Starting boat after 4 years - pre start steps

Hello All,

2007 VP 3.0L, Holley 4150 double barrel

I will be starting my boat after 4 years in indoor storage. These are the items I plan to cover before start up
1. Remove all old fuel
2. Add brand new fuel with stabil
3. Change engine oil and filter
4. Swap fuel filter (primary)
5. Inspect secondary fuel filter. Not sure where it is yet.
6. Change impeller
7. Change gear oil
8. Carburetor rebuild. This is because I saw a small fuel leak last time I used it and was advised by a member here to swap the carbureter gaskets. Also had to raise the throttle to start the motor till it got warmed up. Didnt start just on idle with turnkey.

This is the kit I got

Let me know if I'm missing anything or should check prior to start up. Thanks in advance.

Was the boat properly laid up 4 years ago?

The main things that I would do is . . .

Take the spark plugs out and squirt some fogging oil into the cylinders, shoot a little fogging oil down the carburetor. Then with the spark plugs still out 'spin' the engine with the starter for a few seconds. See if you can get some oil pressure on the gauge.

Put the spark plugs back in and start the engine up.

The other stuff is fine to do as general maintenance . . . an oil change will be easier if you can warm-up the engine (and oil) before draining it.

pull drive and check alignment, gimbal bearing and u-joints

since the boat is carbed, plan on a minimum of getting a holley bowl gasket and metering block gasket. pretty sure you will need to clean out the idle circuit, and the crud in the bottom of the bowl formerly known as old fuel

In addition to what you have mentioned, I would prime the oiling system by cranking the motor by over for a bit with the ignition(spark) killed to get some new oil into the passages and on the bearings.

Maybe send the carb out for a rebuild. They do more than just replace gaskets.

I have had bad shop carb rebuilds. Problem is they can keep your good one. Give you a beat up carb that sort of runs.

It looks like the OP has not been back since posting. When they do, hopefully we will get an update

Done so far
- Removed all old fuel
- Add brand new fuel with stabil
- Change engine oil and filter
- Swap fuel filter (primary) - doesn't have a can style
- Change gear oil