starter problems

I just bought a boat with a ford pcm 351 and have taken it out to the lake twice. It had problems starting up before where I had to pump the throttle a few times before it would turn over. Mainly this was only on cold start but then it would take a while to start after being ran for a while. Today I took it out and it gave me problems starting it but it finally started. Then while waiting on some friends to park the truck and trailer it died. When I tried to restart it, the starter seems to be getting juice and it just whines and never turns over the engine. Does anyone know what this might be?

might be time for a starter rebuild. I was having similar issues. I got a new optima blue top battery and had my starter rebuilt. Boat starts first time every time

I do have a voltmeter, and the batteries are fairly new. The guy I bought the boat from suggested that it might be a loose ignition wire. I plan to check the voltage on the batteries and check the ignition wire itself. Besides trying to start the boat on the lake do you know of any other place to try and start the motor. I live in an apartment complex and do not have use to a water hose.

Just dissable the coil so it can't start. Once it is cranking ok take it to the lake. Don't hook from the trailer until your sure it's running right.

That's why I love working the afternoon shift. I goto the lake back the trailer in the water let the boat run for a while, then take off. I never even pull the truck out of the launch. No one there to bother it.