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Posted by: malcolm2 May 21 2022, 09:17 AM

How did this happen?


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Posted by: Superhawk996 May 21 2022, 10:04 AM

Massive short?

Other plausible alternative is that there was a high resistance connection at each of those hollow terminals. Pulling high starting current across a high resistance connection will create a lot of heat that could have melted those hollow terminals.

Power (i.e. heat) is P=I^2 * R = current (squared) x resistance

So pulling something on the order of 100 amps to start across a seemingly small 2 ohm resistance ; Power (watts) = 100*100 * 2 = 20,000 Watts.

Posted by: porschetub May 21 2022, 02:23 PM

QUOTE(Superhawk996 @ May 22 2022, 04:04 AM)

Posted by: gereed75 May 21 2022, 02:33 PM

I’m with Hawk on this one regarding high resistance in connection. The ends of heavy cables on boats tend to get internal corrosion in the copper wires. When this happens they have very high resistance.

Cut the ends off of you cables. I bet that the copper wires are are all corroded/oxidized black. When this happens they will carry little current.

Posted by: r_towle May 21 2022, 04:11 PM

Year, make model?
You might only need power to the coil and fuel pump to get it running.
Once running, start connecting the remaining circuits one at a time till you see a spark.
The spark indicates a draw, too big of a draw, or a short.
If boat has AC shore power, the inverter would be the first suspect.

As you do this, learn how to Hotwire the boat, on the water, bare minimum required to get back to shore…

Posted by: Tdskip May 22 2022, 06:14 AM

It does look like very high resistance

Posted by: Shivers May 22 2022, 07:56 AM

Or a heavy load maybe. Did you add lights for fishing? Or added anything like a big entertainment system? Otherwise, the others are probably right about the cables.

Posted by: 930cabman May 23 2022, 05:35 PM

My guess would be poor connections that led to some arcing. Hope you get to the bottom of it, this is not pretty and it's a good thing you caught it when you did instead of the middle of the lake with a fire

Posted by: malcolm2 Jun 2 2022, 03:05 PM

Thanks to all..... This was a friend's boat. The mechanic thought maybe the starter caused it. He got some automotive type connectors added to the wires. The nite we went out the lake was "angry". Crazy waves in Nashville. all the bouncing and wing nut connectors...

I thought maybe the wing nut ones were loose. Maybe a combo of starter and loose connections.

Posted by: MCShack Jun 2 2022, 03:36 PM

Daaamn! Imma buy my next battery from the other company that still makes them.

Posted by: TROJANMAN Jun 2 2022, 04:16 PM

I have 2 boat batteries in my garage that look just like that. My guess is that there is a short somewhere, I am just not sure how to locate it.

Posted by: 930cabman Jun 2 2022, 05:26 PM

Being extra safe on the water cannot be stressed too much.

Guys/gals, please be careful and limit the amount of firewater brought aboard

Every year we lose too many souls to the lakes/oceans/.... try your best to not be one