IPvFletch

After a long day of boating a few weeks ago, we get back by the docks and then I somehow sucked up some weeds.. we quickly got major cavitation and I just idled it back to the dock and into the trailer.. It eventually showed me exhaust overheat and began beeping constantly right as I was loading it back onto the trailer, but was able to idle in and up ok..

I got it out of the water and saw a huge basket-ball sized weed glob hanging from the grates.. I pulled them off and got what I could out from inside there and then I left and just assumed it would be fine...

Fast forward a few weeks, we go and try to start the engine again, and it doesn't even turn over now. I am just trying it my storage garage where I keep it. I crawled under while my wife tried to start it and the impeller is spinning (seen from below looking through the grates) so I guess that rules out stuck rock/stick right?

I keep it on a battery buddy so the battery should be fine. The starter kicks in and it engages and you hear the engine try to turn over, but it doesn't fire up.

It is kind of noisy like metal on metal clang, but I am pretty sure it has always made that noise.

The boat is a 2011 and 2 years old, but I am the second owner. It has fired up every time no problem, in and out of water (although I never run it more than like 5s out of water). This is the first problem I've had with it.

Any ideas on what else I can check?

We just got new spark plugs and had an oil change several months ago long before this happened...

Thoughts?

Thanks!