1981 TWIN-ENGINE Fish Nautique!!

[shag]

Have you ever unlocked an engine by spraying PB blaster in the spark plug holes and letting it sit for 24 hours? Don't laugh... I bought an old BF Nautique with a 454 that sat outside in similar conditions for several years with a locked motor. After letting the PB Blaster work for a day, I was able to take an impact socket with a long breaker bar on the crank pulley, and slowly work it back and forth till it moved... After about an hour of doing this, I could turn the motor over by hand (with the breaker bar). I changed the oil, put a new carb, battery and starter on and what do ya know it fired up. I changed the oil several times to be sure to get any contaminates out, and did a compression test then and 3 months later... I can't remember the exact numbers but they all were within spec. I used that boat for 2 years with no problems...

[NautiqueJeff]

I did try that on an old MG I restored a few years back. Didn't work on that car though. I might give it a shot on these and at least see what happens. At this point, can't hurt, right?

[NautiqueJeff]

Took it by my gelcoat/fiberglass guy's shop today. He is going to squeeze it in over the next two to three months (he gave me a much better rate if I didn't need it done immediately).

We're doing the following:

• Complete new floor (in sections, removable)
• Rework the entire top deck, which is pretty messed up. Lots of holes and raw fiberglass patches.
• Rework the entire center console
• Sand and buff hull sides
• Repair bad exhaust hole in hull (fiberglass and gelcoat) and install SS exhaust tips

Here's a shot of the bad exhaust hole.

[NautiqueJeff]

Well, I got proof today that the boat was built for Camp of the Woods, a Christian camp in New York. According to Woody, this was because New York state rules indicated that camp boats of this type were required to have twin engines! Larry and Art helped track down the build sheet on the microfiche at Nautique today.

[nyryan2001]

Jeff, do you plan on keeeping it long term.... or sell it later?

[NautiqueJeff]

I am keeping this one for sure. It is such a rare beast that I don't plan to give this one up anytime soon.

I may sell my other Fish Nautique to recover some of the costs of the restoration of this one, but not yet.

[Miljack]

This is cool! Jeff, I'm going to show my wife this thread so I can get some heat off me! You're up to four boats, and two are projects?! My hero....

[NautiqueJeff]

This boat is going to have hydraulic steering, which will be cool. No more steering cables to worry about!

[NautiqueJeff]

Well, I have some good news. After filling the plug holes with PB Blaster for a couple of days, the port engine now turns freely! I haven't tried to start it or anything, but I'll count this as a win for now!

Hopefully the starboard engine will free up soon as well. We'll see!

[markj]

Great news. Best of luck with the other engine. I'm looking forward to watching the progression. Original build sheets, removable floor and hydraulic steering? Too cool...

[NautiqueJeff]

Both engines now turn freely! I was going to order some Kano Kroil tomorrow, but with my friend Reid's help, we got the second engine turning today. Very happy!


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[ScooterMcgavin]

Very nice !

[gary s]

I've heard about that guy Reid,hope he didn't drink all your beer....

[NautiqueJeff]

Ok, the twin-engine Fish Nautique is going to the fiberglass shop on Monday to start the fiberglass and gelcoat work!

I just finalized a deal to pick up another Fish Nautique hull, and we're going to take the front floor section from that boat (from the front of the center console to the front of the boat) and install it in the twin-engine. I'm doing this because the bare hull I just bought has the front bench seats and the proper hatches, and that will make the twin-engine way more passenger-friendly. It will also give it more of a factory look (although the front benches didn't start until '86 or '87 and mine is an '81). I may also pull the top deck off of the bare hull boat and install that on the twin-engine, since the deck on the twin-engine is pretty messed up.

Won't be long now until I can start posting some progress pictures!

Here's the bare hull FN I just bought.

[GMLIII]

Looks like a lot of work ahead but looking forward to seeing the finished product