Can't start the boat

[leeprice72]

Sounds like you have a short somewhere. I would clean all my connections real good to start. Check to see if your getting power to the starter. Starter may be going out, but that is easy enough to check. YOu can take the starter off and have it checked, or put it directly to a battery. I would disconnect my battery if you are not near it. That terminal getting hot is not good.

[smokeonthewater]

the terminal getting hot means you have a high resistance connection.... clean it... next go buy a digital volt ohm meter ($20 and no man should be without one).... check battery voltage after charger has been turned off for at least a few hours. Next test between the positive terminal on the battery and the positive battery terminal on the starter solenoid... should be 0.0 or very close. Test the same between the negative terminal and a good engine ground. should give the same results..... Now get a helper. While performing the same two tests have your helper try to crank the engine for just long enough to see the reading on the meter (IE half a second).... the reading should stay very low... If it jumps to say 10 volts you have found a problem.
Next check battery voltage across the terminals and have the helper try to crank again.
Write down the results of these tests and let us know. If we have to continue testing a load tester is next and there are a couple tests to do with it.