1999 Longhorn Nauique Restoration

[dhmcfadin]

One of the items I wanted to add to this boat were two fold down jump seats. One next to the driver and one behind the driver. I really liked the way our ski 200's jump seat folded down to access the bow. I started searching for the hinges and initially found it on Nautique Parts for $38.95. When Nautique Parts reached out to the factory order these hinges, they were informed that part 100023 had been superseded by part 110203. There was now a price difference was $102.90! So the hinges went from $40 bucks to over $140! Nautique Parts was very apologetic. Love doing business with them and this wasn't their fault.

Anyways, I had them remove the hinges from my order and began tracking down the actual manufacturer of these hinges. Wise Seating is the manufacturer. They dont quite sell the Nautique OEM but the following part is pretty darn close. The model name of the hinge is Wise 8WD147 XTR No-Pinch Hinge. Just wanted to post this info in case anyone wants to build a fold down jump seat or needs these oem hinges and doesn't want to pay Nautique prices.

The below pictures show closest hinge I can find in regard to dimensions. The other Wise models that look closer in design dont have the same base cushion height as the oem so they wont work for our application.

White background is Wise Seating, brown background is Nautique.

[Miljack]

Also on the batteries, consider some of the "lithium" batteries. Much smaller and lighter, they might prove a good alternative given the space challenge in this boat. Don't skimp on these, only purchase an excellent quality lithium battery!
I would understand if you chose not to go this way, I still like the recessed battery well idea and traditional or AGM batts. core-rider project is a good template for you.
The stringers in your hull run from the transom to almost all the way to the bow, so you'll need to be creative where you would install a well, but, I think it would be easy to gain back the strength by glassing in some "structural" component in your battery well/box.

[nautique9911]

If my memory serves me correctly the 98 ski nautique has a recessed battery under the passenger seat. I know it’s a different hull, but I’m sure it’s similar in the design of where the stringers run. Maybe look at that for ideas.


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[bturner]

Anyone actually using any of the Lithium batteries? Do they use a similar battery charger? Are they direct replacements for current battery technology?

You would think if these were mainstream the automotives would be using them if for nothing else size and weight.

[KRoundy]

Wow. That is a very, very through rebuild/upgrade. I'm fascinated by the dash rebuild in particular. A few of us tried to find a way to rebuild the dash in the early-90's NWZ Ski Nautiques but never figured out how to do it economically.

[dhmcfadin]

Haven't made much progress due to the holidays but I do have a couple items to share:

First, I decided to make a mold of the cup holders that attach to the rear of the engine cover. Mine were cracked on the back side. Probably due to the heat from the engine and the fact that are made of plastic.





Next I worked on designing the Correct Craft logo for the interior. I wanted to incorporate a longhorn into the logo and wanted to try and figure out what font the "Correct Craft" logo used. I think I go pretty close. The font below is called Baskerville- Regular. If anyone knows of a font that is closer to OEM, please let me know!



Finally, can you guess what my next part mold is going to be?




The boat came out of sand blasting today. Gave it a quick pressure wash and will take some after photos tomorrow. I will say that the sound deadening attached to the walls of the hull is virtually impossible to remove. I tried a heat gun and acetone. Neither really worked. Looks like the sound deadening will be staying. If anyone knows of a similar sound deadening material, please let me know. I would like to install additional sound deadening bow to stern to make everything symmetrical.

[t.franscioni]

Surprised the sound deadening didn’t come off I took mine off very easily it was attached with the same carpet glue that held the carpet in. Mine just pulled right off. Factory must have done something different with yours? So if you leave it then are you not gel coating the sidewalls where the sound material is installed?

[nautique9911]

Those cup holders came out great! My front ones on my 05 are starting to look a little rough. This fiberglass guy is good. Might have to use him in the future. Can I ask how much it was to do the cup holders?

You might need to set up a website and start selling the dash and cup holders, lol.


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[t.franscioni]

i really like that your putting together molds of all the irreplaceable plastic parts on your boat. Loving this build specifically because of things like that. Going above and beyond for sure.

[dhmcfadin]

Surprised the sound deadening didn’t come off I took mine off very easily it was attached with the same carpet glue that held the carpet in. Mine just pulled right off. Factory must have done something different with yours? So if you leave it then are you not gel coating the sidewalls where the sound material is installed?

