Pulled the boat on Sunday and put on the trailer. Got a call from my buddy today that the starboard motor was up and the port motor trimmed down. I had left them both in the same spot(tilt), right where the piston hit the support plates. Thought maybe some kids were messing with it. Turns out all 3 batteries are dead. I didn’t have time to get into it and check voltage or fried wires from lightening, but on the surface everything looks good. No switches left on, not the radio, lights, etc… Anyone ever heard of such a thing? I pull the plug so I doubt it was the bilge pump. This happened between Monday PM and today and we had no storms, just rain in that period. Help???
maybe the one trim motor shorted in the down position,just kept running till it killed the batteries?
Poltergeist
Just trying to learn every bit I can about saltwater fishing…
Trim motor contacts may be corroded…it happened to mine. Pulled the boat, hit the car wash and got home and the motor was whining like a mad baby. I figured the trim motor was fubar. Took it to the shop, they cleaned the contact wires and it was good to go.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 13 year old
1 - 9 year old
1 - wife (The Warden)
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quote:This has happened to me. Rubber on switch had a small tear that was barely noticeable and let moisture in causing the switch to short. Could hear trim motor as soon as I hooked charger up to recharge batteries. Had to replace the switch.
Originally posted by Gut Wrenchmaybe the one trim motor shorted in the down position,just kept running till it killed the batteries?
If you ain’t hooked, you ain’t doing it right.
Thanks gentlemen- I’ll put some new juice in there and hope the trim motor is whining. Hope it’s that simple.
quote:
Originally posted by edisto-fisherA perko switch will fix some of the OE problems on boats sitting unattended for days.
I past up the bait the first time , but I’ll have to bite now. It is tough to have OE when there is no O on the boat. If one Perko is good then the 3 I have would be better. I do turn them off when away for “extended” periods, but not for a couple of days. Frankly, I’d rather have the gremlins attack me on the trailer, not in the deep. Thanks for your detailed and expert opinion.
OOPS, I just jumped the hook…you must now rebait.
quote:
Originally posted by edisto-fisherIf you put a perko per battery I suspect it may be too late as the gremlins have already attacked your brain and your wallet.
I just buy em, not build em. Thanks again for your help. Your boat working yet? Apparently I’ve got a few extra Perko’s, I’ll loan you one if it will get you back up and running. Sharpen your hooks, I’m swimming away now…maybe next time.
Rest of the story, almost:
Pulled the batteries-
Port-6V
Starboard-7V
Electronics-12.75V
Put port and starboard on the charger(to keep as spares for some other equipment) if they hold a charge. Bought new ones to replace them and left the electronics battery alone after topping off the cells w/ distilled water. Put all the new power in the boat and turned on the Perko’s 1 by 1- starboard trim motor starts whining even though it was already in the full upright position. Perko off- used the bleeder valve to drop the motor to the 1st. stage and turned the switch back on- trim worked fine- but trim motor sounded awful at the upper(fast) trim range.
Deductions:
-trim switches, both(2) binnacle and motor switches are good
-trim motor is on the way out?
I’ll follow EF’s suggestion, leaving ALL Perko’s in the OFF position(until full diagnosis/repair is made).