De-winterizing startup trouble

Yea, I have a OPtima blue top, deep cycle.

The noise i'm referring to occurs at about secs 6-8. I agree, doesn't sound as much like a grinding noise in the video, but it's definitely a noise i'm not used to hearing. Took longer to catch to w/o the charger, so that's not helping for video purposes.

Oh, forgot to mention, i sure hope the prop isn't spinning. Has to be in neutral to start. Should be in neutral.

If you think a pulley is going to slow down a v8 you are wrong but take both belts off and see for yourself. Hook up the hose water T like normal. Water will flow through a non spinning pump but I wouldn't run it more than a 30 seconds.

I haven't listened to the sound clip yet but is your prop spinning? A little dirty neutral and dry cutlass is not a happy noise.

Just hooked up my battery charger. 225a startup. Just talked to my father, apparently 225a startup isn't recommended for marine batteries. Lesson learned

While it didn't take as long to start. The grinding was still there. Sounds fine when running so makes me think it's not any pulley seized. Going to attempt to upload a sound clip.

Starting the season and already have an issue right out of the gate. I'm running it out of the water to change some fluids and having some hard starts. The battery is newer, but can't guarantee the state of the charge. I also don't like how the main leads are attached to the battery, but didn't have an issue w/ that last year so won't bring that into the equation. I'm using garden hose attachment in the T to feed the system.

Issues on startup in order:
1. SLOOOW to crank. Thought the battery didn't have the charge, and then it just caught and took off. Lot of white smoke initially. Good after that.    

2. No smoke. Can only describe as a grinding noise. As i hold the start button, i see all the pulleys slowly turning, but sloow. Probably holding about 4 secs of that noise, it starts. I can't tell if the noise is a starter cranking noise or something locked up in the pulley chain, such as the alternator. .Found the belt lose after initial run on the water pump. (changed the water impeller this morning). Tightened.

3. First attempt all i got was a click. Hit the off button, Re-tried holding start button. Same grinding issue that leads to a start and runs fine after that.

If it's a starter, I don't know where to begin, other than simply swapping out for a new one. If it's something seized on the belt system, i'd be surprised (but not shocked) as everything worked when i put it away for the winter and I didn't experience the issue on the first startup.

Anyone experience anything like this? Thanks

2000 AIr Nautique
GT-40