Jeff's 1998 Ski Nautique Restoration

[NautiqueJeff]

Ok, I am finally getting serious about the restoration of my 1998 Ski Nautique. The weather should be warm enough this week to get started. I want it ready to hit the water in early spring.

I am stripping the graphics and pinstripe off tomorrow. The interior will be removed this week, and I'll pull the windshield and disassemble for powdercoat.

The gelcoat repairs should happen next week. The carburetor will be rebuilt then too. Since engine compression is good, I am going to see how she runs once the carb is rebuilt before doing anything other than regular maintenance to the engine.

Here are a couple of BEFORE pictures.

[NautiqueJeff]

What are your thoughts on doing SeaDek flooring?

I may gelcoat the floor and install SeaDek similar to this.

I would likely use black gelcoat on the floor and install mocha-over-black SeaDek if I do this. I would then do black carpet on the bottom of the motor box, seat bases, and gunnels.

Thoughts?

[ScooterMcgavin]

I think the black gel with the mocha SeaDek would look great! Would really give you a more modern feel interior in my opinion.

[keithh2oskier]

That poor SN.... Cant wait to see how it looks when its done.

[enzo thecat]

Black floor and mocha SeaDek would look incredible. I hope you follow through so I can see pictures. BTW, did you buy it in that condition?

[NautiqueJeff]

Yes, I did. I would never let a boat get this bad, although I will enjoy fixing it up!

[beach]

I think the Mocha sea desk looks amazing on the late 90s boats with the tan/off white gunnels based off this 99 SAN.
http://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/fo...ll-on-1999-san

Black gel coat/carpet would probably look nice and make it easy to cover the seat/engine cover bases. It looks like that Ski Nautique you posted has a similar paint to the 99 SAN, do you know if that owner used the same stuff?

[seachicken27]

Definitely go for the SeaDek Jeff. That will be some tedious work doing a black gel coat floor, but if you are gonna do it… do it right!

[swankster]

I like your idea of mocha and black and you can sell it to me when your done


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[Quinner]

If the carpet isn't trashed and can be cleaned up I would leave it, particularly if this one is not a keeper.

I bet for close to the same money you could do a real wood floor, teak or something similar like jatoba.
Had that in my Paragon and it was awesome, loved it. Like the platform, it cleaned up easily and could be oiled for a like new finish and essentially should last forever.
Now of course if your site sponsor promotes the project that's another story!!

[NautiqueJeff]

Love that Paragon! One day...


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[NautiqueJeff]

Got the graphics and pinstripe removed today. Taking it to my gelcoat guy hopefully tomorrow. I would do it myself if it just needed a sand and buff, but it has multiple spider cracks and a pretty good gouge on the bottom of the hull that I want him to fix.








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[enzo thecat]

How do they fix the spider cracks? Any idea of the process?

[NautiqueJeff]

You grind out the cracks with a Dremel (or similar), clean with acetone, and fill with gelcoat, then sand them flush with the existing gelcoat, then polish and wax. It is a fairly simple process, except that it is still only about 55 degrees here during the day, which is not warm enough for the gel to cure properly. Also, there are many to be done on this boat, and I would rather have a pro handle this one since there are so many. Also, with this boat being eighteen years old, the gelcoat colors will have to be mixed by hand, and I am not experienced enough to get the colors exactly right.

[MaineDR]

How much is all that costing you roughly for the gelcoat repairs? I have something similar with a handful of pretty long hairline cracks and two nice gouges in the bottom from where the boat hit something in the water. Any risk to not repairing little things like that?