2009 216 Questions

[poldo123]

I have a 2009 216 that I have a few questions on.

First, what is the difference between the 216 & 216v? How can I tell which one I have?

Second, The actual owner told me to put the batter switch on "both" to run the motor & switch it to one of the other batteries if we are just sitting listening to the radio or something. I just pulled up a manual for the 216v & it states that you should never really have to use the "both" selection. What is correct? What can I damage if I have been using the "both" all this time?

Last, what size batteries are recommended? I cant seem to find any specifications in the manual I downloaded.

Thanks

[CradGen2]

Welcome to the club

The 216 is a direct drive (motor in middle) and the 216V is a V-drive (motor in back) 2009 is the ONLY year you can have either the 216 or the 216V. I'm a big fan of the 216 (loved my 2007), so if you have that boat you will love it. I've only driven a 216V, so I can't give my feelings.

As for the battery switch. I'm not sure a battery switch was an option in a 216, wasn't in mine. I installed my own in my 216. There really is only one official battery box in the floor. As for running with both batteries, 12 volts is 12 volts. I do think there is a comment in the box stating NOT to turn the switch while the boat is running. I run mine is all types of different configuations. Mainly I alternate positions 1 and 2. Saturday = 1 and Sunday =2. Sometimes I run them in both.

[poldo123]

Thanks.

Ive determined its a 216v. It has two batteries & the motor is in the back. Both batteries are in the back as well.

Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

[CradGen2]

What other advise are you looking for?

[poldo123]

OK Ive figured out that I have a starter problem.

Where can I find a starter for a 2009 216v?

I have searched the internet, but cant seem to find schematics or parts breakdowns.

[CradGen2]

I'm sure you will get people piling on a starter problem. I would think a starter would be under warranty for 2009. Also a little surprised that a starter would be fried in a 2009. Was the boat under water?

[poldo123]

No it was not under water. Pulled it yesterday & some of the teeth on the gears were broken off. I assume just a bad starter out of the box.

[CradGen2]

I'll let the tech team take over from here. Broken teeth doesn't sound normal.

[poldo123]

Ill go ahead & give the break down on what happened.

I brought the boat in for service earlier this year. The guy told me that the batteries were getting weak, but still had some life in them. So decided to run them a bit before I changed them.

I took the boat out twice since. Last week, I decided to crank it up, but it wouldnt turn over. I assume batteries were dead and it was time for new ones. I picked up a couple of batteries from O'Reillys & installed them. It cranked the motor. I shut it off, did a few things in the boat. Then decided to crank it one more time before I got out. All it would do was click. That when I started researching the battery switch and what batteries to use. I ended up returning the batteries to O'Reillys and found the same Interstate batteries that were originally installed at another store. In the mean time, I learned that you should use battery 1 or 2, not both for starting. Only using both in an instance where it is necessary. I installed the new batteries, & still all I got was a click. I figure out the click was coming from the starter. I tapped the starter a few times, & it turned over on the next attempt, but stopped mid crank & then would only click again. I decided to pull the starter. When I removed the starter motor from the rest of the starter, I noticed that some of the teeth on the 3 gears that rotate around the shaft coming out of the starter motor were damaged/broken. I figured that the debris from this must have caused the starter to jam & the clicking was just the solenoid kicking in. When I tapped it, it must have freed it for a couple of spins, only to get jammed again.

So, Now I am just going to buy an entire new starter assembly & install.

Any tips or suggestions for other things to look for?

[SkiTower]

Agree with the above post, this sounds like warranty stuff. If you need to order parts, start either with your local dealer or www.nautiqueparts.com , the site sponsor. If you don't see it on the website, give them a call. They try to stock everything they can, right down to those hard to find decals from years past.

Having a relationship with your local dealer can save you in the long run.

[GCSuper]

I wouldn't reccommend this, nor would I do it myself, but it made me remember a friend years ago with a late 90's sport nautique. He was a very frugal guy so he replaced his starter with a standard automotive non-marine starter from Auto Zone that warrantied thier starters for two years or something like that. Seems like he was always changing starters cause they wouldn't last much more that one season. He just took it back and got another new one.