OK –so to recap: I pulled the motor and drove it an hour and a half to a shop that closed 18 months ago. Several suggestions here made me put it back in and test the voltage drop and connections. Connections looked good. Battery is a relatively heavy duty starter battery from Wal-Mart, new this spring.

Before I turn the engine on, the battery reads 12.4. 30 seconds on the foot switch, no anchor load on the electric motor and it drops to 11.9.

Engine on, at 1500 rpms, battery reads 13.4; 30 seconds on the footswitch with no anchor load, 12.9.

So then without volt testing, I anchor in 17 feet of water, 45 lb. CQR and 75’ of chain. Engine at 1800 rpms, and after 30 seconds of pulling up the chain on a moderate load moving the boat forward, the electric motor winds/slows down almost to a crawl. So, it’s 15 seconds on and 30 seconds off, as the battery seems to build up more power to provide the electric motor.

Balmar alternator, high output, is about 25 feet away and puts out to all battery banks. Wiring size is up to snuff. Motor used to spin faster under load last year and the year before that and the year before that.

Any ideas?