1991 Ski Nautique General Maintenance Advise

[jrocket]

Hey all,

about to purchase a ‘91 Ski Nautique with 540 hours. Super excited about the buy as it’s my first boat but I know in order to make them last there are some maintenance procedures to follow yearly and seasonally. Besides oil changes and vinyl upkeep, what other tips do you guys have that can help me keep the boat running for as long as possible and not breaking the bank?

thanks!

[NautiqueJeff]

A 1991 will still have wooden stringers. Check them carefully before buying the boat.

You'll want to change the impeller yearly, along with routine oil changes, etc.

You may want to check out the suggestions here:

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...older-nautique

[shag]

IMO, always use ethanol free gas.

[Jonny Quest]

As this is your first boat, you may not know what “check the stringers” means. Before 1993, Correct Craft used wood coated in fiberglass in constructing the hull. The wood can get wet and rot—causing a lot of issues. The stringers are the backbone of the boat and comprise the major mounting point for the engine. If the stringers are rotten and bad, you will need to replace them—which is no small task. You can test by taking a 3/4“ deep socket and whack (or tap) along the stringers, paying particular attention to the area around the engine mounts. A solid sharp “click” is what you want to hear. A dull thud or soft clunk usually means rot. Check the floor for soft spots. A soft floor and stringer rot often go hand in hand.

JQ