Well I feel like a retard... I had compared dvom reading to gauge reading several times w the key on engine off and they were the same so I had it in my head that the gauge was good....
Doing some more testing today I had the engine running and checked between engine block and starter lug and to my surprise got 13.6v.... puzzled... tested at bat and again 13.6v.... a few more moments of haze and then w a big homer simpson DOH!.... clarity set in.... crawled under the dash and tested at the back of the gauge.... yeah.... 13.6v there too!!!

Dammit I KNOW better... worse yet Spare TOLD me better....

I swear I was smarter 20 yrs ago.... ugh

You're fine. You simply had a senior moment. :you:

Ah crap... so I get to have 15 years of senior moments before I qualify for senior discounts.....

Smokeonthewater, believe me I am no expert by any means but I do have a outboard for a long time so I'm just giving you my advice and what I would do. The very first thing I would do is check the battery connections ( and you did that) second thing I would do is hook up a volt meter to the battery and run the engine even if you have to take her out with the volt meter hooked up and that's just to confirm that the readings on your dash are correct, if your multimeter is showing a better correct reading than its your dash meter than your done at this point if it's not your dash meter I would replace your voltage regulator, i have a Mercury and mine is on top but it's a two stroke You should change yours too I don't know where yours is bug I would change it. Hope this helps. The heavy hitters are going to reply hopefully soon but the problem I have with them is they do tell you how to fix it but sometimes I have no idea what there talking about But that's not there problem that's cause I'm ignorant about there solutions I don't know how to do it or don't have the tools that they say to use. I just read you have a second page and looks like you solved it talking about a senior moment just had 1

Thanks.

Smokeonthewater, don't you love it when it turns out good, I know I do .

Absolutely.... first time ever LOL