77 Ski Nautique Rebuild

Okay, I told you guys in a previous post I would get some pics on here yall could look at. I just picked this boat up and have a little work ahead of me. I have plenty of experience with boat rebuilds but none with ski boats. This is my first ski boat and bought it for my wife. She learned to ski and to operate a boat with one just like this. I am sure I will have plenty of questions and have included some here.

Exactly which motor is this. The PO said it was a 351 Windsor, but I can't find anything on it that says Windsor?

The freeze plugs have come out, so I know it needs to be torn down and rebuilt, but should I rebuild or buy a new, remand engine?

If I rebuild what brand of parts should I use? And is there anything I should do custom that may be beneficial while I have it apart?

I'm sure more will come later. If yall have any comments or suggestions I would love to hear them.

Allen

Thanks. The engine stuff is the only thing I am not real familiar with, but my neighbor is a Ford Mechanic so he willing to help but knows nothing about boats. The model number for my engine is ERDWRR10.

I am going to replace the stringers and floor. I have done this before in sport fishers and center consoles. I have been using composite materials such as coosa for all my builds recently and have noticed that everyone here has been going back with wood. Is there a reason not to replace it with a composite like coosa?? This material is lighter and stronger than wood and will not rot.

My plans were to marry a couple of 3/4 pieces of coosa for the main stringers with aluminum or stainless reinforced plates for the motor mounts, which would be glassed in. Then use single 3/4 for the secondaries. Also going to use it for the floor. What are your thoughts here? I know it is a little pricey but I can promise I will only do it once.

I have also seen were people have added mufflers to their engines. This boat has pvc pipe between the engine and transom. Is there an advantage or disadvantage of adding mufflers? All the inboards I have worked on before, mostly diesel, have had mufflers.

Thanks for the assistance.

Allen

If you are used to mufflers, just using SS pipes will more than likely be too loud for you. My martinique has the fiberglass mufflers and it still is pretty loud, but not deafening.

FWIW, there were also 351M's which were modified clevelands, Good thing the Windsors are the ones that were marinized, because there are many times more parts available for windsors.

dochockey wrote: Do you have the ring and finger? looks like its gone?

In the pics there is no pylon at all. That's a much bigger issue than just no ring and finger.


Hopefully you have the pylon at least.

Sorry been away for a while. I have a marine electronics business and my supplier carries coosa so I can get it for wholesale with free shipping (truck delivery). That is one reason I want to go with the coosa as the price is not much different at this rate, plus its strength and resistance to moisture.

As far as the pylon. I purchased this boat very cheap and the PO is looking for the it, he states he has it but seems to have trouble locating it. We will cross that bridge when we get there. I am going to be pretty busy with the tear-out and the engine for now. I am not sure what a ring and finger is, as stated earlier this is my first ski boat. All my boating and rebuilding experience is with offshore boats. So please feel me in.

Any suggestions on rebuilding the engine or trying to buy a reman or new one??

Thanks

Allen

HatterBee wrote: I want to go with the coosa , plus its strength Thanks Allen

Be careful!!! It's flex modulus is not as strong as Doug Fir especially at the 8' lap joints!! Members who have done the composite, compensate for it's lower strength by adding more glass over the stringers that was done at the factory originally. Sounds like that supplier of your's needs to do his homework.

[QUOTE=Keeganino] Are you in Winston-Salem? I am in Greensboro. Would love to come check out the project. [QUOTE]


I am in WS. I am actually on the South East side around Walburg. You are more than welcome to stop by. Give me a call. 336-414-2985 Allen

Keegan!!!!

Allen,
Here's some Doug Fir specs:

Parallel tensile strength = 87.6 MPa
Perpendicular tensile strength = 2 MPa

I am having a problem following some of you logic. You feel by using coosa and less of it dimensionally that the weight will be reduced to a point stress loading will be reduced on the stringers?

I would not use the aluminum at the 8' splices. You'll end up with a rigid point of extreme stress. Use the FRP to handle it.

Yes, read Tim's as well as Joe's coosa project threads.