New Boat Questions - The basics

[FreedomCrawler]

Good morning and thank you everyone in advance. I’ve had smaller 20’ish trailer sailers but this is my first runabout.

After much searching I decided on a 1988 20’ Overnighter that checked the boxes for my needs. I was told it was donated and the broker had a mechanic at the marina show it to me. So I didn’t get to speak to the previous owner or get much of any input on it. Basically here’s the boat.

So I apologize in advance for these noob questions but I’d rather ask than guess. I understand the basics of boats and mechanics but these are more specific to this one/style that I haven’t dealt with before.

1. Plugs. Does the hole at the bottom of the rear of the boat get plugged while in the water? And does the plug I found in the engine bay plug anything while it’s in the water? Are those the only two plugs I need to put in?

2. The hose coming off the engine. I assume that’s so I can plug in a water hose and start it dry land. Do I need to bypass anything to start it in the water? Or is keeping the shutoff valve on it closed all that’s needed.

3. Bilge pumps. I found one underneath the engine that I’m going to replace just for peace of mind. Any input on a replacement? Is that the only bulge pump or are there generally two?

4. Anything special I should do for a tuneup outside of the normal spark plugs/rotor/filters? I’m going to try and use it for the next month. Store it for winter and give it a full tuneup in spring.

I’ll probably have more questions but that gets me started on the basics.

Thank you!

Pictures below for references to the questions

 

[FreedomCrawler]

Pictures

 

[DennisG01]

1) I take it this is your first boat? The one on the outside is your garboard drain plug. You can decide if you want to plug it, but... if you don't... how will you keep the ocean from funneling into your boat? The interior is simply a passageway between compartments - again your call, but I like to leave mine out to help with water that may get into a forward compartment can drain back to the main bilge to be pumped out.

2) It's hard to tell exactly how that flush setup is plumbed. But based on what I see, if you use that and start the engine (out of the water), you will burn up your raw water pump. It's probably meant as a passive system.

3) No such thing as "normal" - do what you feel is best. If you add a second one, though, install it such to make it a higher water level pump and also a higher flow rate. This will involve cutting the exit hole in the boat, of course.

4) Replace the raw water pump. Check engine and gear oil. Pressure test the gearcase.

You're going to need to winterize the engine before a hard freeze. Or at least drain all the water out (and verify it all drained). But it's best to put AF back in to ensure there were no leftover pockets of water.

How does the floor around the engine hole (where the dogbox sits) feel in regards to "soft"/"spongy"?

 

[FreedomCrawler]

1) I take it this is your first boat? The one on the outside is your garboard drain plug. You can decide if you want to plug it, but... if you don't... how will you keep the ocean from funneling into your boat? The interior is simply a passageway between compartments - again your call, but I like to leave mine out to help with water that may get into a forward compartment can drain back to the main bilge to be pumped out.

2) It's to tell exactly how that flush setup is plumbed. But based on what I see, if you use that and start the engine (out of the water), you will burn up your raw water pump. It's probably meant as a passive system.

3) No such thing as "normal" - do what you feel is best. If you add a second one, though, install it such to make it a higher water level pump and also a higher flow rate. This will involve cutting the exit hole in the boat, of course.

4) Replace the raw water pump. Check engine and gear oil. Pressure test the gearcase.

You're going to need to winterize the engine before a hard freeze. Or at least drain all the water out (and verify it all drained). But it's best to put AF back in to ensure there were no leftover pockets of water.

How does the floor around the engine hole (where the dogbox sits) feel in regards to "soft"/"spongy"?

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Yes, first runabout boat. I’ve only had sailboats in this size and just wanted to confirm some simple things. Didn’t want to run into an issue just because of some basic ignorance and assumptions. Something as simple as missing a drain plug, I assumed it was meant to be plugged but better to ask and look silly then not and sink a boat.

Everything in the flooring feels solid all around. I was told it was stored in a big barn and out of the elements.

All of what you said makes sense. Not entirely tracking on the answer to number two but I’ll research the specifics of what you mentioned.
In regards to number 3 I probably should have said from the factory to have 2 bilge pumps vs saying normal.

Good call on the anti-freeze. My initial thought was it already had anti-freeze but if it’s cooled from pulling the water from where it’s sitting in, that would make no sense for it to have anti-freeze in it. Pretty obvious running through how it works now. See, basic conversations that help out so I appreciate that.

 

[DennisG01]

#2... I edited and added the word "hard" as I forgot that, initially.

Bilge pumps... factory.... depends on the model and the year. If you had a second bilge pump from the factory, there would be another exit hole in the hull.

Yes, that's a raw water cooled engine, not a closed system. So the engine/manifolds/etc all have raw water in it... if it's been run since it was last winterized, of course.

Anytime!

 

[FreedomCrawler]

Does the raw water pump serve as a filter as well? To make sure it doesn’t suck in anything bad into the engine? Or is there a water filter for what gets pulled in as well.

 

[DennisG01]

The only filter is what you see there on the outdrive. It would be extremely rare for a boat of this size to have had a previous owner install an inline strainer.

 

[seasick]

I like to do as much maintenance as I can but I had a lot of knowledgeable folks to talk to when I started boating, With your limited experience, I strongly suggest you have a mechanic look at the boat and give you an quote to do the winterizing. You may have a great boat or on the other hand, you may have wreck. If you use a mechanic make sure you can watch everything he or she does and learn from that
Basic questions like has it been run recently, Has it been serviced? Was it stored someplace that freezes and was not winterized.
There are a ton of things that can be issues.
So before pouring money into it, find out what shape it is in and if the boat and motor are usable.

 

[FreedomCrawler]

I like to do as much maintenance as I can but I had a lot of knowledgeable folks to talk to when I started boating, With your limited experience, I strongly suggest you have a mechanic look at the boat and give you an quote to do the winterizing. You may have a great boat or on the other hand, you may have wreck. If you use a mechanic make sure you can watch everything he or she does and learn from that
Basic questions like has it been run recently, Has it been serviced? Was it stored someplace that freezes and was not winterized.
There are a ton of things that can be issues.
So before pouring money into it, find out what shape it is in and if the boat and motor are usable.

I should be able to run through the engine once I get my batteries charged and take a look at anything. Overall it seems about as basic as an old car, just a few nuances here and there specific to the boat world. So I’m excited to be able to dive in on it. Going to toss in the batteries and get it in the water this weekend to give it a shakedown.

Depending on how that goes and what I find I plan to do enough to enjoy it and get to know it safely for the next month, winterize it and then I’ll do a full tuneup once I get it out again in a few months.

 

[DennisG01]

Freedom - you said you're going to drop it in the water.... have you already verified the impeller is good, cap/rotor/plugs, fluids?

 

[Mustang65fbk]

Congratulations on the new to you boat... maybe I missed this but how long has the boat been sitting for? Was there water sitting in the bilge for an extended amount of time? It looks like there's some rust coming out of the garboard drain plug area, of which I'd jack up the boat and make sure you get any water out of it that might still be in there. The garboard drain plug needs to be in there or your boat will likely sink, unless the bilge pumps can keep up with it but I'm not sure that they could, or that I would want to test that theory out. On the topic of bilge pumps, there are generally two, or at least there have been two in all of the boats that I've owned. Typically you'll have one in the bow/cabin area and then the second will be in the stern. Good luck.