Jeff's 1998 Ski Nautique Restoration

[Jbower]

Is the tape just a guide for the repair area or what is it being used for under they're filler?

[NautiqueJeff]

Yep. The spider cracks were quite large, and they were ground out down to the fiberglass. They are building the area back up before adding the new gelcoat. Each of those sections were big spider cracks.

[NautiqueJeff]

Attempting a repair on the dash today. This is the side that houses the stereo head unit. It looks like it cracked where the screw for the faceplate piece for the dash goes in. Trying a little epoxy to see if this will hold it together. I think it'll be fine. We'll see how this goes...

[NautiqueJeff]

I also pulled the Airguide speedometers out of the dash, and I am working on restoring those as well.

I pulled them apart and found that I needed two new lenses with new grommets for the adjustment post holes. The rest of the parts look like they will clean up nicely. I'll be painting the needles back to bright orange as they were from the factory.

I found an excellent source for Airguide parts. See URL below.

Vintage Airguide Restoration / Repair Parts

[NautiqueJeff]

Gelcoat work continues...

Work happening on the underside of the hull today. They're fixing a big gouge and some spider cracks.





Also, the spider cracks on the hull sides and deck are almost finished being repaired. Some buffing will be next, and then they'll be all set. Still have some chips to fix, and the repair to the areas where the cover snaps were removed is ongoing.

[ffmedic74]

Who's doing the fiberglass work? Assume they are shooting new gel coat, then sanding/polishing?

[NautiqueJeff]

Yes, that's correct. They took it down to the fiberglass in all areas with spider cracks (there were a ton). They have filled those all in and shot new gel on the hull sides and deck. Some sanding was done today, with more tomorrow. Then they'll be buffing and polishing.

The hull bottom is still in the filling stage right now.

North Lake Fiberglass is doing the fiberglass and gelcoat work on this one. They do all of the work for the major dealers in the area (Nautique, MasterCraft, Malibu). They do great work!

The gelcoat work should be finished on Friday! Can't wait to get it back to my house to start the graphic installation.

[keithh2oskier]

Wow, that is so cool. I really can't wait to see how this turns out.

[Jbower]

Are you going back to the original colors or something different ? It's looking really good btw

[NautiqueJeff]

The exterior will be all original. The interior will be original too, but with some special things done with SeaDek. It should be really cool once it is finished.

[NautiqueJeff]

The hull sides and the part of the deck that is Neutral (not black) have been buffed over once. It is really starting to look like something now!

They are still working on the bottom of the hull.

[seachicken27]

impressive

[enzo thecat]

Whoa!

[keithh2oskier]

Wow. I didn't think that boat would ever see that green color again. That is impressive polishing.

[Quinner]

Jeff, for the areas not repaired, did he have to wet sand and if so what grit did he start with? If compound only, what did he use?? Looks to be coming back nicely from the pics.