97 Sport Nautique Project Complete

[jrivera1262]

Well, after many months of hard work, troubleshooting and hunting for parts I am happy to say that my 97 Sport Nautique project is complete. I purchased the boat with the interior completely out of the boat and in boxes. No dash, steering wheel, nothing! Just the motor. The boat was sitting in storage from 2005 until I got my hands on it this past July. The motor has roughly 140 original hours and its a ProBoss 351. It has been a fun project with some frustrations along the way. Heres a list of whats been done:

-Brand new dash, guages, steering wheel, radio and speakers
-All new interior (motor box and back seat from a different year due to original ones missing when I purchased boat)
-Motor has new fuel pump, alternator, blower fan, bilge pumps, fuel injectors, plugs and wires, optima marine battery
-New steering and throttle cables
-New Carver bimini top
-Ramlin trailer re-done in bedliner paint, rewired and all new LED lights installed. New hardware and all new wood and carpet
-All new decals
-Refinished Teak swim deck
-many other miscellaneous new items that i am sure i am forgetting

I wanted to see if I could also get some input from everyone on here regarding what the boat may be worth if I were to sell it (not planning to). I want to see how much sweet equity I have in the boat. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Miljack]

Wow, great work! That boat looks sweet! I really do like the purple when done correctly...If you like to wakeboard, that hull is a good one, you'll need to add some bags, but you'll have a blast! If you add a tower, please find a FCT or buy a New Dimensions Tower (they usually run a sale over the winter)...

[Zach@n3]

Looks like a new one! I kinda like the look of that trailer it looks like a matte cote paint.

[xrichard]

Looks nice!

[NautiqueJeff]

Looks really good!!

A word of caution though. Something tells me those aren't trailer tires. If they are car/truck tires, please consider changing them out for trailer tires for safety.

[NautiDave07]

Wow. Nice work. Really looks good. I have no idea on value. I haven't had much luck selling my boats for any more than nada book. Others on here will tell u otherwise.

[AirTool]

A word of caution though. Something tells me those aren't trailer tires. If they are car/truck tires, please consider changing them out for trailer tires for safety.

Jeff: That's a good catch.

jrivera: If those tires are "P", change them out asap.

If they are LT, you probably need a 25% margin on load rating to run them on a trailer. I doubt you are there and I still wouldn't do it.

[jrivera1262]

Thanks for the compliments. The tires are "ST225/75D15" load range is "D"

[NautiqueJeff]

Air pressure on Special Trailer (ST) Tires

The special trailer (ST) tires are designed with stronger sidewalls and can handle higher air pressures which are needed when being used on a trailer that is made to carry a load.

Special trailer (ST) tires should be inflated to the maximum air pressure that is stamped on the sidewall of the tire. It will be stamped with a designation of maximum load at a maximum psi. For example, if it has 1,610 pounds at 65 psi, that will mean that the tire is capable of carrying 1,610 pounds of weight, if you have it filled to the maximum air pressure of 65 psi. With maximum air pressure, the tires will perform and wear better, and will get better gas mileage.

If a tire is inflated to a lower air pressure it will reduce the amount of weight that the tire can carry. If a heavier load is put on the trailer tire than what is recommended for that air pressure it will cause the sidewall of the tire to heat up quicker and cause the tire to fail.

It is always recommended to inflate your tires when they are cold.

If a tire is over-inflated the tire will wear more in the center of the tread, all the way around the tire. If the tire is under-inflated the tire will wear on both edges of the tires, all the way around the tire.

Speed Rating on Special Trailer (ST) Tires

The special trailer tires will have a maximum speed rating of 65 miles per hour, unless stated otherwise on the tire. It is not recommended to run a trailer tire at a higher speed than 65 miles per hour due to the heat buildup that will occur inside the tire and cause the tire to break down and cause the tire to fail.

Matching Special Trailer (ST) Tires

You will always want the tire size, load range, and construction, to match on your trailer. Using tires that are different can lead to more of a load being put on the smaller size tire/tires and cause tire problems to occur.

[jbach]

i don't see much wrong with using passenger tires as long as they're within the load range plus 10-20%, especially with an LT. i think the quality of trailer tires is crap. every ST tire that i have had fail has been catastrophic. can't say the same for passenger tires that i've used on trailers. actually, i've never had an LT fail on a trailer.


from this link
http://www.trailermanufacturersassoc...ntissues1.html

QUESTION:
Are passenger rated tires allowed on trailers? We get only “ST” tires, but I still see many “P” rated tires on trailers.

ANSWER:
Passenger tires are allowed on trailers; however the individual maximum load capacity of the tire must be reduced 10%. The total adjusted tire capacities on any axle must then be equal to or greater than the GAWR specified on the Certification/VIN label for that axle.

[areford]

Awesome job! Any leads on getting the decals?

[Double D]

Awesome work and great looking boat!


Sent from my wife's old iPad using Tapatalk....

[jrivera1262]

Awesome job! Any leads on getting the decals?

Areford, got them all from nautiqueparts.com. Most if not close to all parts came from them. Discount also is nice! On that note, the boat did have a missing bow rail when I purchased it. I live in Florida and could not find anyone within the STATE that wanted to give me the time on reproducing the missing rail from me. EITHER THEY DIDNT HAVE TIME FOR SMALL PROJECT OR QUOTES UP TO $1800! I ended up doing an online search and found railmakers in California. Not only did they duplicate the rail for me PERFECTLY, they also repolished the rail I sent in for reference. Best of all, it was very reasonably priced at $300 plus shipping to and from. They saved the project! If you need rail work they are great!

[jrivera1262]

So my tires are good as long as inflated to pressure indicated and stay at 65MPH or less

[MTRBTR]

Very nice. I have a 97 sport also so fun to see what you did there.