2000 Air Nautique rebuild

[Lvnspeed]

I bought an ugly 2000 Air Nautique off Ebay with a blown motor. My plan is to rebuild almost eveything on the boat. This maybe a long process because I want to use the boat this summer (so there will be soome down time on upgrade process)but I figure I would start a thread to account for the entire process. Here is a list of the highlights of what needs attention:

1) Motor Blown up
2) Boat Paint and tower are UGLY
3) swim platform looks like it has never seen teak oil
4) Old crapy *** board rack mounts
5) interior needs replacing
6) stereo is a mess
7) rub rail looks like some crashed into everying
8) missing the prop

So here is where I am at today:
1) I have replaced the motor (should be going back in this Saturday 5/7) GT-40. Just replaced the long block. All the other parts appaer to be good still. we will see.
2) Worked out a deal with a friend of mine to repaint the boat and the tower. The "N" will be dark Blue and the graphic that wraps around the back of the boat will be Black. Sliver pinstripe between the colors. The tower will be black. The Binini top that came with the boat is already Drak Grey so it will match pretty well just need to clean some of the stains off it (not to bad).
4) found a forum member who has some black power coated flight clips I think we have a deal worked out.
6) Bought a set of Defcon III's for the boat. Looking for an amp.
5) cleaned the crap out of the interior it will be fine for this summer I will order new skins this winter.
3) Ordered some Citol plan on redoing it next week.
8) Ordered a new Delta Prop Acme 422

[jroyal]

Wow, impressive project. Have you considered a wrap instead of paint though?

[bkhallpass]

I understand your thoughts on the color. It's your boat, and obviously, you need to do what you need to do.

My unsolicited $.02, I would not paint over the colors. While they are not great colors, the gel coat is far more durable than any paint will be. You'll have to guard carefully against scratches. If the paint does get scratched up, it will look no better than the bad colors when you go to sell it, and original colors will show through. You'll spend time and money on the paint job, which may be difficult to get the money back out. Presumably you got a good deal on this boat given the blown engine and the colors, so even if you get a few hundred less for it when you sell it, I would guess it will be a wash on your original investment.

Even though not great colors, gel coat can be easily wetsanded, and polished back to it's original luster. I see a lot of boats with poor color that sell. My personal opinion is that when buying new, people get the colors they want, even if not the best choice to the masses, because that's what they want. When buying used, many people will live with colors that are not optimal if the boat is very clean, and or if they get a decent deal. The less money and time you put into it now, the easier it will be for you to create a decent deal later.

If it were me, and obviously, it is not, I would shine the existing color up, good as new, put good carpet and upholstery in it when you have the time and money, Paint the tower (I'd probably do white, but that's just me), do the stereo upgrades you want, enjoy the heck out of the boat, and when the time comes, sell a boat that is in great condition, albeit with less than great colors.

Again, I understand it is your boat.

BKH

[Lvnspeed]

Thanks for the input guys keep it comming. I got the motor installed yesterday but ran into one small problem I havea few wire that I dont know where they go. I have looked all through the GT40 PCM manual but can find out where they go.
Looking from the rear of the motor:
Left side in front there are 2 tan wires with a black stripe one has a boot on it
Does one of these go to the PSI switch for oil pressure by the oil filter? (found this in the PCM manual)

Right side of the motor there are:
Tan with a boot
Green with a boot
light blue with a boot
black
Orange this I believe it gos the the large lug on the Alt right?

Thanks for the help getting excited to get this running I will post up more pictures in the AM

[bkhallpass]

Hey Lvnspeed,

I'd try your electrical question in the maintenance or general forum sections. The old school
forum sees a lot less traffic on this site. A lot of us probably wouldn't consider a 2000 to be an old
schooler at all.

The engine looks nice. Should be a good ride for you.

BKH

[Lvnspeed]

I did and I got the answers thanks though. Hopefully tonight I will be able to get it finished up and try to start the motor.

[Lvnspeed]

Well I have run into a problem I can seem to get the engine harness to route to where the all the connectors will hook up with out the wires being tighter than a banjo string. Does the main harness run down the right or left side of the intake? When I run it down the left side there is no way to plug in the injector harness its about 1 foot short. When I run it down the right side the harness just seems to be fighting and doesnt seem to want to lay down on the right side and then the #1 injector plug and wire are sooo tight I am afraid to leave it this way. ANy suggestions?

[Lvnspeed]

Update sorry its been awhile

Motor is in and running correctly found a few water leaks no big deal. Need to replace the riser gaskets
Installed 2 Defcon III's with a 300 watt amp
installed my XM radio
installed a new prop ACME 422

going to the lake to test everything in hopes of working out any issues before the long weekend.

Boat is suppose to go to the paint shop in 2 weeks

[Lvnspeed]

Upadte

3 days of fun on the lake with the boat. Only issue was the oil psi switch crapped out causeing the boat to go into limp mode. If you shut the boat off and then restart it evething works fine, so I unpluged it all is well.

pictures are comming

[steve-o]

I like the color.

[88mars2001]

I agree, that color is sweet

[NAUTIQUEjunky]

Yeah thats a great color combo, like others siad dont cover up the Gel with paint... it might hurt the resale down the road also.. I personally would never buy a boat that was painted.. Paint belongs on cars not boats..

[Lvnspeed]

Well looks like I wont be in the water from at least 2-3 months, I tore my ear drum. So this weekend I decided to get some more work done on the boat. Some put coter pin in the mounts for the swim platform so i replace them with the right clips. My platfrom was looking pretty bad I dont think anyone has ever done anything to it so I restored it this weekend I am VERY happy with the way it came out

[bkhallpass]

Bummer on the injury. Platform looks nice.

BKH

[Lvnspeed]

Bummer on the injury. Platform looks nice.

BKH

Thanks crashed my race ski (GPRXP 300+hp) close to 90 mph I am lucky I walked away from it....