i need help with a baja i just purchased

[GRANGER65]

i just bought a 1998 baja hammer with a 454 it is kinda a resto project though. the boat was purchased new in 1999 and was used for only about a month when the new owner was cruising at night across the lake and ran into a boat anchored with no lights on. they kinda sideswiped each other. well the new baja owners insurance company totaled the boat out and he bought a new boat. they left him the old boat tho with only 20 hours on it. anyway the boat has been winterized and sitting except for a start up or 2 over the years for a few seconds. any way i bought it it from him but he has now lost the keys. it is a long drive for me to pick it up and i want to start it up and check out the hour meter etc(less than 20 hours on boat) so i would like like to carry a new switch and key with me to install when i get there. the engine cover also has hydraulic lifts to raise the cover and the switch has to be on in order to raise it. i also wondered where the battery is located on this boat in case the batteries are dead how do you raise it without charged batteries and how do you get to them if the hatch can't be raised?

anyone know which switch to get to take with me? or how to raise hatch without a switch or dead batteries on a 98 baja hammer? one other question what is this "BOSS" package on a baja ?

 

[wvit1001]

Re: i need help with a baja i just purchased

I've raised the engine cover on a boat with a dead battery by just lifting it. It's pretty heavy but it will come up slowly, you might need two people. I was able to do it by myself. You might need something to prop it open.

I would just take a new ignition switch with me, you can pick one up in any boating store.

 

[seabob4]

Re: i need help with a baja i just purchased

Unfortunately, Merc engine harnesses of that vintage had the switch already terminated to the harness. As wvit said, any ign switch should work, just keep in mind neutral safety and kill switch wiring, especially kill switch.

All hatches have a release mechanism should you loose power, look around and you'll find it, usually by pulling a pin on the port and starboard sides with a single motor.

Should all go well, and you buy the boat, do yourself a favor. Ditch the 454 and go at least with the 502MAG, better yet the 500HP. You'll like it...

 

[GRANGER65]

Re: i need help with a baja i just purchased

do you know if it is most likely a 3 4 or 5 terminal switch?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: i need help with a baja i just purchased

The number of terminals is of no consequence. There are three basic types of switches 1) Outboard only, 2) I/O - Inboard only, 3) Universal. You need either #2 or #3. The most significant difference in these switches is that the outboard style has two "M" terminals. The switch for an I/O or Inboard has an "I" terminal. Outboards require an open circuit between the two M terminals for the engine to run. I/O and inboard engines require +12 volts on the I terminal to run. If you have someone that can check the keyswitch for you, there is typically a letter code somewhere around the key slot. With that code, you can stop by a dealer that sells that particular I/O power plant and they can provide a key. The switch is part of the engine harness and is not supplied by the boat manufacturer. If you have a Mercruiser, your Merc dealer can supply the key.