23ft Fish Nautique opinions wanted?? |
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adm1476
Newbie Joined: November-14-2014 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Posted: November-14-2014 at 3:21am |
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I am considering getting a 23ft Fish Nautique. The boat is a 1981 with solid floors and solid stringers.Butsome light rot around the engine bay. It has a fresh water cooled mercruiser 350 in it. Looking for opinions about these boats. I have never had an inboard boat before. I have had several I/O boats though. I am also a car mechanic so I am comfortable with working on the engine. So what is the good and the bad about these boats??
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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What do you mean by "light rot around the engine bay"? Any pics?
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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The good is that evidently they handle the slop really well for a 23' boat and balance well with the engine in the center. The good is that's it's not an outboard and better yet, not an I/O. The bad.... Well, I'll put $ on it that the light rot in the engine bay goes a lot further south than you're thinking. And boy that's a big boat to rebuild. Have you considered Shamrocks? Ive been in the market for a year for a 22-24' direct drive and have had my hand on a few Fish Nautiques but always saw they same problems that Correct Crafts have if that vintage and Shamrocks seem to hold up better plus the advantage of the keel is far superior to a keeless DD. I'm guessing the FN will top out at 34 mph so that's gonna be much slower than the I/O's you're used too. Unless the manifolds were replaced last month, go ahead and plan on buying a new set as they just don't hold up in salt.
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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I agree that the rot is worse than you think since you can't see it. |
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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True Pete, I was thinking a half loop system where raw water still runs through exhaust.
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Yes, he didn't state which fresh water system. Considering it's in a Fish, there's plenty of room for the larger heat exchanger needed for a complete system. |
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Mountain Man
Senior Member Joined: May-09-2014 Location: Brevard, NC Status: Offline Points: 124 |
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The Fish Nautique is a nice boat. I am a former owner of a Shamrock 246 Open (pocket drive - no keel). Was shopping for another one when I purchased a 86-87 vintage Fish. Shamrocks are good boats and the guys over on the "Fish the Classic" forums are great people and willing to help. Hard to go wrong with a Shamrock.
Regarding the Fish Nautique bulkheads. My understanding is that the engine bulkheads deteriorate rapidly on "ALL" FN's that have actually been used. Bulkhead rot is to be expected and if you don't see it they have probably already been replaced. These bulkheads don't appear to have much structural value, instead they function mostly to isolate the the rest of the boat from engine heat and help collect water and engine fumes for removal. We are using 3/8" Starboard to replace the bulkheads in our boat. Assuming the floors are not soft around the engine compartment, it is an easy replacement. If buying, simply use the existing bulkhead rot as a tool on price negotiation. Always remember - fiberglass does not have any scrap value. Set price on condition of engine, trailer, and hull... in that order. |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Steve, Starboard is HDPE so how are you fastening/bonding it in the hull? Here's a quote from the manufacturer: "must be mechanically fastened, cannot be glued" How did you decide on the material? Did someone tell you to use it? |
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Mountain Man
Senior Member Joined: May-09-2014 Location: Brevard, NC Status: Offline Points: 124 |
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Thanks for the note. Would never try to use any form of adhesive on the Starboard..... it simply will not stick. Fortunately, there are square cut stringers and ribs end on the backside of each side panel that exist for mechanical fastening with SS screws.
The resin painted 1/4" plywood(non-marine grade)used by CC was neither air tight or watertight to begin with it looked like the bulkheads where almost an after thought. Remember this is non-structural with respect to hull strength - it was simply a rigid shower curtain to help baffle heat and water. This bulkhead needs to remain removable for access to the underside of sole if needed. Check out this video of a CC Fish Nautique that was posted up on the Shamrock forum this morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG2RTzHN3Oc |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Nice looking! Here's a direct link to your FN Any pictures of the bulkheads? I'm glad you understand that the HDPE Starboard is not glueable. That's why they make glue containers out of it! BTW, it can be welded. |
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dwouncmd
Gold Member Joined: July-10-2009 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 919 |
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Mountain Man, that is a sweet FN. I wish I had a reason to buy one, I would look at the one in Manteo. I think there is another in the Greenville NC area still on Craig's List that in pieces but sounds like it has had a lot of the work done already. |
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89 SN
<a href="http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6567&sort=&pagenum=1" rel="nofollow">7 |
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adm1476
Newbie Joined: November-14-2014 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Thanks for the info guys. Anything else I should know? Any common problems? By the way this is the one in Manteo, NC. Possible trade for my Aquasport which is very sea worthy and I like a lot.
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DayTony
Gold Member Joined: June-30-2013 Location: Salem MA Status: Offline Points: 830 |
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havent been around the board for a while but i wanted to chime in about the FN. I purchased a basket case FN two seasons ago, and my first impression is i wanted to love it but i hated it because of a lof of the mechanical issues i was having with mine.
A bit of tinkering and after donating a bit of blood the boat is great and i now love it. - It is a comfy ride, even in some chop. - straight inboard direct drive, doesn't get any simpler or more reliable when taken care of correctly. - you will get much better economy out of this setup than your I/O ever did. my 79 cruises about 25 knt, and WOT gets me between 29-30 knt. as far as manifolds, if it needs them take that opportunity to convert the manifolds to fresh water cooled so you never have to do them again. DONT buy it without taking it for a good ride. maneuverability is going to take some getting use to because although the deep Vee may ride wonderful at speeds and track straight, it also wants to track straight at low speeds so you need to think before you approach. once you get use to it you wont even think twice about it. good luck |
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1988 Barefoot nautique-454
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