1969 Ski Nautique Stringers- Why, I don't know

I bought a 69 SN back in the fall knowing it needed a lot of work. Why I bought it, I don't know, but I gave a guy some money and the boat followed my truck home. This is going to be my second stringer job, so it wasn't like I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I've been collecting parts over the winter and now I am fired up and ready to get started.

Pic from the Craigslist ad


Trailer was sandblasted and painted


Seats & Engine Cover were freshly recovered


Engine runs great, compression is good, trans shifts and doesn't have a dirty neutral

Wes - what a great project, the gel coat (red) appears to be in great shape, unless it has been painted. Could you do me (and maybe a lot of folks on the site) a favor, could you construct some sort of template for the stringers. At some point in the future, I am probably going to have to do this to my Dad's boat. Anyway, it will be fun to watch the progress!

I still have the stringers out of my '85
Thought I'd hang on to them in case I wanted to put them back in to make it original again for Pete

jpg[/IMG][/URL]=http://s256.photobucket.com/user/gun-driver/media/85%20boat%20rebuild/IMG_0582.jpg.html][/URL]

WOW! Nice looking old SN! Definitely worth the work!!!

skutsch wrote: Wes - what a great project, the gel coat (red) appears to be in great shape, unless it has been painted. Could you do me (and maybe a lot of folks on the site) a favor, could you construct some sort of template for the stringers. At some point in the future, I am probably going to have to do this to my Dad's boat. Anyway, it will be fun to watch the progress!

Steve,
Unfortunately it is paint. If I have the time and energy I am probably going to strip it, but I have some concerns as to why it was painted in the first place.
As far as a template, when I did my Mustang, like most, I pulled the stringers out one at a time and used the old stringer as a template. it was easier to matched the bottom contour. If they come out clean I will try to make a template for you.

That is a #3 for sure, not a #2. The boat does look to be sitting too far aft, which was confirmed when you almost tipped it! Get it moved forward to the point where it has proper tongue weight (10% = 200-300lbs) and it'll be fine. The standard (non-low boy) CC trailers stopped well short of the transom until 1984.

You'd be amazed at how many people paint boats just because they dont know any better. If there are no cracks showing through the paint, that means they either had a major repair that was fixed properly (every crack ground out and filled) or it was just painted to "look better", not knowing the gel could be restored. I say remove it and take your chances!

Bummer on breaking the steering wheel, those arent easy to find.

TRBenj wrote: Bummer on breaking the steering wheel, those arent easy to find.

The steering wheel was heartbreaking. I have no one to blame but myself, fat guys shouldn't grab on to old brittle steering wheels to pull themselves up. If I could kick my own A$$, I would.

Completely un-restored and original. It has been in my family since it was purchased new from a factory rep (it was a demonstrator). The boot-stripe is "kind of original", I remember helping Dad re-paint it in the mid 80's, but it was definitely in that location and went all the way to the bow. Even though the Gen 1 Ski went from 1961 til 1970, there were some pretty big changes from the early gen 1 boats til the later ones, note especially the removal of the center deck circa 1966.

62 wood wrote: I particularly like the green mottled bottom accents.

They don't call it GREEN Lake for nothing!!!

Wondering if anyone is familiar with how this steering wheel center comes off. I have done enough damage and don't want to pry on it and snap it off- not that I would do that. Should have taken it off when I bought the boat.

The small (round) center cap pries right out with a small screwdriver. It's held in by a bunch of small metal tabs. Go easy, but it's not real fragile. It should come very easy.

wwchevy wrote:

I have a steering wheel like that    Minus the trim




Here's one on E-Bay-- but mine would be 1/2 the price of that one.

E-Bay Wheel

TRBenj wrote: The small (round) center cap pries right out with a small screwdriver. It's held in by a bunch of small metal tabs. Go easy, but it's not real fragile. It should come very easy.

Thanks Tim,
Wheel & helm came right out. Once you say it, it seems obvious   

wwchevy wrote: Engine runs great, compression is good, trans shifts and doesn't have a dirty neutral

Probably this one, Pete.

The 318 was pretty common in the SN at that point, 273 was more common in the Mustang.

Obviously it's been painted, manifolds replaced, etc.

[QUOTE=turningpoint84] Yeah, which is crazy that the manifolds have been replaced and they already look pretty bad, that engine looks like its had a rough life.

I love those 318/273's i've grown really really fond of my 273.

If you need any parts for this 318 let me know, i'm tearing apart a 318 currently.QUOTE]

Peter,
I too will be tearing apart a 318 soon. Engine ran great, good compression (125- 140 psi), idled good, no smoke coming out of the exhaust- but when I drained the "oil" the other day it was water, followed by milky sludge. I haven't torn into it yet, but I assume a cracked block. Before winter, I drained the block and disconnected all of the hoses. i guess that when I start my investigation, I will find out for sure.