My name is Seth, I live in Central Florida and I bought a 1985 Ski Nautique 2001 3 months ago.  This  boat was produced about the same year I learned how to ski as a kid. To say that I've dreamed of this boat  since then is an understatement!

I am in the middle of a full restoration of this glorious vessel:

I look forward to sharing this project with all of you, and hope you will continue to provide guidance as you already have.  Hopefully, I can do the same for ya'll in some way.

Bear with me though, this is the first time I've posted anything anywhere!  But, somehow it feels like family here.  

Looking forward to sharing ( I'll figure out pics asap)

 

Welcome to the CCfan family. It's great to have you as a member. It sounds like you doing a fantastic job on the 85. When you figure out the picture posting, I'm sure we will enjoy seeing it.

At the top of the General Discussion forum section 4th down is the thread on posting pictures. 

Paid $500 for it, took it to the shop and it started to clean up quickly!

JQ

A diamond in the rough!

I think the styling of the 2001s will always look good.

Enjoy the process, it will be worth it.

Took out the carpet and seats.  Revealed a break in the floor in front of the motorbox.  Checked the main stringers in the bilge area, seamed solid, but then I started removing some of the forward floor... totally soaked and rotten secondaries, foam full of water.  So, I knew it was game on for the whole she-bang!  Took the motor out (had to remove a trailer wheel for reach with the picker, saw that tip here).

Ordered Doug-fir and started to remove the first main stringer.  When I say the thing was still bonded, I mean death-grip nasty!  Actually spent a couple hours researching to see if there was some magic tip, to no avail.  Ended up using a sawz-all down the entire thing, then inch by inch with the chisel to get it all out.  Meanwhile, my biggest fear was not having something resembling of a template after all that demo.  

My theory was to get the first one out, make a mirror image of it for the port side, then install the first one before removing the next.  That way the hull would stay rigid.  So far so good.  The port side main was just as difficult as the first, but I knew what I was in for.  Btw, each time I went to work on the boat it seamed like I was wearing more layers and using more baby powder on my arms to avoid the inevitable itch.  So, I now have both main stringers bedded down and they turned out very even, hitting all of my reference marks and notes from before.  I basically drew an as-built sketch of the whole thing before i started any real demo.

As far as materials go, I'm using polyester resin.  My brother in laws dad works at a boat factory and really hooked me up, so I couldn't really pass it up.  I would've preferred epoxy, but here we are.  I'm considering something composite for the floor, also very much confused about weather to foam it again or not, really stuck on that one!

I guess I'm a little nervous about all the conduits through the bulkhead, I've seen some really nice work with PVC as opposed to flexible.  Either way it looks like tedious work

Cheers. 

 What’s going on with the bow, in the one picture it’s halfway stripped off. 

Are you going to re-gel the top?

Are you going to remove the tower or keep it on?

Keep at it, there gets to be a point in the project where the light at the end of the tunnel gets very dim, keep going it will be worth it in the end.

So, the picture of the bow is just where I started to clean it up, the other half is just dirt, lots of it!

I think  I might end up painting it, all said and done.  My uncle owns a paint shop.

I thought I liked the tower at first, but once I removed it, I think the boat looks way better.  I'll probably add an extension type later.

I feel like I've gotten my mind over the biggest hurdles so far.  I have the skills for all the messy stuff (fabrication), but when it comes to the motor I will need some help.  Thankfully it is at least all there.  I haven't tried anything with it yet.

Seth,

Have him (or yourself) just spray gel instead. In the long run, I feel you will be happier. 

Seth,

Gel is basically more durable so it's less prone to scratches. Then due to it's high build mil. thickness if you do get a scratch, you are more likely to be able to wet sand it out and then buff.

Before you commit to doing anthing with the gel, take a close look at the condition. Many have wet sanded and buffed it with fantastic results. 

If you plan to use this boat stay with Gel.  Nice progress so far

Mark

   

You will have a great boat.  That you should enjoy for a long time.

Mark

Funny story, I happened to see an 89' 2001 in a driveway the other day.  So, I stopped and left a note on the guys front door. (My wife thought I was nuts)  Not only did the guy call me back, but let me come over for a closer look.  We had a great chat, I was mostly interested to see the interiors, I'm trying to find a way to convert my standard seats to the deluxe style.  The guy even offered to let me take his seats out this winter so I can try to replicate, pretty cool.  Probably good for both of us that we met, I think he's eventually going to need to do something with his stringers too.

So, down the road, when I get to the seats, has anyone successfully converted to the "deluxe"?  From what I can tell, looks like there might be a little trick with the transition into the top-cap and arm rest areas? Also, most of the deluxe set-ups look to have some sort of combing pads down the length.  Either way, I really liked the idea of getting some storage space under the seats eventually.