Starting Issues -- Need ignition conversion kit?

I have a 1992 Ski Nautique with a 351 Ford, about 830 hrs. Having trouble starting the boat for some time, maybe a year or so, but haven't used it much (maybe 15-20 times in last 1.5 years). Took boat in to dealer, and they "load" tested the battery, said it was fine. Tested the Alternator -- fine, with 14+ volts. Ssid I needed a new starter. Got it replaced, they told me it started right up for them. Take it to the water, didn't start. The engine is turning over, but sounds slow, and breaks up a little (same as before, but a slightly different pitch, like higher or something). They tell me the problem is with the CDI unit, and that I need some conversion kit...can anyone explain what is going on, or has experienced this?

I don't know. It's certainly not EFI. It is a carburated engine, PCM

Call Karen at CorrectCraftParts,she can ship tommorrow. Complete conversion kit,just plug and play .Dizzy, coil and all needed parts.1-299-8547

dmoney, btw It looks like the port manifold its leaking some water, might want to order new gaskets....

Would have been worst if they put the $1000 unit and still the boat wouldn´t start right..LOL...

no kidding! glad it's working!

well start looking with a tester for some power drain.... what about the starter selenoid did you checked it? Check the cables that are hooked to it.
Maybe your alternator is not charging the battery..get the tester and start from there....

the starter selenoind its located on the back of the engine in the same bracket of the protec ign unit.
As for the the power leak, if you have the tester start with the reading with all equipment switches of then start turning on one by one and any difference in the readings will tell you were to look...or something like that..someone with more knoledge on the electrics can explain it better than me...
For what you describe I would say your ign is not the problem....but is the heavy only on cold or once the engine is warm and if yu stop and start it back, will it crack fine or heavy?

If the slow crank is after it sits for awhile then yes you should be checking for a parasitic load. You'll need a volt/ohm/amp meter. These are about $25 and are very handy to have arount the boat, house and car. They will come with instructions for the basic tests.

For the parasitic load, one of the battery cables is disconnected and then the meter is put in series between the cable and the battery. You will then read if any current is flowing while the boat sits. Thurning off 1 circuit breaker (or removing a fuse) at one time will then tell you what's using the power.

BTW, a large amp hour battery isn't the best for a boat. To get the amps out of it, support for the plates is sacrificed for larger plates. It the high vibration/high shock loading of a boat this can cause the battery to fail. Get only what you need - around a 750 amp. Also, make sure it's a "starting" and not a "deep cycle".

problem solved. unhook the cables when done, no drain of amp from battery.

Thanks!

If I don't turn off my ignition breaker when done, overnight the clock on my radio will drain the battery just enough that I will have to use a jumper box. Once it runs for a couple of minutes the alternator charges it enough that it will start all the time.

Could it be something like that on your boat.