give away, AND I'll be heading up to Boothbay this weekend. If you have any interest I could drop it off in Brunswick for you.

Tim

Posted by Turpin on 08/04/11 - 7:27 AM

Since were on the subject of charging systems, I was wondering what a standard reading might be (voltage). I had notice the other day while out on the lake my charge while at WOT was around 15v. The battery was full charged and I wasn't sure if that was why I got this unusual reading as it normally seems to hover around 13.5v. (82' 35hp Evinrude).

Edited by Turpin on 08/04/11 - 7:27 AM

Posted by davis422 on 08/04/11 - 4:02 PM

#10

tedious wrote:

davis422 wrote:
It is not charging and am taking it to Bamforths Marine in Brunswick today. When I explained it to them they said it would be an easy fix. Thanks for the help.

Thanks for the offer but the battery is fine. In fact the one I replaced is also fine. It is an electrical problem. The part is ordered and should be in next week.

Rick