Yamaha 1.8 starting issue( starter spinning)

[Nctinter]

Ran the boat for an hour with no issues. Went to restart and nothing. Just the starter spinning. Towed her back. Thought it was a bad starter or voltage issue. Replaced the starter, relay, battery and no change. When I had the starter out I could spin the gear in the crank housing. I don't know much about boat starters but this doesn't seem good. So starter works. Spins but it is like the gear isn't attached to anything anymore. What could this be? It is a 2016 FSH 190

 

[Neutron]

Ran the boat for an hour with no issues. Went to restart and nothing. Just the starter spinning. Towed her back. Thought it was a bad starter or voltage issue. Replaced the starter, relay, battery and no change. When I had the starter out I could spin the gear in the crank housing. I don't know much about boat starters but this doesn't seem good. So starter works. Spins but it is like the gear isn't attached to anything anymore. What could this be? It is a 2016 FSH 190

I believe there is one way sprag in the gear housing. If that failed the gear will move both ways. It you can spin the gear both ways freely than its gone. It should lock up one way.
If gone you neep to pull the front cover off, and the flywheel would need to be removed to inspect further. From the parts diagram it seems this would be the most likely culprit

 

[Nctinter]

Thank you. Yeah the gear moves freely both ways. This is the one I'm talking about in the pic.