Carver Owners Forum

OK so I replaced both batteries in my Carver 3207 1987 i figured now would be a good time to label the batteries 1and 2 well anyway I can start the boat just fine on battery 1 but battery 2 brand new in great shape will not start the boat... I hear a sort of ark coming from the battery switch.... I'm thinking I should replace it... But maybe this is the way its supposed to be? Maybe battery 2 is considered house bank?

Check the back of your battery switch for corrosion or loose terminals....did #2 start the boat before ?....I don't see why it would be wired just house, but you never know what the previous people have done before you, may need some further testing with a volt meter. Also is your switch a 1-all-2 type ?

Both engines should start off the battery that the selection switch is switched to. Look for a poor connection or bad component such as the battery switch to start.

You do need to figure out the wiring just in case someone else changed it before you.

From the factory, it probably was similar to mine. There were two batteries and a off-1-both-2 switch. Whereever you selected the switch, that's what both engines and the house ran on. If you don't have a separate house bank, that's probably what it is configured as. If you look at the connections at the back of the switch (taking the connectors off of course) and don't see any corrosion, then I'd replace the switch. Some switched you can open up and clean the contacts inside.

And to specifically answer this question: "I hear a sort of ark coming from the battery switch.... I'm thinking I should replace it... But maybe this is the way its supposed to be?"... the answer is NO, you should never hear arcing from the switch!!

ALSO, when working on the switch, make sure you disconnect BOTH batteries at the batteries so you don't have ANY possibility of shorting something out while you're working on the switch!

Are you sure the noise is coming from the battery switch or is it the starter solenoid clicking rapidly? I'm experiencing the same no start condition with a rapid solenoid clicking on one of my brand new batteries. I suspect a bad ground connection, but haven't checked it out yet.