to me if it was a voltage problem it would struggle to turn it over when engaged. but it doesnt

I would check all connections and grounds first, as best you can. You can isolate the starting circuit by jumping the 2 large terminals on the slave solenoid. If it cranks over, you've got a bad slave, starter switch, NSS, etc. Had my slave go bad last year. Took it apart, cleaned, reassembled. $0 fix.

Does sound like a bad starter though, based on your later posting.

If the starter spins but doesn't engage it is the bendix. ( attached to the top of the starter )

yep and about 3 years and 60 hours im a bit dissapointed

well, I had my small friend who was able to roll off the front of the engine and bend along the stringers to get to the starter without taking anything apart other than the raw water hose.

this is what I found
http://i1316.photobucket.com/albums/...psddk64ttv.jpg

this is what I did to hopefully prevent it from happening in the future

http://i1316.photobucket.com/albums/...psoetingtw.jpg

http://i1316.photobucket.com/albums/...psq9ur0lct.jpg

it will make a bit of a mess but being able to get some lubricant on the end of the starter will be worth it

Wow!!!! Gear is rusted right to the shaft / bendix. Did you figure out where the water came from or how it got in there so much? Drain hole +1, but I would still try and figure out why.

Thank you for keeping us updated

the water came in during 1 trip coming back in some rough water every 15 or so min the nose would just catch the top of the wave and a slug of water would come over the dash onto the floor then drain into the bilge as its designed i would pump it out but with the size of the waves it would slosh around and touch the flywheel. im guessing with the heat on the starter while running that wouldnt take long. I experinced the problems when i got home and was flushing the engines at the end of the trip so im confident it happened then. Im wondering too if the shield is missing from the bottoms of the bellhousing

That hole is no drain its on the side of the starter and will allow me to spray some oil into the end of the starter to keep it lubricated