1999 Air Tique 176

[NautiqueJeff]

Just picked up this 1999 Air Tique 176 today.

Should be a fun little boat!

It is the same boat as the Ski Nautique 176, but this one has Air graphics and an extended pylon. It has the non-HO 5.8L 260 HP carb engine. That should be plenty for this boat.

[SilentSeven]

Looks like a clean little boat....pick it up as a toy or is it a refurbish project? I'd have to think that's somewhat rare!

[NautiqueJeff]

This one will be one that I keep for at least a little while. It might be a good first boat for my son, who will be 14 in December (and can then get his boating license).

It isn't perfect, but it isn't in bad shape either.

It needs exhaust manifolds (already on order), the floor piece behind the engine needs to be replaced, the gelcoat could use a buff (it is not bad though), the windshield frame needs to be powder coated, and it needs a few holes filled where it had a bimini top mounted at one point (or maybe I'll just mount a new one). The upholstery was replaced at some point with non-factory skins (no logos), and they are in OK condition. Other than that, it seems pretty good. We may just run it for a year or two as-is, and then run it through my usual restoration process once my son has learned what he's doing. No sense in fixing it up before he has some practice time in it.

The trailer seems to be in decent shape too. It made the 1,000 mile trip back to North Carolina with no problems. I didn't even have to replace the tires or fix any lights! The previous owner even greased the bearings before I picked it up.

Here are a few other shots. These were taken by the previous owner. I'll get some new ones once the rain lets up here.

[Stevemo14]

A 14 year old is going to need a killer stereo, even if it is his first boat. Time to get Roswell involved in a stereo upgrade, LOL!!!

[bturner]

Geez what a Gip.... I got a really old 14' aluminum boat without a motor (until the following year) for my first boat. Back then I was very happy to have it though. First taste of adult like freedom.

[NautiqueJeff]

Yeah, my first boat was a little Wal-Mart fishing barge that had two seats on metal frames, and a family member gave me a 3 HP motor from the early-60's for it. It was such a stupid little boat, but I used it like crazy and went all over the place in it. It was so slow that it wouldn't even plane off at full throttle.

It looked like this:

[SilentSeven]

I know very little about the 176 boats. See them every once and a while...never seen the Air version. How do they ski vs the 196? I could see smaller wakes from the lower weight and smaller waterline but maybe at the expense of tracking .....

[gary s]

They supposedly out perform it's stablemate at the time, the Ski Nautique. That is why it has that goofy looking homemade looking rudder- it was intentionally done to slow down the response. To change it out for the better one, the port needs to be changed as well. A few left the factory with the GT40 as well. Nice find Jeff where was it?

[NautiqueJeff]

gary s Yep, that confirms what I have heard as well, right down to the rudder info. This one still has the original rudder. I may swap it out. We'll see.

This one was over in Kansas. I just completed a three-day, 2,100 mile drive out and back to pick it up. Based on the Hull ID (last four L899) it looks like it was built in December of '98 as a 1999 model. This is the only Air Tique I have ever seen in person. I have seen a few examples of the Ski Nautique 176, but this is the only Air Tique I have seen.

New manifolds and risers will be here tomorrow. I am hoping if I soak the hex bolts on the manifolds with PB Blaster for a day or so, and use my impact gun to remove them, they won't break. Will I be that lucky? We'll see! I hope so. I want to get this thing on the water this weekend!

[NautiqueJeff]

This is also the first boat that I have bought in a long time that actually has a half-way decent cover. Soon this will be on my covered lift too, but at least the cover is keeping the acorns out while I wait for the manifolds.

[NautiqueJeff]

Here's the funny-looking original mini rudder. I am also happy to see a nice Acme 422. That should be about the perfect prop for this boat. It should keep the RPM range under 4,300 (just 100 or so over the redline for the engine) and should give me 45+ MPH out of this little engine.

[CincinnatiCC]

Great boat! But that rudder . . . .

[Kenv]

Sweet little ride!!! I was familiar with the Ski Nautique 176...but did not realize they made an Air Tique.

[NautiqueJeff]

Ok, so the work begins tomorrow, and hopefully I might be able to get everything done and get the boat in the water at some point tomorrow afternoon.

Here's the crack on the port manifold.



I have the sixteen hex bolts soaking in ATF/Acetone mix already. This picture is before I sprayed them. Hopefully using that plus the fact that I am going to use an impact gun will keep me from breaking any bolts.



The spark plugs are being changed too. Don't freak out about how those look. I am not removing those until I get the old manifolds off. That way no junk will find its way into the cylinders.

Here are the replacement parts.

[spenclo123]

Hey Jeff. Looks like a fun project. Where did you get the new manifolds? Everywhere I have looked they look to be on back order (Nautique parts and discount inboard marine). I was thinking of replacing my ‘83 manifolds.