bendix stuck

[roffey]

seems like this boat is always broken... The last time I was out the battery went dead,, just before the winch cable broke,, LOL. Try and load a 26 foot boat with no motor and no winch cable... That's a different thread.... Very hot day and when I got the boat home and battery charged the boat would not start,,, just crank. After about 30 min of cranking the motor started to show signs of life and then the starter would just click.. so I think the bendix is stuck on the fly wheel. I know what a dead battery sounds like, click click click and I know what broken teeth on a fly wheel sound like.... this is just one click every time I turn the key..

My question is can I just hit the starter with a hammer and see if I can unstick the bendix it or is this a done deal, take the old starter off for when I but my new starter?