Yeah, not sure why it is so difficult but I tried. After talking with my buddy doing the glass and gelcoat work, gelcoating the interior walls of the hull seemed kinda unrealistic. The amount of work and time it would take didn't seem worth it. I proposed the idea of upholstering the sides of hull from bow to stern using the same material I am wrapping the seat bases and engine cover base. The material is called Spradling Hitch- Caramel. I think this could look really good especially if we incorporate some french seam work. Here's a breakdown of the interior details and materials. These are excerpts from a restoration guide I’ve created for this boat.

Upholstery

• Interior Materials
  • Spradling Fresco Cool Touch- White
  • Spradling Fresco Cool Touch- Beige
  • Spradling Guardian- Barricade
  • Spradling Hitch- Caramel
  • Spradling Pocket Mesh- Tan
  • Sheerweave- 10% open- White/Bone
  • Spradling Undercover White- Under Seat Bases
  • Marine UV resistant heavy-duty thread
  • Seadek
• Interior Details
  • French seams in all oem locations- see pictures
  • New foam used in all cushions
  • New gunnel pad panels- originals are cracked
  • New windshield walk-thru panels- originals are cracked
  • Bow cushion foam to be replaced and enlarged so panels fit tighter together.
  • Interior sides of hull from bow to stern, port and starboard, upholstered with french seams using Hitch- Caramel material. Color of thread is at builder’s discretion. Interior sides to be upholstered while deck is off boat to ensure complete coverage from bow to stern.
  • Dash pod and glove box upholstered with French seam
  • Add 2 speaker grills to bow gunnel cushions. Total upholstered speaker grills should be 6.
  • Mesh Pockets at various locations- see picture
  • Embroidered OEM Correct Craft logo with longhorn utilized in the following locations- See diagram on page 2:
    • Nose of bow cushion
    • Backrest of observer seat
    • Backrest of driver’s seat- top bolster
    • Center backrest of rear bench seat

Color/ Material Placement

Interior Piece	Color
Dash Pod	Cool Touch- Beige/ White Thread/ French Seam
Glove Box	Cool Touch- Beige/ White Thread/ French Seam
Driver Seat Base Cover	Hitch- Caramel/ French Seam
Observer Seat Base	Hitch- Caramel/ French Seam
Rear Bench Seat Base	Hitch- Caramel/ French Seam
Port and Starboard Interior Walls- Bow to Stern	Hitch- Caramel/ French Seam
Rear trunk vent covers	Hitch- Caramel/ French Seam
Engine Cover Base	Hitch- Caramel/ French Seam
Engine Cover Cup Holders	Cool Touch- Beige/ White Thread/ French Seam
Bolster pads lower trim in-between windshield walk-through	Cool Touch- White/White Thread/ French Seam Mesh- Tan Bottom Trim- Hitch- Caramel/ French Seam
Gunnel Pads	Main Color- White Accent Color- Orange Piping- Perimeter- White French Seam
All Seat Bases	Main Color- Beige Piping- Beige French Seam
Mesh Storage Pockets	Spradling- Pocket Mesh- Tan
Speaker Grills	Sheerweave White/Bone mesh
Interior Color Sequence- Top to Bottom	White Orange Piping- White Beige
Rear Cup Holders- Engine Cover	Spradling- Cool Touch- Beige

Here are some pics that give a visual of the Spradling Hitch- Caramel upholstery.

[ScooterMcgavin]

Very cool project,Thanks for sharing. Those fiberglass cup holders and dash came out fantastic and we are looking forward to seeing the progress on this boat.

[t.franscioni]

If you haven’t already order up the seadeck sample kit, it’s like $5 and you can check the color match on sidewall upholstery vs the seadeck floor. Get a good match and it will look just as good as gel coat and seadeck on floor and sides.

[dhmcfadin]

If you haven’t already order up the seadeck sample kit, it’s like $5 and you can check the color match on sidewall upholstery vs the seadeck floor. Get a good match and it will look just as good as gel coat and seadeck on floor and sides.

Thank you. I ordered the sample kit!

[dhmcfadin]

I had a lightbulb moment as I was falling asleep. Instead of trying to replicate the Correct Craft logo, maybe I can see if C&S Marine will allow me to send them pieces of my vinyl. Then they could embroider the logo onto those.

[dhmcfadin]

Surprised the sound deadening didn’t come off I took mine off very easily it was attached with the same carpet glue that held the carpet in. Mine just pulled right off. Factory must have done something different with yours? So if you leave it then are you not gel coating the sidewalls where the sound material is installed?

So when I was trying to remove these panels, I didn’t take into account that it was 55 degrees outside. I let the boat sit in the sun yesterday and the panels pulled right off.

I felt kinda dumb sitting out there for an hour making no progress as the sun went down lol. Once the boat sat in the sun, it was as easy as you said it would be.