Just Picked Up a Twin-Engine Fish Nautique
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Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Anything Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=41561
Printed Date: April-29-2024 at 4:57am
Topic: Just Picked Up a Twin-Engine Fish Nautique
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Subject: Just Picked Up a Twin-Engine Fish Nautique
Date Posted: July-19-2017 at 9:18pm
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Some of you will recognize this one from the boats for sale on this site, and may be familiar with some of the work the previous owner did on it. I can't wait to get started on this thing! This one is a 1981, and the previous owner says that it was the first one built. I have not been able to verify that yet, but I am working on it. I think one of the others is a 1980, but I am not positive. The previous owner started a very nice restoration. He removed the floor and replaced the stringers with all new composite stringers, and gelcoated the entire bilge. This work looks great! He also installed a custom-made 75 gallon fuel tank that will be under the floor (instead of at the transom), and modified the deck a little to open up more space behind the console. He installed dripless shaft seals, and part of a hydraulic steering system. This work looks very good! The original 3.8L V6 engines were completely remanufactured, and it looks like the work was very nicely done. The bright work is removed from the boat, but most of it was stored in a shed and is in decent shape. Now for the bad stuff... Unfortunately, the previous owner got sick and was unable to complete the restoration. The boat sat outside since 2014 just south of Ft. Lauderdale. It was not covered, and someone removed the carbs from the engines and tried to cover the intakes with plastic bags and rags, but that didn't work. The bags deteriorated in the Florida sun, and the rags offered no protection from water. The engines have zero hours since rebuild, but they are both completely locked up now, and will need to be rebuilt again. The center console is complete, but in need of restoration. So, the plan is to get the engines rebuilt again, install the floor and spray new gelcoat on the floor and entire top deck, restore the console, mount the gauges, rewire everything, and get it in the water! Here are some pictures from the restoration work the previous owner did. I'll add some current pictures in the next post.           ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Replies:
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-19-2017 at 9:21pm
Here are some shots from when I loaded it up to take home.   ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-19-2017 at 9:24pm
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My gelcoat/fiberglass guy is going to squeeze it in over the next two to three months (he gave me a much better rate if I didn't need it done immediately). We're doing the following: Complete new floor (in sections, removable) Rework the entire top deck, which is pretty messed up. Lots of holes and raw fiberglass patches. Rework the entire center console Sand and buff hull sides Repair bad exhaust hole in hull (fiberglass and gelcoat) and install SS exhaust tips Here's a shot of the bad exhaust hole.  ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-19-2017 at 9:26pm
Well, I got proof the other day that the boat was built for Camp of the Woods, a Christian camp in New York. According to Woody, this was because New York state rules indicated that camp boats of this type were required to have twin engines! Larry and Art helped track down the build sheet on the microfiche at Nautique.   ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: July-19-2017 at 9:53pm
If that bad boy were mine I find 4 3" stainless exhaust tips from parted out 80's boats and put all straight out the back instead of those Y's  ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-19-2017 at 10:12pm
It had that originally! Not sure why the previous owner changed it. ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: July-19-2017 at 10:49pm
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Jeff, I'm with Gary on the exhaust. As long as your glass guy is working on the hull, I'd sure consider going back to the original. Maybe when the PO installed the hydraulic steering, he thought the exhaust routing would interfere? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 12:08am
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I'll just say 2 things and then keep my mouth shut For some reason or another everyone who is a ocean runner thinks hydraulic steering is the end all to all end alls. Some units can be hard to steer and they create more complexity when it's not needed,this just from a big outboard experience. The other thing I don't like but I don't think you would run into Jeff if your not offshore is the single tank. You have two engines and one of the advantages of twins is if one quits the other one can get you home. Take on one bad load of fuel or have a wave come up the back and water gets in a fuel vent,neither engine will run. Separate tanks,fill them up at separate times would help to eliminate that problem. It is what it is just get yourself 2 good water separators/filters and carry spares. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 12:24am
Very good point on the two tanks. In fact, the PO had planned to install two tanks, but he must have changed his mind at some point. Here's his original layout plan. It definitely has some flaws (like engine placement for one), but it would have allowed for two tanks. ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 12:38am
As for the exhaust routing, I think it might have been done due to the way he modified the deck to extend the floor on this boat. I don't have a great picture of it, but you can see in this shot that he cut out about 14" of the deck and set up the stringers so that the floor could extend to the transom. Most Fish Nautiques have the deck come straight across just behind the rear cleats. I think the modified floor in this boat might have hit the original exhaust. Who knows??? ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: DayTony
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 1:47am
