Ignition

Guys, ok I try to explain the best I can here what happened tonight. I think that the ignition switch stuck but let me know what you think. I pulled into the beach to put on the barefoot boom ( no I didn't beach it) I went to go back out turned the boat over and the starter was making a funny noise and it wouldn't stop turning over. The boat started but it sounded horrible. The engine ran with the starter still engaging. I shut the motor off but all the boat would do is keep trying to turn over the engine. I was in panic mode and got the boat back to the beach. All this time the starter trying to start the motor at the beach I tried turning off the ignition switch button. Didn't work.i tried putting the boat in forward to kill the starter and that didn't work. Now I was clueless. Then I just tried turning the key back and forth a couple time and it finally stopped. I took a breather and tried to start it back up and it was fine. I took the boat out and did some skiing and it didn't give me anymore problems. Now is it my key switch getting bad? And why wouldn't turning off the ignition button on the dash kill power to the starter? Seemed weird to me. Any insight would be appreciated.
   My dog fell out of the boat at the dock and I hit a wing dam and gouged one of by tracking fins. I did not damage my shaft or prop though. Other than that we had a good time tonight . Good times. Tony.

Sorry to hear of the problems, I'm familiar with wing dams!    Sounds like Starter relay is bad.   Just found out there IS a difference marine vs. auto part, so best to get one on order.

Im not convinced its not a faulty ignition switch based on the symptoms... like Pete said, get out the multimeter! If its an intermittent problem, then you may want to consider replacing both the switch and relay... both are cheap.

8122pbrainard wrote: What's the condition of the battery? Have you done a load test on it? Hopefully it's not a deep cycle used for a starting battery!!

TRBenj wrote: like Pete said, get out the multimeter!   both are cheap.

Bones71 wrote: Thanks very much for the info. I'll do some looking into both the starter switch and relay and probably change both to be safe. Tony.

Tony,
Don't become just a "part changer", Test first. Yes, they are cheap but testing will tell you where the problem is really at. So, what about the battery question??

A deep cycle battery could very well say so right on it. Unless the decals and stuff have come off.

Be a little suspicious of any battery that says "marine." They are often times deep cycle. Our boats want a regular starting battery. Marine starting batteries would be ok if they fit, but this is one instance where you want the regular automotive part.

Steve, the battery is right there at my feet. Very easy to get to. Good call on the wrench. I did not know about the boat show. I think I'm heading to Dubuque for a guy weekend on the river next weekend. I would like to go to the boat show though. This year has been busy. Tony.