New SAN Owner In Need Of Electrical/Overall Help

[01SAN]

Hey guys, new to the forum and new to Nautiques all together. I recently bought a 2001 Super Air with GT40 and about 700 hours on the boat. I've had it out a couple times now with no issues until last weekend. We put the boat in the water and everything was fine as usual. Made a trip across the Ross Barnett Reservoir to the "cove" and sat with radio on for about 3 hours just hanging out. When we got ready to leave the boat cranked and ran fine, but the PerfectPass started blinking a black line and beeping non stop. This continued back across the Reservoir to the boat ramp. Once there I killed all power to the boat (killed it with key pad, then main/bilge switch, then perko). Restarted and the boat cranked, but seemed weak starting. PP quit beeping and blinking. Took off and next thing I know PP is back beeping and blinking again, but this time radio is killed too and will not start and dash gauges are a littler sporratic. I killed boat to try a reset and was unable to start after that. No voltage on gauge until start button was hit then it spikes at about 10, starter engages, stops and voltage falls back to zero. Low voltage items like the bilge and blower would run, however they were running low, meaning the bilge was barely getting the water out the port hole, more of a trickle if you will. I hd to be towed in by my buddies older Glastron and listen to him gloat about not having the issues of these pricey "computerized, key-less" boats! LOL

I apologize for the long story, but I'm new to boats and especially new to Nautiques. I am thinking a battery and/or alternator issue rather than ground or wiring, but I would like to get y'alls opinion and experience. I work out of state and had to leave the next day so I have not had time to troubleshoot, but a good friend of mine has offered to take a look at it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[DanielC]

Start with this. Clean your battery terminals.

I also hate to say it, but I trust the old analog switches in your buddy Glastron more than I trust the keypad and switchbox system

[01SAN]

I cleaned and tightened all battery connections. There are two blue top optimas and I know they have not been maintained properly. The previous owner said he had them in there for I think two years and had never once put a charge on them when boat wasn't in use. And I agree I trust the analog stuff more too which is why I've swapped my digital speedos to analog with all the problems I read about. The reason I was thinking alternator is because it didn't start this til after I had sat for 3-4 hours with radio on. If alternator was working properly it should supply all the power needed regardless of dead batteries or not right?

[hyparks]

Worth just checking your alternator belt is still there. When I first had mine I had something similar happen twice and both times my belt had broke and gone into the bilge. My pulleys had gone rusty. Cleaned them up and ok since.

[01SAN]

Update: My buddy took a look at it and was able to get it to start on one battery, but not the other. He pulled the alternator and had it tested and it showed bad. Charged the blue top Optimas all day and tested them and they show good. So I ordered a new RA097006 alternator from nautiqueparts and hopefully that will take care of the problem.

[2001SAN]

good stuff. hope it works out for you. nothing worse than a new boat you can't use. i'm in the same boat with the same boat! I just ordered a new engine!

good luck.

d.

[bchesley]

Is that the upgraded 100 amp kit? If not send it back and invest in the upgrade. Especially if you are listening to the radio for 3-4 hours at a time. You will be much happier in the long run. I have put the upgrade on my last two boats.

Brad

[Chexi]

Brad, is installing the upgraded alternator difficult for someone who might not be terribly mechanically inclined? I've had the kit sitting on my shelf for 3 years now and not gotten around to installing it.