Which Starter on a Crusader Engine

[staticman4414]

So I have 1995 Carver Santego 310. It has twin Crusader 270 Engines. GM 350 platform I believe. I have velvet drive inboard setup. The starboard engine has been very slow to crank since I bought the boat a year ago. But it always started. I often had to switch over to both batteries to get it started however. This is the first attempt at putting it in the water this year and I started it on land for a few seconds and it ran. But again cranked real slow. I got to the water and it cranked slower and didn't start. So I believe it is time for a new starter on the starboard engine. It was late and getting dark and long story, but it was a very long day. I hastefully decided to leave the boat on the trailer, connected to my truck and rode home with my wife in another car with plans to return today with a starter. However, I didn't bother to look at the starter before I left. I guess i thought it was just going to be a matter of stopping by an auto parts store and picking one up, but obviously I am finding it is not that easy. So now the boat is a couple hours drive away, and I don't know which starter. I am finding several available. But I am not sure which one. I also don't know if I need CW or CCW rotation or how to know. I know it is a starboard engine and I know it has a velvet drive. I have not looked at it in nearly a year, but I am thinking it mounted through the velvet drive bell housing or something like that. I don't think it was under the engine like on most cars. Can anyone point me in the correct directions. I was hoping to not have to tow it home and that will mean another wide load permit in another state. but I am also not sure how long the Marina is going to allow it to sit in their lot, before I launch it. I don't feel safe in putting it in the new slip without both engines... I have been trying to find a mechanic in that area to just go look at it, but so far no luck.

[bud37]

NO automotive starters in gasoline powered boats.......explosion hazard ...get the right marine one for your boat.

[staticman4414]

Yeah I have figured that part out. I just thought places like Napa would have a marine starter. They seem to be able to get them, but I don't really know what I need as far as rotation etc...

[bud37]

Are you completely sure that the starter is to blame here......have you checked and cleaned all the connections, grounds etc related to that side....could be a little corrosion on a terminal.....good luck man.

[Viper]

+1
It could be several things causing that symptom. Along with checking connections, have you done a proper load test on the batteries? Have you done a voltage drop test while cranking? Is the timing set properly? Have you confirmed there's no water entering the cylinders?....

[staticman4414]

So I went to the boat yesterday with a new starter. I replaced it and this fixed the slow cranking issue and it started but ran really rough. I traced all the spark plug wires and found two of them had been swapped and were not firing in the correct order. I corrected this and it started very easily and idled nice and smooth. I hope no damage has been done. There is just no way to review everything someone else might have done. I keep finding issues like this. Slowly but surely I am getting them resolved. I hope to put her in the water again later today and see how she does. After find the spark plug firing order incorrect, I took the distributor cap off and found it to be in rough shape are well so I replaced it. Each change seems to be making it run smoother and smoother. So today should be a good test. I hope all goes well. There is a chance I might be spending the night on her tonight. The water system worked last year, but will need to be de-winterized and sanitized etc... Still lots to do, but I hope to start enjoying it some soon. Oh the wires were not to bad, but I did clean up all the connections while I was in doing the starter.

[Viper]

Thanks for the follow up:down: