Top Reasons Boats Fail, When the Engine Won't Start

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to start your motor, hearing the motor try, but nothing happens. You may be just starting for the day or getting ready to head back home. Either way, it's a major inconvenience that can ruin a good time. Rather than giving into the frustration and giving up, try to diagnose the problem. It is not nearly as difficult to identify simple problems as it may first seem. People tend to think they need to go to a mechanic, and in some cases you do, but if you can diagnose and fix the problem yourself, why pay someone else? The first step is to check and make sure that you have plenty of fuel. You may be surprised by how often people forget to check that basic necessity. Assuming you have sufficient fuel, the next step is realizing that the problem is most likely electrical in nature. It could be that your battery has died or that there is a break somewhere in the ignition circuit. So now that we’re confident it’s electrical, let’s isolate the problem. Place the vessel in neutral and make sure to inspect the kill switch. Also, look carefully at the ignition switch. Sometimes, when the switch is panel mounted, the switch itself can come loose over time. This can allow the complete switch to turn rather than the internal components. This can be an easy fix as you may just need to get behind the switch and tighten the mounting screws or locking nut. If the switch itself is tight, check the connections to make sure that they are tight as well and are not corroded or damaged in any way. This is a good point to pull out a clamp meter and check your cables. It's a quick method to find where the weak point in the electrical system is located. Most clamp meters are fairly simple to use and take little time to understand. At this point, if everything has checked out, then the most likely culprit is the battery itself. If you don’t have a jump box, it may time to call for help.

Prevention

The easiest way to prevent this issue is to be aware of the condition of your electrical system. Check your connections, clean when needed, and replace when necessary. This is another spot where the clamp meter would come in handy. You can quickly and easily identify where the drop is located. To be honest, you should replace your wires periodically to avoid a problem such as this. Always check and charge your batteries to keep them in optimal running condition. If you are going to store your batteries, charge them first and store them someplace safe. Additionally, you may want to consider installing a secondary battery bank to ensure you’re not stuck on the water with a dead battery.

Tools you'll need:

• Wrenches or a crescent wrench
• Allen wrenches
• Screwdrivers with properly insulated handles

A Clamp meter can help identify the problem:

Having a clamp meter on board is a smart move when it comes to isolating an electrical issue. They make it easy to get measurements in hard to reach areas and can measure a range of factors. More than just measuring capacitance or frequency, this tool can help you to quickly locate a problem area in an electrical system. As a non-contact indicator, it reliable measures up to 1000 Amps AC/DC. The backlit display makes reading a simple task, even in the dark. To make it even easier to use, this clamp meter comes with test leads meaning you can even test direct points of contact.

Using Meters is an easy way to monitor a system:

Meters are a useful way to monitor your system and be aware of fluctuations as they occur. Their small size makes them convenient and easy to install on most panels. People tend to add the voltmeter and ammeter to their boats, but we would also recommend the temperature monitor as its a great way to be preemptive. This way you can be aware of any issues before they turn into problems. All our meters are compact to reduce the surface area they occupy while maintaining a clear, easy to read display.