1977 Ski Nautique Rebuild

Looking good! A few questions/comments:

1. You mentioned the exhaust cavities... good- you dont want to leave them full width at the front and have holes poking out from underneath the motorbox!

Yes, I would love to keep them full width, but after our earlier conversation about it I went and measured. You were right it is narrower, so the cavities will go back. They will be a little different though. Where the removable panel starts and the floor is cut back and an angle is where the cavity will end. At that point the cavity will be full width and removable will span the entire width.

2. Why the dip in stringer (forward of the engine?)? Are you doubling up the floor in this area? I assume you are going foamless and a coosa floor over everything.

Yes and Yes. There will be 3/4 sub and then the 1/2 over the entire floor. The removable panel aft of the engine will also be 3/4. I still think I will refoam the bow forward of the battery box.

3. No drain holes in the ribs/bulkheads? Might want to add some so that *if* water ever makes it below the floor, all the cavities will drain together.

Everything will drain except for the bow. I am probably going to foam the bow so it will be sealed. But everything from that forward bulkhead aft will drain into the bilge. I have cut the original drain holes in primaries and added drains in the secondaries in the middle and aft. All ribs will have drain notches cut in them. This has not happened yet, but is a simple task.

4. How do you plan to mount the engine? Lag into the coosa? I dont see any provisions for an engine cradle?

My plan for now is to try and keep the mounting like it was. I am not real familiar with engine cradles and such so I am not going to change it that much. I have reservations regarding the longevity of lags straight into the coosa, so I am thinking that I will drill the mounting holes out and then fill with thickened epoxy and then remount. I am also going to lag the horizontal wholes in the mount. The engine and gear will sit on a 1/4 piece of flat bar that will rest on the stringer.

What do you think about these plans. Thanks for posting and asking. Allen

Tim i will drawn a picture of what I am talking about in the exhaust cavity. But for now...The original cavity towards the engine is reduced in size to about 4 inches and where the motor box mounts it is enlarged by about 2 inches which gives the removable panel the 45 degree angle at the back corner of the motor box. At this point the exhaust cavity is only 1-1/2 inches less in size than at the rear (in between the secondary and main stringers). I don't see the point in this except to keep the removable panel narrower. Instead of making the additional step in size at the back of the motor box I will take it all the way to the secondary. I know pictures will help here.

If you remember on the mains I did put two pieces of 3/4 together and in the middle I have two layers of cloth to help but I am still a little uncertain about the longevity. I guess if I thru-bolt I could use Eric's idea of drilling a whole in the bottom and then I would place a piece of round stock (SS) in and tap it. I will be placing the engine on the stringers just like it was and yes there will be a "nailer" glassed on the inside of the main to support the floor in that area.

Thanks again for all the questions and help.

Ok Tim here are some pics and a drawing.



Please I know I am not an artist. In this drawing you will see the original layout to the left. On the right is the new layout I plan to use. There will be a "nailer" or support glassed on the inboard side of the secondary to support the removable panel.




The red line shows where the change will be.

Sure Tim I would live to hear your ideas. I am always open to new ideas.

Thanks Mike. Been on vacation last week. Back in the country now and making my way back to NC. I will continue the work later this week.

Looking good!

Are you still considering adding a cradle of some sort?

Well it was mighty hot outside today, but I was home alone so getting some work done was a priority.

I finished all the grinding that was left up forward. I got the sub-floor (second layer of floor under seats) fitted and glassed the under-side. I also got my forward floor support glassed in and the forward floor (air-box) fitted along with the air-duct and wire chase. I also glassed the under-side of this piece.

I started to sand and fair the forward bilge area where the pylon is so I can paint this before the sub-floor goes in (this is still a ways off but wanted to start).

Next order of business is to install the forward floor panel, finish the battery box, fair and paint the battery box and forward part of the bilge, build the engine cradle, then I ca start on the floor sections.









Thanks for looking, Allen

Allen, looks awesome. Did you notch the stringers for the underside of your motor mounts yet? Still going to make some pockets on each side to access the cradle bolts?

Nice! In that case you may want to hold off on the bilge paint until you're done glassing...I assume that's how you'll finish off those pockets?

Allen, Excellent work on a nice restoration project.

It's always a pleasure to see great projects like this come out looking fantastic. Keep up the good work to bring another old CC back.

samudj01 wrote: Had a chance to see Allen's project firsthand this evening. Wow...some great work going into that boat. I drove over and got the tour. I don't have a boat and just drool over all of the projects on this site. This was the first stringer job in my area that I could take a look at. Thanks Allen for showing me around. I look forward to seeing the project progress. If you ever need some help putting her in the water just give me a ring! -David

David-- I'm just down the road a bit--- Come on over and see and drive the Skylark

Allen, Just spent last hour catching up on your 77 SN, looks great! I am just getting started on Floor Restore on a 77 American Skier that I have owned since 1979 2nd Owner. Also using Airex/Penske from Composites One(Thanks Michael) I am in LKN Mooresville area and travel to WS frequently, love to see project in person. TRBenj, any other ideas about motor mounts into Airex without using cradle. trying to Look original after the completion.

Butch T.

Butch, glad to help you out with the materials the other day and great to meet another CCF in my area. Allen has done a nice job on his SN he could be a big help with advise too on your American Skier. Post some photos of yours soon.

Maybe you could try a speedi-sleave to fix the front CS leak.