Trim&Propr
New Member
2005 260 Sundancer, 4th season with the boat with a total of 700hrs (520 at purchase). Outside of replacing the risers at purchase, leaking outdrive arm, and corroded outdrive o-ring, its been fairly smooth.
Couple weeks ago I take the boat for a spin and tie it up without the cover (anticipating taking it out the next day); of course this results in a pop-up shower. Next day, boat starts without issue but I notice 1/4" water in the faces of 2 of my gauges.
Spend about 3 hours on the hook and go to start... cranks, but no start. Try again, same. And a third time, same. Frustrated I start looking for issues or anything amiss, particularly since I'd had a 3yr old flipping switches and I may have missed something. Find the cutoff switch in the "OFF" position and immediately feel relieved its not something worse. I go to start and hear a 'click' in the engine compartment but no crank. I also notice the Smartcraft gauges are not turning on, though I'm getting the customary beep when I turn the ignition to "ON". I try several more times with no luck, to include getting a jump from another boat. Eventually get towed in and try it on shore power... same, click and no start/crank.
Fast forward a week when I can get back to the boat, I halfheartedly attempt to start to see if anything magically changes and voila, starts up without issue. Tried starting on battery alone and it started without issue like a champ. My concern is getting stuck out on the hook again. Is this issue familiar with anyone? While I am glad the boat starts I would like to identify what caused the problem in the first place.
Thanks.
UPDATE: Ended up being a loose cable at the starter. Turns out the lack of power to the smartcraft lcd was a dead give-away.
Couple weeks ago I take the boat for a spin and tie it up without the cover (anticipating taking it out the next day); of course this results in a pop-up shower. Next day, boat starts without issue but I notice 1/4" water in the faces of 2 of my gauges.
Spend about 3 hours on the hook and go to start... cranks, but no start. Try again, same. And a third time, same. Frustrated I start looking for issues or anything amiss, particularly since I'd had a 3yr old flipping switches and I may have missed something. Find the cutoff switch in the "OFF" position and immediately feel relieved its not something worse. I go to start and hear a 'click' in the engine compartment but no crank. I also notice the Smartcraft gauges are not turning on, though I'm getting the customary beep when I turn the ignition to "ON". I try several more times with no luck, to include getting a jump from another boat. Eventually get towed in and try it on shore power... same, click and no start/crank.
Fast forward a week when I can get back to the boat, I halfheartedly attempt to start to see if anything magically changes and voila, starts up without issue. Tried starting on battery alone and it started without issue like a champ. My concern is getting stuck out on the hook again. Is this issue familiar with anyone? While I am glad the boat starts I would like to identify what caused the problem in the first place.
Thanks.
UPDATE: Ended up being a loose cable at the starter. Turns out the lack of power to the smartcraft lcd was a dead give-away.
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