Battery Issues on my new boat

(_vitty_) · (_vitty_) **Join Date: Jul 2009** 08-24-2009, 7:04 AM

I took my boat out for the first time and cruised for a few hours this past weekend. After a few hours of driving we anchored and did some swimming for an hour. Without the engine running I filled and emptied the balast tanks to make sure they were working. When we went to leave the boat wouldn't start as the battery was dead. When we got the boat moving again the volt meter on the dash was only reading 10.5 volts on the way back to the dock. Shouldn't it be reading above 12 volts when the engine is running even if it is dead?

(nate01) · (nate01) **Join Date: Jun 2009** 08-24-2009, 7:07 AM

id say at that point it should have been 13+volts. alternator or voltage regulator may be bad.possibly battery to.

(texasmoombav) · (texasmoombav) **Join Date: May 2009** 08-24-2009, 8:36 AM

I had a battery problem on my new boat at the beginning of the season. It turned out the belt on the alternator was loose. Now it always shows 14 volts when the motor is on, and about 12-13 when not running. Have the belt checked

(tuneman) · (tuneman) **Join Date: Mar 2002** 08-24-2009, 10:22 AM

Nic, I sent you an e-mail.

(_vitty_) · (_vitty_) **Join Date: Jul 2009** 08-24-2009, 11:16 AM

Thanks Chad, got it!

I'm hoping it is the case that the batteries are shot. Would make life easy that way. I am loving the boat so far!

(_vitty_) · (_vitty_) **Join Date: Jul 2009** 08-25-2009, 7:47 AM

Running a test with a volt meter the batteries measured roughly 12.04 volts with the engine off. When the engine was running at idle, voltage dropped to 11.4. At 2500 rpm voltage dropped all the way down to 10.4. I'm almost certain this indicates a problem with the charging system and is probably a bad alternator. Bummer, the engine doesn't even have 3 hours on it yet. I guess nothing lasts forever haha.

(_vitty_) · (_vitty_) **Join Date: Jul 2009** 08-27-2009, 6:52 AM

here is the boat

my image

(266crownlinebr)

Were you driving my boat? I have the exact same problem. What did you end up finding? I have brand new batteries so I don't think that is the problem.

(_vitty_) · (_vitty_) **Join Date: Jul 2009** 08-30-2009, 7:05 PM

Turns out the alternator was not hooked up to the battery isolator. Therefor the charge was being sent from the alternator to nothing.

(266crownlinebr)

That's not my problem, but glad to hear it was an easy fix for you. I think I am going to pull my alt and have it checked.

(_vitty_) · (_vitty_) **Join Date: Jul 2009** 08-31-2009, 5:16 AM

I would guess that is the culprit in your case as well. Good luck!

(266crownlinebr)

I don't have a battery isolator, so that can't be the problem. It could be the alternator though.

(_vitty_) · (_vitty_) **Join Date: Jul 2009** 09-01-2009, 5:48 AM

Yeah that's what I meant =)