What am I missing? First Boat

[flipflop]

After about a year of looking I think I found the right boat. This would be my first boat and I plan on handling the maintenance myself. I figure cost of running and maintaining will be about $200 a month. I have a small family (wife+dog) and found a very nice Nautique 176.

http://boatyardsanford.com/main/e107...rap/wrap.php?1

Engine: either 240 or 260 PCM 351 5.8L Holley - Carb.

From my understanding this model boat and engine is closed cooling. Is that full or part?
Carb. vs. EFI: Any maintenance items to look out for? How about maintaining a carb' engine. Easier?

Your thoughts? There isn't that much out there on the 176.

[raygunclan]

Cant help you on the do-it-yourself maintenance questions but if you are in the central Florida area you have Nautiques of Orlando for your back-up. Have been taking my boats there for over 6 years
http://orlandonautiques.com/
Good luck...

[jonfo]

Here is correct link to your boat:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...T-176-96646720

[oakfu]

I bought my first boat, a 176 last year and it hasn't cost much to maintain. I don't think you are correct in saying it has a closed cooling system. I know mine sucks the water out of the lake to cool it, which I have assumed was an open system. I haven't had any problems with the carb. I bought mine with 400 hours on it and it was well maintained so I am doing my best to do the same. I have really enjoyed the boat, it doesn't have much leg room but we usually only have 3-5 people on board and it is fine.

[flipflop]

Thanks for the info. Sorry about the link. I am not positive about the closed cooling I am going to look at it this weekend. Keep the info coming. How does the boat handle in chop? What is the wake shape like? Thanks again and have a good weekend all.

[Rick]

Closede Cooling an option

I think the closed cooling may have been put on the boat as an option. That is usually done when the boat will be used in salt water. As a result you want to check carefully for corrosion o the trailer as well as the exhaust manifolds. In salt the manifolds last about 3 years as they are still cooled with the external water not the closed coolant. If they have been replaced regularly you shouldn't have any problems. i think i would probably remove them and check how badly they are corroded just for piece of mind. The boat looks really nice and since there is no wood in itto rot as long as the engine has the closed cooling and the manifolds look good, you should be good to go. The question should be, was the boat run in salt and if so for what portion of the hours. If it hasn't then no worries.

[hourglass]

are you referring to older boat manifolds? my buddy has an 05 used since minute one in brackish water with closed cooling and flushed(i know it doesn't flush the darn thing) and his is still going strong with 500 hours and 5 years later.

[flipflop]

We decided to purchase the boat, made a down payment and going to take it for a test run next weekend before closing the deal. Main goal is to check the gauges, lights, stereo, and performance. Any other things to look for on the test run?

Notes

Boat looks really good. Everything seems to be original. Engine is PCM - 351 260 hp. Very clean, little to no rust and closed cooling. Prop is in excellent condition, no nics or dents. Exterior has hardly any scratches and clear coat looks great. Collapsable tower. Interior is a little worn, but manageable. Trailer is in great shape, no rust, brakes, and good tires.

Thanks for all the help. We can't wait to own our first boat.

[bkhallpass]

. Exterior has hardly any scratches and clear coat looks great. .

????? Not following you. There should be no clear coat on that boat. Actually, there should be no paint on that boat.

BKH

[NautiDave07]

Also Galvinized trailer is usually a sign of salt water use because that coating keeps the salt from eating up the steal. Definatley have another mechanic check it out dealers aren't all honest and won't disclose things properly. I know several people that got great deals on boats that had been in salt and they turned out to be big trouble.

[flipflop]

thanks for the info again. Sorry about the clear coat confusion. I was just saying the exterior doesn't have any scratches. No paint, just original Nautique stickers. The boat is going to be used in bracksih/saltwater. We have miles and miles on intracoastal waterways and no lakes here in St. Augustine, FL. I'm glad it already has a closed cooling system, save some money there. Not sure if the trailer is original, has a Nautique sticker.

[bkhallpass]

By 97, Correct Craft no longer made their own trailers. The dealers put the boats on trailers, usually from a trailer manufacturer in the region. Neverthless, it may well be the original trailer that came with the boat. I looked at the photo this morning. If I remember, it looked liked a Ramlin trailer which is pretty common for use on Correct Crafts in the Southeast. BKH

[NautiDave07]

I think you are on the money with the closed cooling be it in salt. I wouldn't worry much about that trailer it looks to be in good shape and galvinized is what you need.

[Mikeski]

sounds like you have found yourself a nice little salt water boat. I would expect that boat to ski extremely well, never been behind a post 1980 176. We skied in a little salt water lake adjacent to the bay when I was growing up. We flushed, washed the boats and thoroughly rinsed the trailers after each outing. Our boats stayed in pretty nice condition but the trailers did take a beating (not galvanized). As long as there is not too much rust in the motor compartment and not too much corrosion of the aluminum components you should be fine. I would plan replace the exhaust riser gaskets every other year.

[oakfu]

The boat doesn't handle a heavy chop well. But I don't think most ski boats do. The wake is nice. My girlfriend loves the ski wake and we have been working different configurations of ballast for those who wakeboard. All in all I am very happy with it. I live in St. Augustine but keep my boat in Orange Park. I mostly take it to Doctors Lake and black creek. I always flush it out and wipe it down every time I take it out.