Starter or Solenoid or....?

[s/v Breakaway]

I went to the boat this weekend and cleaned-up the connections on the ignition switch end and the starter/solenoid end with emery cloth. They didn't appear corroded to me, but.... The engine started up immediately afterwards, but the problem had just started and was intermittant, so it will take awhile to see if that fixes it. I did not remove the wires and check for continuity, but that will be the next step if the problem reoccurs.

Thanks again for the good suggestions.

[menado]

I had same problem with my boat after 2 years. I installed second solenoid ( a electrical switch actually) between the push starter and the starter's solenoid and never have problem in the past 28 years. The starter's solenoid took 17 to 20 amps to engaged fully into the starter, but the second solenoid draw only less than 4 amps. The wiring from the push start button to neutral switch down to the starter's solenoid was too much to handle the 20 amp needed to engaged the starter.