Re: charging 13.3 is that o.k.
Most of those Forces are unregulated and charge at about 16 volts. At that voltage they tend to boil off water so you need to check the battery level periodically. At 13.3 volts, you are charging at the correct rate for a lead acid battery--most regulated systems charge at about 14 volts. The real question is the RATE of charge--if the alternator is putting out very little amps at 13 volts then it won't charge the battery. You need to check the rectifier to see if it is functioning properly. The rectifier is the square or rectangular black piece mounted right on the starter motor cast mount. At 13.3 volts it is possible that you have a short somewhere--either within the rectifier or in some wiring. However, FIRST have the battery checked. Because of the extreme demands put on marine batteries, they usually don't last more than a couple of seasons. Your battery may have died from old age.
With a dead battery, you are not stuck on the water as long as you have a stout piece of rope with a handle of some sort. Because the ignition is powered by a separate system within the alternator, that engine can be pull started by hand and will start and run even with a completely dead battery. Just remove the hood, turn on the ignition, wrap the rope around the flywheel and give a good pull. Make sure no one is behind you to get whipped with the rope, and you may need someone next to you to hold the choke closed. Just be sure to run it with the battery connected. Running without a load of some sort damages the alternator.
