Mechanical issue need help

[sea hunt bob]

I have two batteries the starter battery that negative and positive burnt up to the starter trying to figure out why that would happen. It is on an outboard motor.

[Gerry Zagorski]

So both positive and negative wires that connect to the engine are fried? If so you have a short somewhere. Could be the wires themselves, your ignition switch or the starter/selanoid. First thing I would do is replace the wires since you are going to need to do that anyway... As your are doing this be careful to look for areas where the wires might have rubbed on something metal and caused the short to begin with.

Next before you hook the wires back up make a temporary connection to by pass the ignition switch and go directly to the starter from the battery to see if that is your issue. If the starter works as it should you might have an issue with your ignition switch/wiring at the helm.

[sea hunt bob]

Thank you for the much needed help.