1991 SNOB “new to me” looking for advice/info

[thedustyboot]

Good day, new to the site and looking for some insight and help with my recent purchase of a ‘91 SNOB.

This boat has been in a “winterized” state for the last two years, owner passed away and I picked it up from the family.

I don’t really know a whole lot about the boat history wise and I know nothing about what it’s had for maintenance in the last few years.

first off,

I can’t seem to find any sort of battery disconnect for power, I was hoping that slapping in a new battery and trying the key would do something but I have no juice.

second item,

this is my first boat I’ve owned that is direct drive and raw water cooled. This boat does has a garden hose connection upstream of the inlet strainer (attached image) and raw water circ pump on the intake side of the cooking system. I read that the owners manual recommends a pressure relief valve for engine flushing. My question in regards to this is what is best practice for hooking up a hose for engine flushing/running the engine in the driveway? Tracing raw water lines there’s no other valves in the system other than the one before the garden hose hookup but upon hooking up the hose I blew a water line suggesting there’s either a blockage further up in the system or I’m doing things totally wrong…

third dilemma,

just ahead of the midship tow post and slightly starboard of centreline is a 1” hole in the hull (attached image) that I found while tracing wires. Any idea what used to live here?

[NautiqueJeff]

Normally on boats that old, there are no battery switches. You would, however, need to turn on the Ignition breaker on the dash for anything to have power.

On the water hose connection, start the boat first, and then immediately turn on the water. That way too much pressure won't build up.

That hole in the hull looks like your drain plug hole. Do you have the T-handle drain plug that goes there?

[NautiqueJeff]

One other thing. That circled area in your first picture is your Pro-Tec coils. If they haven't failed yet, they will. You should plan to replace the Pro-Tec system with a normal distributor.

[mpost]

When you hooked up the garden hose didi you close the valve in your circled picture? Dont! This will allow hose pressure to be forced out the thru hull water pickup untill you start the engine. Then the water will be drawn up into the RWP (raw pater pump). I dont beleive there was a shutoof valve for the water pickup in 91 but you should make sure nobody installed one between the white valve in your picture and the thru hull pickup.
I agree with Jeff that that is the drain plug hole. You need one of these. https://nautiqueparts.com/drain-plug...raft-nautique/
Although with the hose and bilge pump mounted that close not sure if the T handle will turn????

[Scooter G]

I thought that same thing mpost. How are you going to get a T plug in there?
Maybe they make an extended 12" model, lol. More likely, maybe the bilge isn't mounted..?

[Tom_H]

On a boat that's been sitting that long, I'd be replacing the RWP impeller before I tried starting anything. Go through and double check every hose clamp/tighten them down. I have a similar garden hose setup, but leave the valve to the water inlet/through-hull open until I start the engine like mpost says (that way water just shunts out the bottom until you start it up). On the power end, make sure all your connections are clean including your ground at the engine, and check for any tripped breakers as Jeff suggests.

[thedustyboot]

Thanks everyone for the replies!!

the insight on my “mystery hole” is greatly appreciated. I do have one of those T-handle brass plugs on hand.

as for the flushing, I got it sorted. I left that red valve open and had no issues. RWP works great despite the age and I’m going through all hoses right meow.

The no-crank issue came down to just a bad starter solenoid. Re/re’d that and she fired up.

next up on the list will be tracing wires for the blower and getting that working, then after that will be tracing wires/hoses for bilge.

[NautiqueJeff]

Even with the RWP working great, replace the impeller. There is NO QUESTION that it needs to be replaced. Do it now or regret it very soon.

This is the one you need:

https://nautiqueparts.com/impeller-3...00-gt-40-also/

[thedustyboot]

NautiqueJeff Roger that, thank you for all the help

[thedustyboot]

One last thing….

having some difficulty locating a the blower. There is some ducting on stbd side of the gearbox leading to a fiberglass pipe that leads out of the bilge and under the floor. Would that blower motor be situated there or am I looking in the wrong spot.