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1986 BFN Rebuild

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    Posted: November-22-2023 at 1:40pm
Hi All,

We are currently in the process of rebuilding our new to us 1986 Barefoot Nautique.
For some of the members that have been around a while this boat might seem familiar, as the restoration has been started in 2009, but was never finished due to a lack of time.
This is a link to the original post.

We bought the boat completely disassembled, so we are figuring things out as we go.
First up was dissasembling the cracked block and sourcing a new one. After hours of searching european alternatives to Craiglist it seemed that there where no suitable 454 blocks for sale. All of them where either in a very bad state, or completely rebuilt.
I found one in the states for a reasonable price which we imported from Chicago and is now at the workshop awaiting inspection and refurbishing.


Due to having very limited space for working on the boat we build a temporary workshop in an old army tent In my brothers garden, flipped the boat upside down and started on the exstensive boat hull repairs that needed to be done.

We would have loved to do a re-gell, but that is simply not in the budget. Spot repairs with gelcoat would have been practicaly impossible due to the many scratches en cracks. we decided to repair everything with epoxy and do a repaint with a 2-component Polyurethane coating system above the waterline (as used on sailing yachts), below the waterline we'll use anti fouling. (there is no polyurethane coating that's completely water-vapor proof as far as I know, so its not suited for underwater use)
Few weeks ago we finally flipped the boat back upright (had to get creative as the mini excavator stopped working)
Once again there was a ton of small gouges and cracks, that we had to dremel out and repair.

Removed the foam, as we had some water getting in the boat while we where building the shelter. Also want to check the stringers as they were not replaced by the previous owner.
Now we need to sand the deck, and move the boat to a dry location to start the painting process.

I'll try to keep the updates and pictures coming as we progress.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kristof Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November-23-2023 at 4:46am
So happy to see this boat is getting a resto after sitting so many years in Jo's basement!!
Gonna follow up on this thread...

Many memories about the beginnings of this one.
Good luck guys!

Oh, and on a side note: you are in the right place for pro tips on this project. Wink
- Gun control means: using BOTH hands!
- Money doesn't make one happy, but when it rains cats and dogs, it's still better to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 67 ski nat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November-23-2023 at 10:04am
WOW. Labor of love for sure
BFN awesome. Would love to own one too
Good luck and try and enjoy
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2023 at 2:20am
So what percentage of woodrot would be an acceptable amount for the stringers? (Please don't let it be zero...)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 67 ski nat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2023 at 9:55am
None
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2023 at 12:51pm
Damn.
okay, painting postponed, first a stringer job...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KENO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-02-2023 at 1:58pm
None is the lame, easy answer

So, how much rot ya' got?

There are quite a few people with mid 80's wooden stringers that are still driving around without the engine ripping itself out of the stringers.

You can read about things like Rot Doctor, Git Rot, CPES, homebrewed CPES mixtures etc that more or less turn the rotted areas into petrified wood Wink

It all depends on how much work you want to put into the project and what the wood is like now and only you know those answers
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 67 ski nat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-03-2023 at 9:10am
Keno is correct   I just didn’t want to type zero
A little bit in some locations is treatable
I had a couple soft bolt holes repaired with penetrating epoxy
Larger areas all the way through probably replace stringer.
You might get lucky too
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-04-2023 at 4:28am

Thank you for your advice! I've taken action and removed the fiberglass from the stringers where I suspected wood rot. While the surface of the stringers is damp, it hasn't permeated all the way through. There's a single soft spot, limited to around 1/2" deep, situated on the strongest part of the stringer (toward the stern, where the crossmember used to be).

I'm optimistic that I can use the "wood conservation method" to address this. Keno, thanks for bringing this method to my attention—didn't know about it! Now, I'm exploring ways to dry the stringers without removing them from their original position. I came across a suggestion to speed up drying by soaking them in acetone. I might give this a try while the boat is still under the tent. Appreciate your insights! 😊

Picture of the soft spot:


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 67 ski nat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-04-2023 at 9:13am
Ace hardware has ‘PC rot terminator’
Brand. Small bottles
Drill small 1/8” holes into soft areas
Amazing how epoxy flows and soaks into soft woods. It is very fluid, so keep watching and basting overflow until firms up
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KENO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-04-2023 at 2:12pm
Well at least now you know you have choices on how to take care of your issue and after some reading about things here and elsewhere and knowing what your comfort level is with doing stringers, repairing stringers etc., you can decide your course of action.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-11-2023 at 6:02am
We are all done with removing the foam, removing the fiberglass from the stringers, and sanding the hull/deck.
We'll move the boat to a heated garage to dry out the stringers tomorrow or the day after.
I got into the large pile of parts that came with the boat to see what needs replacement and whatnot.
I encountered some parts where I'm not sure of what they're for.
First are these "mounting plates" with two holes in them. Not quite sure where they used to go.
Same for the 'U' Bolts, (they don't fit the plates)


And lastly these 2 parts. They have a hose on both sides, and looking at the length of the hose I would think these are for the Speedo's? If they are, what is their function? I assumed the hose went straight from the speedo to the pitot tube.


