1977 Ski Nautique Rebuild

gun-driver wrote: After looking at your first post the 3/4 wood floor starts after the battery box. It looks like your new stringers start the notch for the 3/4 floor a little to far forward?? Could be the picture angle?? I also didn't like the way the stringers just ended so I built in a bulk head.

The cutout for the 3/4 sub floor is in the same place as the original stringer, I think my initial problem is coming from my measurements to cut down the stringer because I will be putting 1/2 on top of the entire floor. I think I may have figured a way around the clearance issue, but am still thinking of placing that battery under the bow on the air box to keep it above the water line. I was just curious if the weight change would alter the ride at all.

I have also built a forward bulkhead to tie all four stringers together, this will serve as the forward part of the battery box.

Killer, this kinda my thought process but wanted to see what others thought.

Two batteries on the air box will add approx. an extra 100lbs to the driver’s side. Don't forget you have all your vent hoses and wiring conduit coming up through the top of the box. Plus it would be a pain in the a$$ getting at them for servicing.

I know a guy who has two batteries up front on drivers side plus a couple bass speakers and he wonders why the boat won't drive level-It always leans to the drivers side. I think he's gonna rip it all out because it kills top speed and makes a screwed up wake too. His is a Sanger but the theory is the same.

gun-driver wrote: Two batteries on the air box will add approx. an extra 100lbs to the driver’s side. Don't forget you have all your vent hoses and wiring conduit coming up through the top of the box. Plus it would be a pain in the a$$ getting at them for servicing.

Thanks man. However, I am relocating all the air hoses and conduit to the starboard side of the air box and would put the battery (more than likely only one, not two) on the center line and not to one side or the other.

HatterBee wrote: 8122pbrainard wrote: Allen, Did you get the correct group size battery? What's your concern about keeping the battery above the waterline? My concern from the battery below the water line stems from my experience with offshore boats and the thought of a battery shorting out in a rough sea if it gets swamped with water. This has happened to me and several other acquaintances through the years. I always move my batteries from the bilge area on my fishing boats if they are located there.

Well, you don't need to worry about the 77SN encountering heavy seas!

12 volts under water will do nothing. With a battery bank of 48 volts on a off shore maybe but that's SALT water! I truly feel you are overreacting in this case and not understanding the issue.

In the cases of the battery banks shorting, did the boats take on that much water or weren't the batteries secured per USCG regs?

yes and yes. I'm trying to get him to pull the bass out, run one battery just off centerline to passenger side, which is the oem location roughly.

you'd likely be fine running the battery in the centerline or close. I am somewhat guessing here but I know your type of boat has a pretty good bowrise to the holeshot and so a battery mounted more forward might help keep the bow a bit lower but it will also possibly slow the topend a little. there are always trade offs.

Somebody on here must have done some battery relocating and would know better than I.
Along the lines of what Pete was saying I think if you've got enough water in the boat to short the battery you've got some serious trouble no matter what. But if it were mounted a bit higher I can't see how it would hurt.

GlassSeeker wrote: if you've got enough water in the boat to short the battery you've got some serious trouble no matter what.

Andy,
Yes, if the water gets that high in the bilge, there's a problem! However, understand that a 12 volt battery under water doesn't have the power (volts) to short especially in fresh water.

The cooler idea is pretty good.
Out in the ocean-whole nuther story. Stuff like that makes a lasting impression.
You can probably put the battery(s) where ever you like without issue.

Wasn't the battery originally only partially in floor?

I saw a chevy blazer once in water up to the windshield the guy reached around underwater and pulled the cable from his warn winch out and ran it to a tree and with the winch and battery underwater it pulled itself out. (So my 69 Jeepster Commando got a warn winch!) however the guy had turned the engine over-underwater and it bent all the rods-he got towed home.

Overall looks like this boat is going to come out real nice-better than new.

All this talk about battery relocating got me thinking, I have never seen anyone modify the gas tank (shorten the length) This would allow a battery on each side of the tank above the floor. I know currently on my 82 SN there may be about 8-10" on each side of the tank. Maybe a custom tank that is shorter in length and sloped in the front (to match the rear seat). This would make up the difference in volume perhaps?

Just thinking out loud.

I'm not ready for this yet, just thinking. One could "section" there stock tank (take out about 12+/-") near the end on the port side then just have it welded back together. May need to add an elbow neck to the side for the fuel inlet and weld the original location closed. I have an in floor cooler and battery box, this would give me (2) coolers.

I'll have to look into this a bit more. I won't be really worried about this until next year, when I replace the stringers.

Just saw this thread, and man, does that boat bring back memories!

It was my first SN. I took out a college loan for the downpayment in 1978. Bought it with about 110 hours on it, and no mufflers. I loved that sound going down the river.

The pic is a little grainy when you zoom, but...

I'll have to dig into boxes of old pics we have somewhere.

My friend had a yellow on white same year.

We put a bunch of hours on those boats.

Great running.   Wakes are a little stiff by today's standards. Great trick wake and an awesome barefoot boat with a top speed close to 50. Had 4 footers up one day with WOT at 42. What new boat could do that today?

Paul, that is interesting. What thread did this come from.

I have pretty much decided to make it work to install the battery in its proper location, even if I have to raise the floor. Still only going with one though. Now is the time to do it.

Here are the updated pictures. All the support ribs have been cut and fitted. Now just have to glass them in. I should have this done before the end of May and then can move to fitting the floor panels.