1990 SN Electrical Issue

yesterday on the water our 1990 Ski Nautique did something that I have no idea about what could have caused it. After sitting in the middle of the tlake and swimming around, my son went to normally start the boat and the starter began turning over and would not stop turning over; the engine did not start. I move from the back of the boat to the front, turned the key off and on numerous times and nothing happened. I then pushed the main power button and the starter kept turning over; you could hear that it was starting to drain the battery. I then turned the key on and off again and the starter stop turning over. we sat for a minute and I then started the boat and it behaved normally. we move to a different location on the lake to get some skiing in and the boat ran fine. My son got in the water and when I went to start the boat again, the start again began to turn over and we could not stop it; after pushing curcuit buttons and turning the Key on and off numerous time it finally stopped, but the battery had been drained. Anyone have any Ideas about what could have caused this. thanks for any and all advice. dtrees

Yes, I am running a deep cycle battery. As for the starter soleniod, I don't thinks so. What really confuses me is that you would think that when I turn of the main power fuse the starter would stop turning over byut it did not? thanks for the ideas. dtrees

A.) Get that deep cycle battery out of there, pronto. You want a regular starting battery, Group 65 N is the one that fits in the box.

This is a common thing, and it causes all sorts of problems. The deep cycle is made for things like trolling motors etc., they don't provide enough cranking amps.

B.) When you say "the main power fuse" are you talking about the dash ignition breaker?

If so, the reason this doesn't work, is when the starter solenoid contact is closed, it makes a direct connection from the battery to the starter. If it's sticking closed, there is nothing to switch it off.

I would tend to replace the starter solenoid as well, for good measure, but absolutely get that deep cycle out of there.

The terms Relay and Solenoid mean kind of the same thing. Well, people use the terms interchangeably when talking about starters. In this case, we're both talking about the same thing, starter relay/solenoid.

The reason the main circuit breaker won't do anything is because it's not in the starter circuit. The power comes directly from the battery to the starter with only the start relay in between.

I'd really like to know who is telling everyone to use a deep cycle????

Tim - I believe I can follow this and will be working the fixes thursday and will post the results. thanks. dtrees

8122pbrainard wrote: I'd really like to know who is telling everyone to use a deep cycle????

Its because they say marine so people go to the store and say I have a boat I should get the marine one. It should be a question when people join the forum.

"Before you post know that a marine battery is incorrect so save any battery/starting questions until after you have replaced with the appropriate battery!" Click here if you have the proper battery.

Then they can post.