88 Barefoot Nautique Restoration

The 454 was in great shape except for the heads. Just a freshen up of the short block with new valves and springs in the heads.

I still have to do all that. Looks great!

looks like it's comin along

Folks, if you don't know, Tom is a big "bird dogger" w/ his footin' and with his restoration. Both are very, very good. Those are old pics. Wait till he posts some new ones!

Hollywood wrote: Make sure you put your letters on the right sides.

very funny.

I had to address the floor secondary stringers on both sides of the center panel. The 2 inch lip where the center panel fits had some rot. I cut out the floor until I saw dry wood. Using routers, table saw, and other wood working tools I designed and fabricated the replacement parts. I also ran 3/8 inch plywood as a facing over the old secondary stringer from the bulk head to the rear of the boat. Using the traditional epoxy, glass, foam and fairing techniques I have learned on here and materials from US Composits I spent a week putting it back together. I coated all the wood with 3 coats of the CPES. The paint is 2 part epoxy garage floor paint Rust )Oleum from HD. It turned out great

The dash had cracks in front of the mirror (many small cracks). We sanded down to glass. Applied vynel ester from US composits (nasty stuff) Sanded and then shot with gel and duratec. It had lots of orange peel but it sanded and polished out. I do not have a final pic yet but will add one. One concern I had was having a noticeable step where the new gel meets the white on the sides .....but there was not much of a step at all. Very nice transition.

Thanks Chris, Two things on this project were it had to be a low cost project and had to complete in time for ski season. I was off work for 2 1/2 weeks through the holidays so we accomplished alot. As far as the budget our labor is free, it is just the materials and I like to restore original parts if possible vs buying new so that helps.

The engine and drive train components were addressed also. The 454 was gone through, transmission was media blasted primed and painted along with the bolt on components. We also installed a new cutlas bearing and aligned the engine to the shaft per the .003 spec.
I have not been doing this project alone! My son and some great friends have pitched in to help me do the work....keeping me on track, providing advice and support for this project. It truley has been a team effort. The goal......get this work horse back to work pulling skiers.

The 'Pumpkin's' are multiplying....Great work Tom. Git'r done and drag her to Fla for a River Run!    

You may notice the "old" red carpet CC used around the exhaust. Tom elected to go with gray for the new carpet.

Impressive work, always liked the teak steps on the 88 hulls.