1999 Longhorn Nauique Restoration

**Miljack** · 11-27-2019, 01:09 PM

This is a cool project! Before you make those bags, consider putting your noggin to this idea. Figure out a way to have the "beauty panel" float up and down for the complete depth of the rear trunk/locker.
I did a similar build on my old '99 Pro Air/Python (basically the same boat, different hull running surface), I used two bags side to side so we could surf and assist with balancing the wakeboard wake. The trunk depth with a shelf is barely big enough to store anything in there (same as the stock setup w hard tanks). The bags I used were approx 550#'s ea when full, and didn't include the "arms." If you build those custom bags with arms, you'll get ALOT of weight back there! My boat when "listed" for surfing was borderline dangerous, no rough water boating with that setup!
You'll also need to build a floor to cover the void/bilge area under the tanks.

**dhmcfadin** · 12-05-2019, 01:39 PM

Small update, I spent the last week trying to figure out how I was going to blend the Holley Pro Dash into oem dash. The conclusion I came to was, no matter how I blended the screen in, it just wasn't going to look right in the boat. It's cool but doesn't fit the style of the boat. I am going back to gauges which I think is the right move. I have a pretty good idea of how I will be placing the new gauges, PerfectPass, radio, and 3.5" Holley Interface.

I have to thank Aaron at PerfectPass. I wanted to be able to flush mount the PP display into one of the panels on the dash. I also wanted to use my own button for On/Off, Menu, Up, and Down. Aaron went out of his way to build me a custom harness to accomplish this. I think the dash is gonna look pretty cool when done!

Lastly, I received my 2001 Ski Nautique shift console. I will be blending this console into the 1999 dash. Since the decks didn't change much from 1998-2002, this should fit with little to no modification. Will just need to remove the radio console portion and then wrap the entire thing is vinyl to match the dash. This console will house the front right speaker, depth finder, hour meter, ballast switches, and fire extinguisher.

It's amazing how much time and effort I've spent just on the driver area but I think it will pay off. I guess it's a focal point of the boat.

Gelcoat should be in this week. The deck will be pulled over the weekend. Castaway Customs will be coming by next week to measure for Seadek. The engine is coming along nicely. All components, pistons, rods, cam, crank, and heads are in. Block is currently at the machine shop. Upholstery materials have been picked out. The primary white and tan vinyl will be Spradling Fresco Cool Touch. It feels super nice and doesn't get hot! All of the oem decals have been shipped off to Domed Numbers to be recreated. Slowly but surely things are coming together but man are there a ton of moving pieces.

**dhmcfadin** · 12-06-2019, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by Miljack View Post

This is a cool project! Before you make those bags, consider putting your noggin to this idea. Figure out a way to have the "beauty panel" float up and down for the complete depth of the rear trunk/locker.
I did a similar build on my old '99 Pro Air/Python (basically the same boat, different hull running surface), I used two bags side to side so we could surf and assist with balancing the wakeboard wake. The trunk depth with a shelf is barely big enough to store anything in there (same as the stock setup w hard tanks). The bags I used were approx 550#'s ea when full, and didn't include the "arms." If you build those custom bags with arms, you'll get ALOT of weight back there! My boat when "listed" for surfing was borderline dangerous, no rough water boating with that setup!
You'll also need to build a floor to cover the void/bilge area under the tanks.

This is great info!

**dhmcfadin** · 12-06-2019, 06:47 PM

Didn't expect to see this today but the final mold is complete. I test fit the first dash (couple posts back) onto the boat last weekend. It fit perfectly but it still had those indentations from where the original gauge holes were. Now that I knew it fit, I brought the dash back to the glass shop. They took this first production fiberglass dash, filled in and sanded flat all of the holes and inconsistent edges. Once that was done, they made a brand new mold that is the final production mold. The dash in the below pictures is the first part out of the final production mold. If somebody wanted, I could make this dash with their boats matching gel coat (blue, red, zephyr, green, maroon, etc) and not even wrap it in vinyl. It looks and feels that nice. It really did turn out incredible.

**bturner** · 12-07-2019, 04:05 PM

Over the top cool. I'm very impressed.

**dhmcfadin** · 12-07-2019, 05:28 PM

Another big day. Deck is now separated from the hull. Now the grinding, sanding, and gel coat work begin! The audio system also came in today. Boat has got to sound as good as it looks.

**dhmcfadin** · 12-08-2019, 12:05 AM

Originally posted by bturner View Post

Over the top cool. I'm very impressed.

Thank you!

**t.franscioni** · 12-09-2019, 11:22 PM

Wow some serious modifications being done here! I especially like the fiberglass dash pod. I can’t believe you cut your boat in half though!

**dhmcfadin** · 12-09-2019, 11:48 PM