Help! - boat took on water, batteries dead (I think), need troubleshooting advice!

[SweetD]

Folks,

We had a ton of rain here over the last 12 hours, and I got a text from my dock neighbor an hour or so ago letting me know my boat was listing at the dock. First time this has happened to me in ten years.

Anyway, I got down there and the boat was listing to port with quite a bit of water in the stern. I removed the console cover, water was touching the batteries in the trays, but did not go over the tops of the batteries or touch the connections at all. I believe the water was however able to get into the wire chase under the console and into the bilge, bilge has quite a bit of water in it (typically very dry, only one new hatch in stern that is very tight).

I lowered the motor and tried to start it, turned over, but no dice. I proceeded to bail the boat out, all the water out no problem. I inadvertently left the key in the "on" position while bailing, maybe 5-10 minutes.

Went to start the boat again - nothing. Switched batteries, nothing. Switched to combined batteries, totally dead.

Getting dark, raining still, so I pulled the batteries and brought them home. They are new as of last Fall, Everstart 24DC 690 MCA, well within spec of my motor's needs. Both batteries are less than a year old mfg. date as well.

Put the multi-meter on them, each read just under 12V. Put the Schumacher smart chargers on them, set low and slow at 2AMP charge 12V.

Hoping that this is the only problem. I will let them charge overnight, and assuming they come back, will re-install and take the boat for a spin in the morning.

Now, should I be concerned that it is more than the batteries? I can only speculate that my bilge pump drew down the one battery trying to keep up, but it's only hooked directly to one battery for the pump switch. Why would both batteries die? Never have a problem with them normally, motor starts right up all the time.

If I hook them up in the morning and they don't work, what else am I looking for? Is it likely the batteries, or am I in for it?

Agghh, always something!

Thanks!

Dave

 

[bspeth]

Under 12v is dead,put a charge on them and try again.

 

[SweetD]

Thank you sir!

 

[boobie]

If after charging the batteries and they don't work, take them in and have them load tested. Also check all the connections for being good, clean and tight.

 

[Fed]

Put the multi-meter on them, each read just under 12V.

That should have been more than enough to pull the solenoid in & spin the starter motor.
Check the shifter was in neutral & be prepared to check the fuse under the cowl.

 

[F_R]

Was this in salt water, and was it all just rain water in the boat? If it had any appreciable amount of salt content, any electrical connectors or bare wires that were connected to the positive side of the battery probably have suffered from electrolysis. You will know by the green corrosion. I suppose the same thing happens in fresh water but takes longer. But I've sure seen my share of it here on the Gulf coast. The stuff in the bilge probably is ok, because water is kind of expected in there and there shouldn't be any uninsulated wires. Hopefully.

 

[Vic.S]

12 volts is about 3/4 discharged. You will need to charge for longer than overnight at 2 amps. to fully recharge them. I'd have set the chargers at 6 amps for batteries that size.

When you think you have charged them let them stand for 12 hours with no load or further charging. Check the volts. If not 12.7 or higher charge them some more.

Aim to get them to 12.7 after a 12 hour rest period. If you cannot they are probably no good.

If you get them to 12.7 or better monitor the volts with no load or charging to see how well they retain their charge. If they are still better than 12.6 after several days they are probably OK.

If you think they are OK get them load tested to confirm that they will deliver the necessary current for the starter.

 

[SweetD]

That should have been more than enough to pull the solenoid in & spin the starter motor.
Check the shifter was in neutral & be prepared to check the fuse under the cowl.

You nailed it -

Well, some good news with my issue - I charged the batteries up last night and installed this morning. No dice with the motor still, didn't turn over at all. But everything else electrical was working - including bilge pump. So it had to be something with the motor electrically. Checked the 20amp fuse under the cowling - it was blown.
Not sure how it all happened, but a new fuse installed and we ran up and down the river several times on both batteries, no issues. Started right up first turn.

Also, I think my bilge hose had developed an airlock or kink due the bilge pump plate not being held down securely - it was pumping, but not out the thru-hull. I adjusted the hose and it pumped the water out easily, 2000 gph pump.

Any in the water fix is a bonus for me, all's well that ends well (til the next one) - thanks guys!

 

[SweetD]

Was this in salt water, and was it all just rain water in the boat? If it had any appreciable amount of salt content, any electrical connectors or bare wires that were connected to the positive side of the battery probably have suffered from electrolysis. You will know by the green corrosion. I suppose the same thing happens in fresh water but takes longer. But I've sure seen my share of it here on the Gulf coast. The stuff in the bilge probably is ok, because water is kind of expected in there and there shouldn't be any uninsulated wires. Hopefully.

To answer your question, it's brackish water, but I believe all of the accumulated water on the deck was pretty much fresh water from the torrential rains we had all day...I do think something got shorted though as the 20amp fuse under the cowling blew. Thanks!