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Nice find, these are cool boats and with twins. Whoa. Yoy have a hell of a lot of planning and work to finish but it can def be worth it in the end. Not a lot of room under the deck of these things. First thing i would wonder about the exhaust is if those 45s are design3d to stop surge or if it is just an open junction to combine exhausts. Usually people dont do stuff like that for no reason. It may have been done to fix a past issue. I know my fish the waterline was very close to deck height at the motor and those motors having logs instead of risers i would be really thinking about that. It was one of the things that kept me up at night when i owned my fish, or when i was drift jigging in rough seas or leaving the boat on anchor and going diving. I always worried i would go to start and hydrolock one of these days. Dual tanks wouldnt be my biggest worry though. Get 2 Raycor filters, one for each engine and like stated. Carry spares. And thats a nice steering system. closed hydraulic so it doesnt use a pump off the motor, the helm and piston are a closed loop. Is it a big upgrade? Yes, is it a necessary upgrade? Def not. But it is there so keep it and be happy! Look forward to seeing this progress. ------------- 1988 Barefoot nautique-454 |
Posted By: Smithfamily
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 7:24am
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Cool find. Shame things like this happen, sitting and locking up two new engines! Good luck with it and keep the pictures coming! ------------- Js |
Posted By: Morfoot
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 8:02am
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Definitely a cool addition to your fleet of CC's Jeff. You gonna keep the 81 Fish once you get this one completed? Seems that Pinkham Point has some sort of Home Port of infectious disease. Anyone who spends a bit of time there seems to always end up with a Fleet of Correct Crafts and with that being said. I'm sure you can always upgrade those V-6's and go with a pair of V-8's and that thing would fly! Keep us informed on her progress. ------------- "Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman" |
Posted By: GottaSki
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 12:17pm
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Neat project! Are those 60 degree engines? Buicks? I concur, that exhaust solution needs some pondering ------------- "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing." River Rat to Mole |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 12:42pm
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These are Chevy 3.8 (229) 90 degree engines. From what I can find, these are the approximate specs: 110 hp (82 kW) at 4,200 rpm 170 lb·ft (230 N·m) at 2,000 rpm 3.736 x 3.48 inches 8.60:1 ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 12:50pm
I am keeping the original Fish Nautique for now at least. I may sell it after this one is finished to recover some of my restoration costs on this one. ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Morfoot wrote:Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 1:21pm
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One thing you might want to look into is to see if the marine parts from those engines will let you use a 4.3 Chevy V6 block,some are rated at around 200hp and are used to replace 302 Fords. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 1:28pm
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Interesting. I'll look into that! ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 1:44pm
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Jeff, Are the original engines counter rotating? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 1:47pm
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Yes ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 1:55pm
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I was curious so I just did a on line search for 4.3 marine engines. LOTS comes up including RR. LOTS of remans too. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Dreaming
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 2:40pm
| If that tank system is new, it seems like you might be able to put a divider in the center of the tank, effectively making it two tanks. Then plumb a fuel pickup, Fuel level indicator and a fill and a vent on each side, voila, separate tanks, and no real re-design of the existing space. super cool project! . |
Posted By: GottaSki
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 3:03pm
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I think we're all living vicariously through Jeff... effit, twin LM4's! ------------- "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing." River Rat to Mole |
Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 3:11pm
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/boa/d/twin-jet-boat-for-sale-ft/6216050019.html" rel="nofollow - http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/boa/d/twin-jet-boat-for-sale-ft/6216050019.html ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
Posted By: stepper459
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 3:12pm
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Jeff, I've been following this on PN too, and this is such a cool find. I can't wait to see it all come together, looks like a fantastic starting point. In the Supra (boat) world, there was a guy with an Allegro, which was a VERY limited production cuddy cabin 20' inboard direct drive, like, maybe as few as 10 ever made. He searched for this boat for years, having spent time on one as a kid, and he finally found one - it turned out to be the actual boat from his childhood. Sadly, it burned up in a forest fire maybe as recently as last year, so he's back on the hunt again. This seems like a similar needle-in-a-haystack find, and I'm sure you will take good care of it. Congrats. |
Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 3:29pm
Pretty cool boat. As a former Supra owner, I paid a little bit of attention, but never saw or heard of the Allegro. ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 4:06pm
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I had no idea Supra made a boat like that. Very cool! I wonder how big of a tank would fit in the center section in front of my 4" bulkhead...  ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: Fabcon
Date Posted: July-20-2017 at 8:57pm
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Nice start to a great boat ------------- 1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1984 Barefoot Nautique (Parting Out) |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: August-04-2017 at 1:26am
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Well, I have some good news. After filling the plug holes with PB Blaster for a couple of days, the port engine now turns freely! I haven't tried to start it or anything, but I'll count this as a win for now! Hopefully the starboard engine will free up soon as well. We'll see!  ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: stepper459
