that part about sucking water is very good advice most people have no clue about this and the procedure for cranking is spot onAssuming storage was done correctly, and the batteries are good you shouldn't have any problems. You can decompress the engine and run it for a few seconds on starter power to make sure it tuns OK. Then, if boat is still on the hard, fill a bucket with water and put the engine intake hose in it (do not force feed water in engine hose with water hose). Put compression levers back on, move fuel lever up a little and fire up. Once engine has started and runs smoothly, bring it back to idle and shut it off. Same drill if boat is in the water except for the hose in the bucket. If engine doesn't start, shut water intake (or remove hose from bucket) before retrying. You do not want to suck water in the engine while trying again and again until you find out why it won't start.
Good luck
Thanks for the advice. Bought the boat on the hard. Am replacing batteries. Fuel guage says tank is half full. As I understand it, the engine has a closed cooling system and uses sea water to cool the closed system? Understand the hose in the bucket but am confused about shutting off water supply if engine doesn't start.Assuming storage was done correctly, and the batteries are good you shouldn't have any problems. You can decompress the engine and run it for a few seconds on starter power to make sure it tuns OK. Then, if boat is still on the hard, fill a bucket with water and put the engine intake hose in it (do not force feed water in engine hose with water hose). Put compression levers back on, move fuel lever up a little and fire up. Once engine has started and runs smoothly, bring it back to idle and shut it off. Same drill if boat is in the water except for the hose in the bucket. If engine doesn't start, shut water intake (or remove hose from bucket) before retrying. You do not want to suck water in the engine while trying again and again until you find out why it won't start.
Good luck
Gotcha!what that means is if your engine is not running don't keep pumping water because it will flood the block because there is not enough exhaust pressure to push the water on through the wet muffler and out the exhaust pipe
Thanks for all the help. A few turns and she fired up and settled into a smooth idle purring like a kitten.did it start up?