1978 Nautique Mechanical Refurbishment

You can use the Fake a Lake to run it in the driveway.
Along with the plugs I assume you're going to do wires, cap, rotor etc...

not just battery connections, all connections
tune up kit components (points, cap, condenser, rotor, plug wires)
Transmission fluid
alignment
filters (fuel, oil, raw water, but I dont think your boat has a raw water filter)

By flush part, I am guessing you are referring to the Perko Flush kit. Most people recommend against them. Not because they are so bad (tho there have been stories of failures) but because they are a $145 expense you dont need. Its easy enough to pull your intake hose at the thru hull and either clamp a garden hose into it, or extend it and drop it in a bucket and draw from the bucket (recommended on occasion so as to verify your raw water pump is good)

Some folks put a T fitting on their intake hose for about $15 in parts as an alternative that requires less fuss when you want to flush.




EDIT: I started this before all the other responses but got called away before I posted, so some duplication to above, but a few new things too, so I left it.

Be careful with the "Fake a Lake". I bought one and used it once. Found that I could not trust it to stay in proper position...tight against the hull. It would shift, especially when I got back up in the boat, and slide out of position not providing enough water.
Now I disconnect the the hose that draws water from the thru hull fitting. Run the garden hose into it and clamp it down. Got to make sure you have a garden hose that is sturdy and won't collapse (check for kinks in the hose, make sure you have consistent water flow).

I also would stay away from the fake a lake. You can get all the parts to build the one in the picture above from Lowes.

Might want to check your raw water impellar. There are some little brass fittings on the ends of your throttle cable. I have had those break.

Skidim is a great source for parts. you could also check My correct parts. They are a site sponsor.

Picking boat up tomorrow

Like this?


Thats a waukesha engine then, That picture is keeganinos, you could PM him or Im sure someone will chime in where to get.

If you could get a bolt out of the riser or something that had some paint on it you could take it in to an auto paint shop and they could probably match it.

Check out this search on summit

They have grabber green (maybe what keeg used) and kermit green.

Are you sure its Old Ford Blue? I havent seen that color matched to green manifolds- at least not originally. Keegan's motor (above) is probably that color. The Waukesha's and early PCM's had dark blue (navy-ish) blocks, which had the green manifolds paired to them. Ive seen a few all-blue motors (manifolds included) that were a little lighter shade. By '79 or '80, PCM went to silver and black.

For those that have cut in a "T" on the freshwater pickup from the thru-hull 90 how do you keep the hose water from running back out the thru-hull opening. I have always done the bucket method but for the $15 bucks would like to get a "T" connection on mine, but the only way I see doing it is get a ball valve between the 90 for freshwater pickup and the "T" connection to keep the hose water volume on the pump side.

Does it look similar to one of these?

Tim, it looks like the bottom 2 pictures, those are the photos I have seen but could not find again. Any idea what that color blue, and green is called. Do you believe that is the original colors, that red nautique looks to be around my 78's vintage. Thanks!

Ok, thanks, old Ford blue is name I thought I had looked at the auto parts store,and internet search. I will check again, it is definitely a darker blue and green than Keegan's. There are at least 3 shades of Ford blue depending on the era.

I found Eastwood paints has a Dark Ford Blue used from mid 70's through 1980. Gary your color, and engine look great, where did you get your valve covers?

Thanks Gary, that is the type of result I am shooting for, really amazing when you see the starting point on some of these boats.

uhh well, it has been documented. I just did it. Just unhook the wiring harness, the batter cables, the water line, the throttle and shifter cables, the 4 bolts in the coupler from the tranny to the shaft... I dont think anyone really did a step by step. Its not too difficult. Do you have a cherry picker? Just make sure you have clearance to get over the side of the boat, so dont make your chain to long or you will not be able to get it over. I know some people have had to let the air out of a tire to get it over the side.