Date Posted: August-04-2017 at 12:23pm
| That's great news! I saw your other Fish Nautique is up on ebay... |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-04-2017 at 1:00pm
Jeff, Maybe if you used some decent penetrating oil on the other engine, it would take less than a couple days to free up!  Here are the statistics:
------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: August-04-2017 at 1:20pm
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Intersting. I had always heard PB Blaster was the best thing to use. Thanks for posting! If it doesn't free up today or tomorrow, I will move to something stronger from the list! ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-04-2017 at 1:44pm
Anything seems good if the person using the product hasn't tried something better. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Jonny Quest
Date Posted: August-04-2017 at 5:00pm
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+1 for 50/50 ATF and acetone. Great stuff. Similar product is "Ed's Red". I use this for gun cleaning and other similar uses: Ed's Red Bore Cleaner 1 part ATF 1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1 1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits or may substitute "Stoddard Solvent" 1 part Acetone (Optional up to 1 lb. of Lanolin, Anhydrous, USP per gallon,) ------------- Current 2003 Ski Nautique 206 Limited Previous 2001 Ski Nautique Open Bow 1994 Ski Nautique Open Bow Aqua skiing, ergo sum |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: August-05-2017 at 8:25pm
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Both engines now turn freely! I was going to order some Kano Kroil tomorrow, but with Reid's help, we got the second engine turning today. Very happy! ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: August-18-2017 at 2:34pm
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Ok, the twin-engine Fish Nautique is going to http://www.northlakefiberglass.com" rel="nofollow - North Lake Fiberglass on Monday to start the fiberglass and gelcoat work! I just finalized a deal to pick up another Fish Nautique hull, and we're going to take the front floor section from that boat (from the front of the center console to the front of the boat) and install it in the twin-engine. I'm doing this because the bare hull I just bought has the front bench seats and the proper hatches, and that will make the twin-engine way more passenger-friendly. It will also give it more of a factory look (although the front benches didn't start until '86 or '87 and mine is an '81). I may also pull the top deck off of the bare hull boat and install that on the twin-engine, since the deck on the twin-engine is pretty messed up. Won't be long now until I can start posting some progress pictures! Here's the bare hull FN I just bought.   ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: woodyelc
Date Posted: August-19-2017 at 2:05pm
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Morning. Is the BIA plate still on this on. Need it to make a copy for a customer. Please let me know. Thanks. Woody ------------- woodyelc |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: September-06-2017 at 11:30pm
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@woodyelc I forgot to check on this. I will try to check tomorrow. Here's an update on what's happening with this boat right now. The boat is at North Lake Fiberglass right now, having the floor built and installed, and the exterior gelcoat refinished. A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a donor Fish Nautique from Cape Cod. The donor (pictured in the post two up from this one) is a 1986, so it has the seating/storage compartments molded into the front floor section. That's a major upgrade over the earlier Fish Nautiques, which had simple, flat front floors with no seating or storage at all. The donor boat also has a top deck cap that is in better shape than the one on the twin-engine, so we may end up switching that over as well. The front floor section (from the engine opening forward) was removed from the donor boat today, and it is ready to install into the twin-engine.  The rear floor section will be custom-built and completely removable. That way we can get to the gas tank, shafts, rudders, exhaust, etc. when necessary. Things are progressing well! Can't wait to get it finished up! ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: September-08-2017 at 6:11pm
Got the front floor section placed today. Also had a little test buffing done. Looking good so far!  ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: Donald80SN
Date Posted: September-08-2017 at 10:31pm
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Jeff, WOW !!!!!!!! That Blue looks great !!!!!!! Out of the box thinking on this one. Should be great. Donald ------------- 1980 Ski Nautique SOLD Back to Cypress Gardens 2002 Sport Nautique, GT-40, FCT2, Cover Sports, Tower Bimini, Inc., Wet Sounds Audio System, Star Gazer Wake Edition S. 1968 Ski Nautique, Project. |
Posted By: NautiqueJeff
Date Posted: September-18-2017 at 11:25pm
The rear floor section is going in today and tomorrow. Very happy with how it is turning out.   ------------- Current Boats: 1998 Ski Nautique, 2000 Sport Nautique, 1985 Sea Nautique 2700 (twin-engine), 1981 Fish Nautique (twin-engine), 1980 Fish Nautique (twin-engine) |
Posted By: fanofccfan
Date Posted: September-19-2017 at 12:24am
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That looks great! Love the blue! ------------- 2004 196 LE Ski 1969 Marauder 19 1978 Ski |
Posted By: Morfoot
Date Posted: September-19-2017 at 8:13am
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Looking Good Jeffro....keep up the good work and the updates. ------------- "Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman" |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: September-20-2017 at 12:49pm
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Enjoying the thread, would love to have a twin engine 23' hull some day. I'll be very interested in your performance results with the old V6's, whether they get it on plane into the high 20's with some decent efficiency or not. VERY cool boat!!! ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: skwatr
Date Posted: January-02-2018 at 11:23pm
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Your my hero. This is amazing! |
Posted By: skutsch
Date Posted: January-03-2018 at 9:42pm
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love the Fish ------------- Our http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4669" rel="nofollow - 98 Sport Nautique My Dad's 63 Ski N |