1983 Ski nautique update

I dunno, I am all confused on the year now.
When I get back home I am going to re-check the Serial but I remember seeing the 83. I am going to call correct craft and find out if they have any info. on file and maybe I can get it figured out. It doesn't really matter that much on the year, but it is odd.

Here's an interesting related thread:

Difference between ’81 and ’82+ Ski Nauti

The 1981 boat billgatesceo was looking at had the tapered chines, but not the vee-hull ...just like yours.

This has really got me wondering now. The t*tle says 83. Here is what has me confused:
1. the front air duct is different from 83's, more like the 80's. The top air duct piece is fiberglass, it isn't the wood one.
2. The rear seat sets on the ground. There is no base that raises it up.
3. The windshield had the vent windows where you could turn them out and get air, but they were broken so I replaced them with a solid piece of glass.
4.http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=817&sort=&pagenum=2&yrstart=1981&yrend=1985
The paint scheme looked ideticle to this boat (minus the gold 2001 part) before I stripped the paint off.
5. I see what you guys mean about the bottom rear part, my boat is flat, but the other 83's have the arch on the bottom.

This has really got me wondering. I deal with cars a lot and see sometimes that in the factories they will use the last years parts for the next year productions. Like for example early production cars in 65 may have some 64 parts that were left over, so they use those parts up before going with the 65 parts. That still wouldn't make sense, because the shell of my boat looks like an 80 I believe.

Andrew,
I'm with markb, I think the boat is older then a 83, more like a 77-78. The front air scoop does not have the teak strip top on it. I would really be suprised if it truely is a 83.

Have fun with the project.
Scott

Brian,

   yeah I am 99.9% sure it is an 83'. I remember wondering that myself until I checked the t*tle, and also the vin shows the year in the digits. I don't know if maybe the rubber bumper guard is throwing you off. We did away with the aluminum stuff and went back with the rubber stuff to bring the boat up to date. The one thing with the year that has thrown me off is the front air duct. I don't know if I have ever seen an 83' with its style, normally it seems like they have the two black louvers on either side. I dunno though!

Convo: No, there is no relation in S. Carolina area.

John: Nice boat, I remember seeing your boat on here awhile back and thinking wow that is one clean boat.
This project is both my brother and I's boat. My projects are 3 hours away from college so that keeps me from spending all my time hiding out in the garage. When I am at home I have a tough time getting out of the shop. I work in marketing PT while going to school FT. I work hard and save my pennies.
I love to do bodywork, paint, and fabrication which keeps my budget cost down.

Markb:
    You know we were going to paint the dash black but we talked ourselves out of it due to the heat of black.
I am not for sure what kind of seats we have. I believe they are standard. They are the full rear seat, the front benchlike lookout seat, and the bucket captains chair. We had the seats custom re-upholstered white w/ 3 black thin stripes. Turned out great.
I wanted to do the interior from a newer style Nautique, but couldn't find any at a decent price.
I am considering building a moveable chair to go behind the captains chair due to all that dead space.-Like the new nautiques have.
I will add a picture of the dash to my web so you can see it a little better.


                  

When do you find time to study? And you sure must have some kinda good job to be in school and have cool toys. I musta misspent my youth..........john

Thanks guys, I am excited to see it come together. I still haven't found an engine yet. The girl I bought the boat from let the boat fall apart. Block and 1 head was cracked. I am probably going with a rebuilt 351W engine. It should be ready to go this spring. Final Assembly will be over X-mas. I am in college so my time is limited to work on my projects!

lol, no the camaro won't be my tow rig. That car has 1,300 hours in it. 68 Camaro, Fuel Injected Small block, TH400 trans, Corvette brakes, custom suspension, 17" custom wheels, rhino-liner on the underbody. Custom Interior and still can't decide on paint. I am leaning towards a blue simiar to the boat!
All the work has been done by me on both boat and car.

Looks like it's gonna be great. Can't wait
for the final pics. You gonna pull it with that classic camaro.

BKH