N2M 2000 SAN

[MaineDR]

Well I dove in this week. Family back in VA has a red white and blue '02 SANTE we bought from someone on this forum 7 years back. I guess I just missed her down in TX and had to finally get my own. I got a great deal on her because the tach is out (don't know the hours though). I plan on keeping her for awhile so that didn't bother me too much for resale. If anyone knows the previous owner though, I believe they were out of TN somewhere and in the military, might be cool to get some background on the boat.

[Treybizttu]

Nice, It looked good from the link you posted the other day.

Believe it was on the Killeen Craigslist for a while which makes sense on location and Military involvement. It looked good in CL ad as well.

[MaineDR]

Anyone ever remove or replace the 'Air' decal on their boat? Mine is in pretty shabby condition and I would like to remove it. I would be afraid of a major discoloration in the gel coat though where the green N swoosh has faded around this. I guess I could always replace it if someone makes these.

[nukemustang]

Shouldn't be too hard. Remove the big chunks that you can peel off, then using one of those 3M eraser wheels get the sticky stuff/residue off. I would then compound the area to "smoothen" out any hard edges from any fading around the graphic then replace them with these : http://www.nautiqueparts.com/decalai...2000-2003.aspx

White lake is a sponsor, so you get a discount too. PND10 should be the code.

Oh and they have a bunch of the newer decals too, if you would want to update the look to like the new style that just says "SUPER AIR NAUTIQUE" in big chromax letters.

Tim

[surroundsound64]

Sweet!

[MaineDR]

Peeling these decals off is quite possibly the worst job ever. They are made of crappy metallic backing that peels off in tiny flakes. Its nearly impossible to pull off the decal as one.

I also have another issue to deal with which is the engine hatch. The previous owner removed the stock ram and tried to replace it with two gas struts on either side. However, the screws for the bracket pulled through the fiberglass on the catch cover. I repaired it with some epoxy puddy and move the bracket over, but again...pulled through the fiberglass. What is the key to mounting gas struts on these this thing so that it is structurally sound.

In addition the screws on the hinge are loose. No doubt a result of not being properly supported before. They appear to be stripped out. Any advice on how to fix them?

[swatguy]

Take a heat gun or a high powered hair dryer and heat up the decals before you peel them. It will work much much easier.

Why not make a backing plate for the strut mount and through bolt it instead of relying on the thin fiberglass? I did this to my old 2000 XStar. I also through bolted the shock to the sun deck as well w/ a backing plate. It's simple. Just u staple small section of the vinyl and reach in. Staple vinyl back in place. Viola. Through bolts with nylock nuts didn't come loose one in 600hrs.

[Treybizttu]

3m Wheel All the way for the AIr Decals... Mine were completely baked on there and the 3m wheel got them off.

[MaineDR]

Couldn't find a single 3M Wheel in all of Texas. Napa had one on their computer but couldn't find it. I'll have to order one if I need it. I have a heat gun, but it wasn't working the other day. Might have to try the girlfriend's hairdryer . I did pick up some Airplane Decal Remover. I might give it a shot.

[Treybizttu]

I've only ever been able to find them at NAPA or amazon.

[MaineDR]

Anyone swap any of the newer or different decals nautiqueparts parts has to replace the air decal? They have a few options, but I am wary how they will look/size up. I did a quick google search and all the ones with non-stock decals didn't look that great. Plan on this baby is to rubbing compound (maybe 1000-1500 on the green and other lightly scratched areas), polish, wax, then replace decals.

[MaineDR]

Also, anyone ever replace the spacer on their tower? Mine appear to be squeezing out from the base of the tower. Looks like they are about shot.

[Treybizttu]

Once you go without the decals you might not want to put them back on. I love mine without.

[MaineDR]

Finally got my hands on a 3M Eraser Wheel from NAPA. Holy crap that was so much easier. Thanks yall.

[MaineDR]

Took her out today on lake Austin. Aside from it being nearly impossible to wakeboard on from the rollers and crowds I ran into a probl with the ballast. Ballast setup is two 750 fly highs in the back each running a Jabsco to one thru hull. Then on the stock thru hull it appears that the previous owner used the stock pumps to run to a sac in the ski locker. The sac filled up on its own when the valve was open just idling. Then I tried to empty it but it kept blowing the breaker. When I try to fill the ski locker I hear the stock fill pump running, but I don't hear anything when I the empty button. Is the pump bad? I was thinking about just replacing the stock pumps and running a new Jabsco to the ski locker and putting an integrated sac in the bow. I definitely need weight in the bow as it was porposing bad trying to ride in rough water.