I'm not even going to pretend the troubleshooting was fun.  I didn't even like moving all the stuff that had to get moved so I could access the engine and battery compartment.  I wisely piled everything I had to move on my bunk so that I would be motivated to move it back so I could sleep in my bed tonight instead of on the bench at the helm.  I got enough of that the last 3 nights. 

Jeff, who was volunteered by his wife Suzie, from m/v IREEN came by after I got anchored to help troubleshoot the engine problem.  We went through all the things I had already covered to get a second opinion. Then went through and checked all the in-line fuses and made sure the connectors were all tight.  

While we were checking the engine room where the battery box is I told him that my friend, Mike Hoppe, suggested I disconnect the engine start battery from the system and try starting with just the parallel house switch. I told Jeff I didn't really understand what the battery could be doing to cause a problem but that Mike is a smart guy and if he "told me to drink a glass of shark urine" I would probably do it. 

Sure enough, with that battery disconnected the engine started just like always.  I am so glad he didn't suggest the shark piss...

So I have an engine that will start again now, I met a new cruising friend, I confirmed that Mike Hoppe is a genius, and I get a good night sleep. All in all not a bad day.

And he lived happily ever after.