Starter or something wrong??

[sctommy@aol.com]

I have been working on my 85 mastercraft Ford 351 for about 4 weeks. Started out with a bad battery, replaced then about a week later it left me stranded on the lake again. I had the alternator rebuilt. Everything has got worse every since. I replaced the started solenoid and that is when my problems really started. I have replaced the starter, starter solenoid, alternator, battery and Key switch. The boat is currently doing this: If I hook the battery cables to the battery within hours it drains the battery. I can remove the cable that goes from the starter solenoid to the starter and it will not drain the battery. When i try to crank the boat other things happen as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I have replace everything I know to replace. I bought the starter solenoid at Advanced Auto, it is not marine..does that matter?

[wheelerd]

What "other things" happen when you crank it? That might be a clue.

I replaced my solenoid last year and the new one was defective. Took me two days to figure it out since one assumes that the new piece is fine. (My new replacement is just a regular automotive solenoid.)

Do you have a stereo power amp that stays on when the ignition is off? Depth finder? Running lights?

With electrical problems like this you really have to go item by item and isolate each element in the electrical chain. A multimeter really helps to check for voltage, open circuits, etc.

[sctommy@aol.com]

i have used a mulimeter and everything seems to check fine..Things really began acting crazy when i replaced the starter selinoid..if i hook everything up within hours the battery is dead..if i disconnect the starter from the selinoid the battery does not drain..the one time i tried to start the boat it ran fine. I cut it off and started several times..even adjusted my carb..I assumed eveything was ok..i went to lake Sat and the boat would not crank???

I have a new rub rail put on and i am wondering if that is what is creating the problem. They could have drilled thru a wire when installing?

I seem to have a dead ground somewhere..

[babymoore3]

All battery drains can be found by getting a clamp on style ammeter and start at the battery cable. Trace the current draw down until you find the issue - couple of mA's is enough to drain a battery - sounds like yours is pretty serious and should be pretty obvious. Do you by chance get water inside the hull and a cable have bad insulation (IE shorting when wet)? Also did you check the man overboard (kill) switch for continuity?