Let the overhaul begin!

[Swim]

So, some of you may remember last year I picked up a 1999 Nautique closed bow for $3500. The boat was in decent condition when I bought it, but decent condition doesn't last all that long for me... I knew there would be a rebuild in it's future, but I wanted to see all the things that needed to get repaired and replaced before I started digging into it. When I bought it, there were just over 1000 hours on the GT40, this last year I put almost 650 hours on it... trailer had some worn out tires, so I replaced those, boat had a tower... I removed that... and the interior looked like a total slob owned it...

Here are some photos of the boat from the last year...

The day I bought her....












After a few hours with a buffer....


Tower is gone!


A few from the trips....

Lake Mohave...



Sacramento River...


There's more but I won't bore you...


So what does a rebuild include?

- The old GT-40 has been good to me... yes, she could probably go a few more hours.. but why? Time for a rebuild! Engine is out, and off to the engine shop. Trying to get a bit more power from her as well. Letting the engine shop do their thing....

- Upholstery.... yeah it's shot. Time for a total gut job. I HATE maroon.. so I'm changing the color of the whole boat...

- Exterior... again, I hate maroon... the stripe is changing Trying to find someone to fill the tower holes.

- Gauges... currently have single line PP.. upgrading to stargazer. Digital Speedo... new radio... new speakers... USB plug for iphones.. etc.

Also shedding a few pounds of weight... amps, extra batteries, all the other random crap the old owner had in...time to lighten the boat up...


So let the games begin

[shag]

You picked that for $3500? What! And what are you doing with the extra 'crap'? Nice boat

[pe4me]

3500...nice work.
IMHO tower looked good, at least in the pics. I understand that isn't everyones thing, sell that and be into the boat for under 3.
good luck with the project

[Brichter14]

Yeah no offense but why replace that tower (which looked great) with a pylon? Was it weak or have problems?

great buy, that is a sweet boat!

[shag]

Based on the size of that piling, that body of water must seriously fluctuate! WoW

[Swim]

Ah yes, I knew I would get crap for the pole.... here's the deal.... I hate towers, no offense to anyone with a tower. This is a ski boat, I run the course.. The tower was creating too much drag, thus creating a bigger bump at 38' off (see my thread on BOS for that discussion.) The pole is only for my wife and friends that don't run the course. We put it up on trips, take it down in the course. It was a compromise to me removing the tower.

[swc5150]

I would've ditched the playground equipment on your boat too I think you got the best deal in history on that SN!

[Swim]

There goes a few pounds...

[mike32]

Wow. Do you want to sell those tower speakers?

[Nautiquehunter]

Looks much better without the tower . Congrats on the find.

[Swim]

The tower and speakers were sold off when I removed it last year. There were 2 amps, and 2 batteries stuffed under the bow along with a crappy subwoofer. I ripped out the sub last year because it wasn't needed. New speakers will be going in, still trying to find marine MB Quarts that sound right to me, new headunit going in. Dropping down to 1 battery, 3 are just not needed. Jerry rigged shower has been removed, and I've ordered a new one from Heatercraft. Wife is trying to talk me into a heater... I'll probably just buy her a snuggie... heaters weigh too much.

[Crab]

I like the way you think! Perhaps tell your wife to loose a few pounds to make up for the weight of the heater? Or, just go buy the heater and keep your marriage and boat

[Swim]

Sneak peak

[Swim]

Shop called me yesterday.... engine is done It will be mated with the trans tomorrow, and the interior should be finished by Thursday!!!

[Swim]

Well, we had a slight delay with the upholstery and engine... I changed things last minute, ordered new speakers, and had the engine shop swap in a new cam... the other one was too "lumpy" for my liking. However, this thread is pointless without pics..

I broke out my vinyl cutter and made some decals..