www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 2004 FW 288 Vista with a Maxwell Freedom 500 windlass. Last year I deployed the anchor with the foot switch, but when I went to retrieve the anchor, it just crawled. I had to pull the rode up by hand to get it to continue.
Went to test it the other day.....solenoid clicks, but motor will not run. Took the motor off and took to electrical shop. No problems with the motor.....ran fine.
Re-installed motor, but will still not run. Gearbox oil looks new.. Batteries have been load tested. All connections are tight and corrosion free.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

Can you put a meter on the connections at the motor and see what happens when you push the button

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Current:
2000 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer "still Livin the Dream"

Past
2002 268 Vista 5.7 GXI "Livin' the Dream"
1996 Rinker 192 Captiva. "The Simple Life"
1999 Yamaha XLL 1200 Waverunner.
1976 Mercury Marquis tri hull 120 hp

Yes...did that. No voltage at the motor, yet the solenoid does make a clinking sound that suggests it is energized.

Where is the "solenoid" I don't know much about these systems, I am an electrician though... I assume it has a couple small wires from the dash that energize the coil, sounds like that is working. Have you checked the voltage entering and leaving it? I have seen pitted contacts that won't conduct, but they open and close fine.....

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Current:
2000 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer "still Livin the Dream"

Past
2002 268 Vista 5.7 GXI "Livin' the Dream"
1996 Rinker 192 Captiva. "The Simple Life"
1999 Yamaha XLL 1200 Waverunner.
1976 Mercury Marquis tri hull 120 hp

Just had the same issue.

Breaker at main battery switch was off.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

The windlass breaker?? Mine was on. I just checked the voltage to the windlass solenoid and only had 6.5 volts to the input side. Checked the battery voltages and found the port engine battery at 6.5 volts. The starboard battery was at 12.6 volts. Doesn't the charger charge BOTH batteries? Anyone have the battery wiring diagram for a 2004 288 without the genset? Thanks!!

Go to www.fourwinns.com, click on "Owners", then on "Owner's Manuals, choose your year and model or group of models, then download the manual. The wiring diagrams are in the manual. You should be able to get at least most of your answers there. You might also find the Parts Catalog and the Catalog and Product Information helpful. Hope this helps.

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

sorry for the duplicate post.

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

Thanks to all for your input!!

I assume you have twins, do you have a house battery also?

I would pull the bad(6.5v) battery out and have it tested, if good, get it charged up and reinstall it. Then test the chargers, I assume you have a 2 or 3 bank charger, Switch charger outputs (at the battery switch)and see if the low battery issue emerges in another place.....

Good luck

_________________
Current:
2000 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer "still Livin the Dream"

Past
2002 268 Vista 5.7 GXI "Livin' the Dream"
1996 Rinker 192 Captiva. "The Simple Life"
1999 Yamaha XLL 1200 Waverunner.
1976 Mercury Marquis tri hull 120 hp

How many batteries to you have in your boat?

I don't like the way four winns wired the batteries and labeled the wires.

Yes the charger should charge both batteries, or both battery banks if you have more than 2 batteries.

The battery charger is tied into the switch so you will not see the wires.

On my boat the red wire labeled port engine is tied to my starting batteries. My 2 starting batteries are on the same circuit and connected in parallel.

The house batteries are connect to the red wire labeled starboard engine.

Seeing as your staboard engine battery is dead, and tied into your windlass i would suggest this is your house battery, and your boat is wired the same as mine.

How old is your battery, and did you just pull the boat from winter storage?

Turn your battery charger on and check the voltage at the battery. It it reads 12v or higher your charger is good and battery is done. If no change in voltage your charger is done, and your battery might also be.

Have you recently run the boat? The alternator from one of the engines will charge that battery as well.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

If the windlass is getting juice, then put the battery switch to parallel and see if it pulls it up. If so, it sounds like it is time for new batteries. If the solenoid just clicks and no windlass movement, then you need a new solenoid. This thread has a pic of the solenoid ( viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14217&p=137345&hilit=windlass+solenoid#p137345).

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Appears that my Port battery is my house battery. Had it load tested....it passed, but barely, so I replaced it. Windlass works fine now.
If you have an Inteli-Power PD 2020/30 charger, please see the comments from jvalich's post on July 11, 2006.
I will be replacing my charger soon, due to the design flaw inherent in it.
Thanks for everyone's help