Thanks and have a nice week!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TRBenj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-11-2023 at 12:11pm
Speedometer pulsation dampeners, motor mount blocks, and cradle u-bolts for the pylon.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December-12-2023 at 3:56am
Hi TRBenj,

Thanks for the info!

I'll post some more pictures of the progress soon.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February-12-2024 at 12:56pm
It's been a while since the last update, but we managed to get some work done over the past few weeks.
The deck has been sanded, the glass from the stringers was removed and the boat was moved to a garage of one of the co-owners of the boat.
After Inspection, we noticed that the state of the stringers wasn't all that bad. Most parts were still rock solid, and the places with rot where mostly on the surface. We used an electric heater pointed at the stringers for a few days to get as much of the moisture out as possible, afterwards we treated them with a penetrating epoxy as described by KENO and they were ready to be glassed over again.


Next up was installing the floor panels. The previous owners started the rebuild proces with HPL plates (used for facade cladding) while this material doesn't rot and is quite sturdy I'm not sure I would go this way again. It doesn't take screws very well, and is a bit flexible. This became a problem when installing the panels and especially when foaming the cavities. The foam pushing up against the HPL panel made a bump in some places and pulled out the screws in other. we ended up removing the floor, pouring in extra foam where needed, and cutting off the excess.



Due to the different colors in panels and a not so straight crossmember, it does seem that the front part of the floor is extremely uneven / not level. Its a bit of an optical illusion as in reality the floor is only slightly crooked Big smile.
We also replaced the original HVAC tubing with hard PVC pipes and moved them a bit closer to each other to create more space.
Afterwards it was time to glass in the stringers and floor.


For us it was the first time working with fiberglass, and while its defenitley not as professional as a lot of repairs i saw on this website, we're still quite happy with the end result.

Next up will be finishing of the foot support for the driver, glassing the last part between floor and stringer, making the floor panels for the middle parts and treating all the new glass with a waterproof primer (gelshield). We also started on making a custom glove box, as the original owner cut it out for some reason, and nothing will fit the dimensions of the hole that was left behind.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kristof Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February-13-2024 at 3:06am
Very nice work guys!

So good to see this boat getting the attention it needs.
So many times I told Jo to sell this boat to someone that will get it back in shape, since he nor I would have the time to do it.
It saddened me to see this boat 'decay', even though he kept it nice and dry in his basement.

She is in good hands now obviously. 

PS: I was never in favor of the HPL plates myself, for exactly the same reasons you mentioned. 
But unfortunately my preferred Coosa board way was not possible in Europe (or VERY expensive). Don't know if it would be available over here these days?

Edit: apparently these guys in Germany are Coosa dealers nowadays according to the Coosa website: http://https://www.vonderlinden.de/




- Gun control means: using BOTH hands!
- Money doesn't make one happy, but when it rains cats and dogs, it's still better to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 67 ski nat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February-13-2024 at 10:25am
Nice. Looks tight and flat.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February-14-2024 at 10:44am
Thanks!
Indeed Coosa board seems to be a very nice material, but it's quite expensive for the moment.
HPL isn't cheap either, but you can find "scraps" or damaged panels from contractors which can't be used for construction but are perfect for the boat. I don't think you'll find leftover Coosa board.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kristof Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February-15-2024 at 2:20am
Originally posted by LennyBoat LennyBoat wrote:

HPL isn't cheap either, but you can find "scraps" or damaged panels from contractors which can't be used for construction but are perfect for the boat. I don't think you'll find leftover Coosa board.
True... And certainly not in Europe as it is not very well known over here yet Confused

