1999 Longhorn Nautique Restoration Thread

Drilling and taping is the only thing that makes me hesitant because these are torsion axels, not leave spring axels. I don’t know where the rubber core ends within the axel and don’t want put a screw into it.

desertskier wrote: The cleanest option would be the clamps that Keno suggested but they require drilling and tapping the axles. If you are worried about the plastic ties breaking then you could swap them out for some stainless ties. You could also have the stainless ties painted to match. Follow this link then click on "Metal Cable Ties and Mounts". They have some nice plastic dipped red ones for JQ! Some more options Or just put the boat on the trailer and forget about them.

Not worried about it! Honestly, I’m fine with the zip ties. Every boat trailer I see uses the same thing.

rosconole wrote: Dude dont sweat the big zip ties just because the trailer isn't black you don't need to get carried away with Adel clamps or drilling into the trailer. Just get a small brush with matching paint. I wouldn't use anything metal on metal because it will ruin that nice paint....they do make all different color zip ties as well.. trying to plasti dip some clamps will just fade pretty bad over time.

in general, if I wanted a new trailer like this, not longhorn style but just a plain black trailer like this one. What would it cost on average?

Thanks! Great thread!

I think a new Ramlin is $4,500-ish. And if I was buying new I'd go with single axle and IMO nothing loads easier and shallower than a Ramlin for these boats.

Having said that, incredible looking trailer! Leave the zip ties, they look fine to me.

Good one Greg- everyone knows a phone man that old has a boat with a sail

Small update, Boat has been completely sanded down inside and out. Hull stiffeners have been glassed into place. All screw holes around the perimeter of the deck and hull have been filled and sanded. A layer of glass was laid down around the interior top edge of the deck and hull. A little more blocking/sanding followed by floor panel making, we will be ready to spray gelcoat. The top and the underside will be fully sprayed natural white. Then hull will be re-sprayed inside and out including the engine/bilge/ski locker compartments. Big progress coming soon! John's attention to detail is just incredible.

63 Skier wrote: I'm surprised that adding the stiffeners doesn't make it difficult to marry the deck to the hull again.

The deck was reinstalled and screwed in a few places before the stiffeners were glassed in (the gunnel stiffeners). Bow stiffeners are just replacements to what was already there.

With all the chaos going on in the world, I feel torn about posting updates but here it goes. I saw the boat this afternoon and John has made some incredible progress. The deck top, bottom, inside, and out have been sprayed with new gelcoat. The interior of the hull has also been sprayed. You will notice that the floors are slightly discolored. John has sprayed a thin layer of gelcoat and is going back to block sand once more to ensure the floors are perfectly flat. My favorite part is the squared of ski locker. I'll be using part of that space for batteries. Next week he will start spraying color and then onto the bottom of the hull. He is doing some incredible work. The boat should ready for stage 1 of reassembly in the next few weeks!

#metoo

Definitely keep the posts coming. I got word that a little fiberglass repair got done on my boat that I've been trying to get done for more than a year.. .I was so happy for some good news!

I wish I could go out and spend an hour every night working on my boat, it would really help my sanity.

So keep it coming.

Also, great work!

stepper459 wrote: Definitely keep the posts coming. I got word that a little fiberglass repair got done on my boat that I've been trying to get done for more than a year.. .I was so happy for some good news! I wish I could go out and spend an hour every night working on my boat, it would really help my sanity. So keep it coming. Also, great work!

I am looking forward to summer so I can do this. I really want to be in the water by May but the upholstery is still not started. I am starting to think that it might be ok to slow down a little bit anyways. The detailed work is coming next and since I’m doing all of the reassembly myself, it’s gotta be perfect!

I agree with all, really enjoy the updates!

Dominic, somehow I don't think anyone will be allowed to eat jelly doughnuts in this boat when it's all done!

or Cheetos . . .

Have a few more pictures to share. The areas where the tower mounts, were ground down top and bottom and then new glass was laid for extra strength. When this boat was built, Nautique had only been building towers for 1 year. This upgrade was something at the top of my list. In general, I made a point to strengthen the deck as a whole. Another thing is the gas fill neck. When the boat was built, the fill neck was rotated so the word "gas" was sideways. Drove me crazy. Decided to straighten it out. Another item was flush mount lifting rings. And finally, filling in the stern light receptacle and the lock mechanism for the rear locker.

I hadn't seen flush mount lift rings before. Those might save a few broken toes!

Stern light receptacle - do you have a different plan for a stern light?