No spark at plugs - 2001 196 Ski Nautique`

[lakers5]

My boat has been having some challenges. Every now and then it will die when running at 3000 rpm. Often it will restart and carry on like nothing happened at all. Yesterday it stalled right after it started and I had to try it several times before it started. Today, it quit and would not start again. So far I have...put a new gas filter had to drain in the process, checked my vanes in my water pump, checked the battery connections (turns over fine) and finally pulled a spark plug and found no spark. What could be giving me an intermittent spark??? Any ideas would be awesome as I was going to tow my boat on holidays this year, leaving Sunday. Thanks Tom

[gatorgates]

I would start with distributor cap and rotor. And if you haven't changed these in a few years, I would put money on that being the problem.

[DanielC]

Check for positive voltage at the coil.

[hyparks]

Had a similar issue with my 01 210 this season. New rotor and cap and I also cleaned the internal parts of the distributor with some fine sand/grit paper as mine was corroded. Give that a try.

[lakers5]

I want to thank you very much for the assistance provided. As it turned out, I checked the coil and I had power there, I then took the rubber protector off my distributor cap to find that the nut holding the distributor down had come loose. On inspection the distributor and rotor where corroded and following replacement the boat runs like a top. I am off shortly to go help a friend who is having the same problems. Again thank you, your assistance was most valuable. Tom