Another Project -- 2003 Air Nautique 226 Team Edition

[NautiqueJeff]

Here are some interior pictures. It still needs more scrubbing, but it is starting to look good!

[NautiqueJeff]

This boat had a vibration over 25 MPH, and I had a few little engine things that I didn't feel like fixing on this boat due to the limited space in the engine compartment, so I took it over to White Lake a couple weeks ago. They fixed it right up, but the vibration was more than just a bent prop... The rudder and shaft were bent too! I couldn't tell by looking at it, and it steered fine, but I went ahead and had them replace the rudder, shaft, strut, prop, steering cable, blower, alternator, belts, impeller (again), thermostat (again), FCC filter, transmission fluid, v-drive fluid, and align the engine.

The bill wasn't cheap, but I kept putting off working on this boat because it was such a pain for me to get into the engine compartment, and I want the boat to be as close to perfect as possible for the new owner.

I dropped it back in the water, and WOW, what a difference! This thing is SO SMOOTH, and the steering is back to one-finger perfection.

This boat is pretty much ready to go now, with the exception of the replacement gauges and the gateway bypass, which is on backorder. I'm going to have fun driving this one around while waiting for those parts now though!

[SilentSeven]

Now that's a fix list....this boat is lucky to have you Jeff. It was a basketcase and you've brought it back to life.

[Chris Parsons]

I'm just wondering how you even break even. Haha.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

[NautiqueJeff]

You have to buy them right. That’s key. This one has been more expensive than most though.

I want my boats in known good condition when I sell them though, so I put whatever is necessary into them to make them right.

[Chris Parsons]

Hear ya. I've been looking but buying at thr "right" price has been hard.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

[NautiqueJeff]

It definitely is right now. I have had this boat for a little while now though.

[SilentSeven]

Prices are nuts right now....I think this one sets my new high water mark for nuttyness.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/b...270267861.html

[NautiqueJeff]

Yeah. I saw another NWZ hull Ski Nautique for sale near me for $25,000! And it was nothing special. That ad is gone now though, and I'm sure it wasn't sold at that price.

[NautiqueJeff]

The bottom bow cushions had some cracking in the yellow vinyl, so I had those three reupholstered locally. They came out great, and the yellow is perfect now.

This was probably not a cost-effective repair, since the only issue with those cushions was the small bit of yellow, but they look great now, and the next owner will appreciate it.

[NautiqueJeff]

I had to move my lift to the other side of my dock today. They're draining down Lake Norman right now, and the right side of my dock is sitting on the dirt! I love that this lift can just be pulled around and tied up wherever.

Just waiting on the backordered gateway bypass, and this 226 will be ready to sell.

[NautiqueJeff]

Did a little more test driving in this boat today. It was too nice today to just let it sit on the lift!

[CHassmann]

It looks great Jeff! There are not many Nautiques that I don't like, but they look especially good after renovation.

[Blomdoggy]

I have just been reading through this whole Thread just for fun and it Looks like a way fun Project! That boat looks like its been taken care of Perfectly its whole life now! makes me want to go buy a fixer upper boat! Is there anything else that you are going to do to it? or are you pretty much Finished?

[NautiqueJeff]

Just gotta get the gauges working, whether that's with a gateway bypass or a new gateway. Waiting on parts for both right now.