Hit Sandbar. Now Weird Issues...

[E_S_A_D]

So, this one I can't quite figure out. Have a 4.3 liter Mercruiser.

Was cruising a new lake and hit a sandbar - feel sick. Anyways, it nicked up the prop and the skeg, but I'll get those repaired. I was able to trim up and get right off the sandbar and cruise with no issues.

Here's the odd part. I decided to kick back and relax a bit and turn off the engine and enjoy the nice day. It was dead in the water. Had to get a jumpstart, then it ran great, but the gauges wouldn't work off the jumpstart.

Is this a battery or an alternator issue perhaps? If an alternator, what should a shop charge me!?

Thanks

 

[alldodge]

Sounds to me you have either a bad connection or a bad battery.

Get a voltmeter and find out what the problem is before you take it to the shop. Take the meter and check the battery voltage with motor off, should be around 12.7V. Next start the motor and measure the battery again after running for a minute, should be around 13.8 to 14.2 or so.

If you get the high voltages when running, your ALT is fine. If you get less then 12.7V on the first test (motor off) you have a bat that needs recharged or bad

 

[E_S_A_D]

Sounds to me you have either a bad connection or a bad battery.

Get a voltmeter and find out what the problem is before you take it to the shop. Take the meter and check the battery voltage with motor off, should be around 12.7V. Next start the motor and measure the battery again after running for a minute, should be around 13.8 to 14.2 or so.

If you get the high voltages when running, your ALT is fine. If you get less then 12.7V on the first test (motor off) you have a bat that needs recharged or bad

Okay, do you think just coincidence with the sandbar then?

 

[alldodge]

Okay, do you think just coincidence with the sandbar then?

Probably, unless your battery wasn't bolted to the deck, or something else close by slid and something came loose.

You did say it was dead in the water, does that mean you turned the key and nothing turned ON, or gauges came on but no crank, and no click?

 

[thumpar]

I am thinking a connection issue. Make sure they are all clean. My old boat almost flipped once when I hit a partially submerged log. There was water coming in over the side because it was at a steep angle. When I got everything under control there was no power. I went to the battery and reconnected everything. It came back to life.