overheat, check for blown head gasket

This is a ford v8 in a boat actually.. the boat was taken out first time this year, and within ten minutes was at 230 temperature. was shut down, and found water was not getting from lake into engine cooling system.. want to know, when I remove spark plugs and crank engine do spark plugs need to be kept on ignition wires so the coils can keep firing built up energy? I have accidentally burned out motorcycle coil by not doing this. I know how to do rest of testing procedure. thanks