New member first ski nautique

[Rockymtnsurfer]

Looking great........keep up the hard work.....fantastic self restoration!

[Evening Shade]

I guess the market for a pre-fabed, drop-in composite stringer system would be too small to justify the start up cost, but it sure would be nice to be able to drop in a fully composite stringer system for these restorations.

[wayoutthere]

3 layers of 1708 to use as spacers to set the main stringer witdh connection with the engine/pylon mount.
the bulkhead is cut to that width. Pretty sure centerline plumb level and sqaure are located, if such a thing exists in a boat

[wayoutthere]

Got the swim platform cut fitted and ready for glass. the rear of the platform is narrower than the front but cant tell in the pics. Its cut to follow the lines of the boats hullsides

[wayoutthere]

Ready to make inner stringers, going 10 inches tall, 2 layers 1/2 marine ply staggered joints glassed together (same as the outers)
Going 10 tall since i want some nice scrap for cleating the floor and other things the double layer is better, my opinion since no foam is going back in.
that bulkhead is bedded down on 1708 same as stringers the tabs will get ground off when the stringers get glass, it was just a precaution.

[wayoutthere]

Cleaning up a bit to start filling holes in the deck as a side project for when i need a slow day.
the simple lines of this boat are just about my favorite.
Thanks for the kind words in the previous posts

[SilentSeven]

Your fabrication skills are awesome. Just all the bits...the hoist, the hull blocks, stringer work....I need more of what you got.

[functionoverfashion]

Fantastic job overall, it looks like you're doing all the right stuff, and better than many no doubt.

My only comment relates to the swim deck - maybe someone else can chime in here, ideally someone with a '79 currently - or pics of one. Is the swim deck the same dimensions as a factory one? A lot of times the sides cut back in quite a bit (even more than you did already), to roughly follow the angle of the water as it cuts back at your minimum planing speed. Flat out I'm sure it's no problem, but I worry that it might touch the water at lower planing speeds. Maybe it's not an issue at all, but I just thought I'd mention it now, rather than later. What you'd really want is a water test... or someone with a '79 (or similar hull) to take a picture of the swim deck at 18mph or something.

Like I said, great work overall so far. This will be better than factory! Keep the pictures coming.

Cheers

[wayoutthere]

Wow, thank you silentseven, i appreciate the compliments. Truth is this is all backyard hand tools adapt prepare and overcome.

functionoverfashion, yep im looking for and welcome all input and suggestions, the swim platform is 54 wide @ the transom, approx 52 @ the radius and 19 deep.
from what i found searching the internet its close to factory on width but it is 2 inches less on depth.

rain and threat of rain has delayed the game, luckily my neighbor offered his garage so the inner stringers got laminated this morning.

[spenclo123]

Wow, this looks like an amazing project. I'm very interested in watching the progress. I'd love to have one of these restored myself and use the newer paint scheme/graphics. If you don't mind me asking, what are your plans for this one when you get done? Too funny, as the boat in storage right beside my '97 Ski Nautique is exactly like the boat you are restoring but may be an '80 model. See photos attached. It looks like it was last registered in 2002 so likely been sitting a long while.

[wayoutthere]

Thats a nice looking boat and i like the color scheme. no plans per say, why, do you know where a barricuda or mustangs hiding at?
Preferably white but any color orange green blue, just no red.

stringers cleaned up nice, cutting to fit tomorrow, glassed in over the weekend, thats good because they need to get ouf of the house.

[wayoutthere]

Spenclo, that nautique next to you looks like a good candidate for a rebuild /resto upgrade. See if you can get a closer look at it, cosmetic and all parts accounted for is most important.
from what ive learned how the stringers are installed and not sealed, smart money says 100 percent its waterlogged unless if never was taken off the trailer, so it will need to be cut open
but it's obvious from what i see on mine the hull was laid up in the mold pretty **** good and every external hole that needed/needs patched the gel is nice and thick so good chance it'll sand and buff out nice

[jhiestand]

Holy blast from the past! That looks great and nice work! My first boat was a '79 in that same color scheme!

[wayoutthere]

[SilentSeven]

Something tells me this is going to be a lot better than factory.