And BTW, HPL or 'Trespa' plates are quite heavy and do add quite some weight to the boat.
- Gun control means: using BOTH hands!
- Money doesn't make one happy, but when it rains cats and dogs, it's still better to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February-26-2024 at 6:14am
That's correct, Won't be a large problem as we are mainly going to use it for wakeboarding, and learning to barefoot. I'm curious to see what the wake will be like for slalom, probably not great, but I can't imagine its worse than our I/O we have right now.
We are in the process of installing the rest of the floor now, and did a fitment check of the interior. Whole interior needs to be replaced, but we are thinking to have one season with the old interior, so we know what we want, and what needs to be modified to create some extra storage/speakers/cupholders/etc... I'll update with pictures soon.
We are not quite sure about the location of the driver seat base. Anybody has any information on this?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote andrewmarani Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February-26-2024 at 10:42am
Hi, looks like an excellent rebuild. I'm maybe 75% through a stringer replacement on an 1986 Silver Nautique, thread is under "boat maintenance".  I used Coosa for the floor and stringers, working well so far but that stuff is pricey.  I've worked with Trespa through my construction company, it's both heavy and pricy unless, as noted, you can find remnants.

I also needed the location of the seats and battery box since I forgot to get them before the tear out.  Got the info below from va-river-tique.  These are from the face of the pylon itself, not the nut in the hull.  

Be very careful screwing down the driver's seat, the front right corner is basically just the floor thickness over the hull, very easy to run the screw right through the hull if it's a touch to long.  Found that out a couple of years ago running my hand on the underside of the hull trying to figure out where and why I had a slow leak into the bilge. Cut my finger on the screw point.

va-river-tique
I took these measurements from the bow side of the pylon.

pylon to base of observer's seat is 12 1/4 inches.
pylon to inside edge of battery box is 26 1/4 inches.
pylon to base of driver's seat is 6 inches.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TRBenj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February-27-2024 at 6:27am
Interesting data points to compare but I wouldn’t expect any of them to be shared exactly between the SN and BFN.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 63 Skier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February-27-2024 at 7:14am
This is a fun project to watch, really appreciate the updates.  You are making great progress!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-18-2024 at 6:56am
Hi All,

Some more updates on the process of our rebuild:

We foamed in the remaining part between the stringer and the floor, and glassed it over.
The removeable floor panels have been made as well as the supports where they will be sitting on.
The supports have been treated with epoxy, the screw holes filled with marine sealant, and we put sealant between the supports and the panel they are mounted on to keep these as dry as possible. Also did a test-fit of the interior to get a better overview of how everything should fit together.


I have to say it felt good to be sitting in the boat after all these hours of work, even if it was just temporary. Big smile


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-18-2024 at 7:06am
Did a carb overhaul and cleaning, parts for the engine rebuild should be arriving this week.

Afterwards, cleaned and degreased the inside of the boat and painted the waterproof barrier and the Bilgepaint.
For the barrier we used International Gelshield and the for the bilge we used International Danboline.



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-18-2024 at 7:12am
I also found this part:


Could anyone tell me what part this is, and what the 3 potentiometers are for?

Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-18-2024 at 7:22am
Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the information! i'm not quite sure if the dimensions of the BFN are the same as the SN, but I'll update once I find out.
I'll start a seperate topic about this in boat maintenance for this.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote andrewmarani Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-18-2024 at 8:11am
Reminds me of something I think I saw up under my dash...  I will look later today.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KENO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-18-2024 at 11:54am
Originally posted by LennyBoat LennyBoat wrote:

I also found this part:


Could anyone tell me what part this is, and what the 3 potentiometers are for?

Thanks!

That would be the alarm module, it alarmed on low oil pressure, high water temperature and low volts.

Here's a link to an 86 dash wiring diagram, look in the lower left corner, it doesn't show the module, but it shows all the wires on the dash plug that your plug goes into.

The potentiometers were for setpoint adjustment..

link to dash diagram

If you click on this link, you'll have some reading, They weren't exactly well liked because they broke a lot Wink

link to alarm module stuff
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote LennyBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-22-2024 at 6:58am
Thanks Keno, I'm curious to see if this one still works as it should Smile

In the meantime, one of the co-owners of the boat drew up the dimensions of the blue band that goes around the boat so we can make stickers/paint it back after painting the hull's base colour:


(It's in metric Wink)

We are choosing the base colour, and it's been quite difficult.
The choices are between a very light blue, another very light blue and another very light blue:

We are trying to get something as Mastercrafts "coastal blue" but it's quite difficult to see on an NCS colour chart. The new colour of the blue stripe is still under discussion. we will wait to see what the boat looks like after the new base coulour.
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