Pre-Season Spring Checklist

[MN Ryan]

Scooter G I have 6 now--finding them the next time I need them will be the challenge.

[Scooter G]

They are in a small zip lock bag in the dash box

Ordered a back up prop this weekend, went for an in-between the stock prop and the high elevation prop. Took me forever to pull the trigger on that, $800 and some change for something you don't need, and hope you never need. Spring run off can bring some fun hidden water obstacles here.

ACME 3077 17.00" X 15.50" 4-BLADE LH PROPELLER 1.25" BORE .150" CUP (Sorry, I know OJ is a site Sponsor, I just couldn't get the right price at this time, so I'll refrain from plugging any names).

[SilentSeven]

Add to that spring list finishing out that prop box. Prop...puller...wrench...spare nut...key...pins...all in one spot.

[MN Ryan]

Yes, I need to wrap that up, too!

[Scooter G]

I couldn't remember who was doing that prop box, and didn't look back to see. I thought it was you MN Ryan that had started one.
Looks good SilentSeven, well done! I like the feature that you can throw some tools in along with it, perfect. Doesn't really look like it takes up much more room than a weekend saver prop bag. If I remember correctly a 17" prop was just a little too big?
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...rop-change-kit
Headlines read: "Rigid tool box sales spiked for the month of May".

A couple of Seasons ago, during an inspection boat cop ask if I had a bailout bucket, it's not required, just taking a survey. Says, if you had a plastic tool box, those work perfect.
In my mind, I'm thinking if I have to save the boat with a plastic tool box, I'm taking the insurance claim. But then again, not a bad idea.

[SilentSeven]

If I remember correctly a 17" prop was just a little too big?

Yeah, I'm a 422 prop (~13 inches diameter) and you'll need some bigger kit for you wake and surf boat pushers.

[Scooter G]

Impeller change link, as part of the list of things to do:

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...eplacement-g23

[Scooter G]

Chemical warfare buffer station.
I found I had some of that Collinite wax, but it's a last step insulator wax, and I don't like the way it wipes off, too much work. What are you using in their line-up MN Ryan?

[Scooter G]

I have a random question?
I threw an engine code P0301 misfire cylinder 1, 1st lake run yesterday. It was during our 1st run, I was on the wake board.
Shut everything down, fired back up and ran the boat up and down the rpm range a few times, it almost acted like a fuel issue (top off tank with 35 gallons), but cleaned up an ran fine the rest of the evening.
Just changed the fuel filter, earlier in the day, and attempted to change the water separator, but that bugger was stuck tight, I mean super tight.. Instead up doing any harm, I'm saving the change out for today.
I was thinking about changing out the spark plugs at some point in the future, but was thinking 380 hours seemed a little pre-mature, maybe not. My question is the H5 takes an AC Delco plug #12322441 41-114. NP wants $122.50, I can get the same AC Delco part# on Ebay in the $20 range. I'm all about supporting our Nautique parts team, but that's a big mood swing on pricing. Am I shooting myself in the foot to save $100 bucks here?

Yours Truly,
Tight Wad

https://nautiqueparts.com/spark-plug...h6-pcm-engine/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18639357796...iABEgI11PD_BwE

By the way, the water temp was a balmy 62 degrees

[Scooter G]

Link to Fuel & Water Separator Change:

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...parator-change

[Scooter G]

Questions:
How often are we replacing the Drive Belts (Serpentine Belt), if ever? Do you keep a spare on board?
Belt looked good on visual inspection, saw maybe just a minute bit of fur on the outside edge.

My Supra 1300 hours on it, and I pretty sure it was never replaced. However, I did loose a belt one day on a '74 Sea Ray. Ran most of the rest of the day with a pair of pantyhose (are those even a thing today?), lol.


https://nautiqueparts.com/serpentine...for-h5-and-h6/

[Scooter G]

OIL CHANGE (on the list of things):
I don't need to add anything here that isn't already out there.

I will say that if you haven't discovered or used an oil extractor you are missing out on an amazing simplified process, life changing.
I sucked the engine oil out at the lake after we trailered, while everyone was cleaning up and putting away. Oil was still nice and hot (really hot), and I was in & out in less than 10 minutes. Not one drop spilled, and set the full extractor in the locker for the ride home.
Adding the oil at home (don't forget to do this), took longer than taking it out. Did spill a little on the filter change, pretty much impossible not to do.
I will change out the trans fluid on the next run to the lake.



I thought this a good thread with additions by greggmck for more details:
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...change-problem

And, if you want to know what time it is, and how to build the watch while you are at it, here's the detailed rocket science of oil from bturner.
Actually really informative:
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...il-myths-video

[MN Ryan]

I bought one of those extractors a few years ago--life changing. I use it on my vehicles, too. The only problem is I don't have a tube long enough to hit the bottom of the oil pan on my Sequoia!

[Scooter G]

Ace is the place with the helpful hardware man.


Anyone have any thoughts to my 2 previous questions, Spark Plugs, and Drive belts?

[bturner]

I know a lot of guys on the Great Lakes do a ton more maintenance and carry a lot more spare parts than us inland lake boaters, if I were still doing that I would have one squirreled away somewhere..

When I buy a used boat, I'll go all in on changing everything that remotely looks bad. If the boat has more than 300 hours, I'll also do the plugs just to feel better about it. Past that, I haven't personally purchased or carried a belt for any of the ski boats I've owned in probably the last 20 years. Heck, I don't think I've changed plugs in one that was still running good either. I do carry a fairly good tool kit with an impeller from my extensive collection of new looking impellers from when I changed them annually but that's about it for spares. My kit these days is more about fasteners, sealants and critical tools than it is parts these days. Even then when I do use them it's usually on someone else's boat.

We should probably start a "what's in your kit" thread to see what everyone is carrying. I will say mine is a shadow of what I carried when I did most of my boating on Lake Erie.