Well, I finally got to the root of my engine trouble. The salt water had indeed gotten to the combustion cylinders and had seized up. It only took a day to get the head off as the thermostat housing bolts were so reluctant to back out that they finally just broke off. Once the head was off we got the water out of the cylinders and replaced it with Marvel Mystery and began tapping with a hammer and a block of wood. After about 15 minutes we determined that the second piston was the frozen one and worked mostly on it. After another couple minutes it loosened up enough to hand crank. Yahoo! We honed out all the cylinders and its as good as new! Now all we do is put the pieces back together. Right? (Earlier in the day we had noticed that an alternator monitor switch and fuse we nowhere to be found. We decided that it must have gotten wacked and fallen into the bilge. But more on that later...) Well before we do that I put the batteries back in the compartment and get them hooked up so we can use the starter to turn the engine a couple of revs. As I put the last neg wire on I get a huge spark like its a live circuit. I check all the switches and they are off but three of them including the master are loose to the point of falling out. (once again we decide that somebody broke em by slamming a drawer or toolbox into them) Strangely, I find the missing alternator switch in the bottom of the battery compartment. Now I am really wondering who could have broke the switch and tossed it into the battery box hoping I wouldn't notice it was broken. Once the batteries are in radio will turn on but without any sound from the speakers. Weird! Oh well, not to be deterred we crank the engine over and it works. Yahoo! After cranking the engine I go back to the panel and realize I never turned on the battery isolator. The engine never should have started! We then test all the switches and I go on deck to check the running lights and the mast to see if those circuits are live too. The lights aren't on but I notice about 20 or so tint brown rust spots on the deck below the boom. When I look closer I realize that each one is actually small piece of metal with a circle of burn around it, like someone had been welding on deck and the sparks had fell and burned out. Now I am really puzzled. I recheck the electric panel and find that the back of each switch has been either melted or blown up! The night before there was a huge thunderstorm and MY BOAT GOT HIT BY LIGHTNING!!! A check with the PCYC and I find out that my fireworks show was the highlight of the evening! Police boats, harbormaster, everybody! Does anyone have any experience with lightning damage? Is there anything the surveyor/adjuster needs to be sure to look at? Mast? Though hulls? Prop? There is no obvious damage (except the panel) but I am sure the discharge had to go somewhere. Thanks Oh and BTW there is a meteor shower this month isn't there? 
I think I have a caption for the photo...
I think I have a caption for the photo...