Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hello all
We bought your first pontoon boat last year from a dealer in Omaha. We are in Casper WY and love to go boating. Anyway, the first time I had it out last year, (2015) the volt meter gauge only showed about 11 volts, and any speed. I knew that was too low so I called dealer, they said to have a Yamaha Dealership check it out. I took it 200 miles away for the nearest one and they found that the wires were loose going to the Rectifier and it was fixed. Next time out, charged at over 13 volts for about an hour then dropped to 10. Took it to local boat shop then, they replaced the rectifier with one that I bought from a web site. Worked great for one boating trip, died again. Took to another local boat shop, new battery and rectifier later it worked great! Got to use it for about 3 hours last year before winter hit. Put it away for the season. Got it out this spring, used maybe a total of 3 to 4 hours, not over 1 tank of fuel used, and it died on me again. My question is, could there be something that is taking out the rectifier? I can buy another one for $125.00 and replace it myself, just 4 bolts and a plugin. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Well, the stater needs replaced again, 3rd one in less than a year. Thanks for all of you who at least looked at my post. Hopefully I can find out someday what is taking those out.

I'm certainly not a mechanical genius, but I'd look at:

Do you have a good "Ground" that is solid and tight? Both at the battery and at the rectifier.

Do you have a short somewhere. Trace the wires and make sure you don't have a pinch or rub that is causing a short, thus burning out electrical parts.

Just my .02. And worth about what you've paid for it.