1981 Sea Nautique Re-power

Hi Jon and welcome to the site.

We'd love to see pics of that boat. It's a rare one here. I'm sure most users here would suggest you stick with the inboard and get that working properly. Do you know the status of the engine?

Let's see what this beast looks like!

Wow, Tim. I thought I've been through all of the brochures several times, and don't remember seeing that 27-footer.

How cool is that canvas on the front of the 23-footer...

My kids used to call a cuddy the "basement" of the boat. They'd probably call that a fort.

Thanks for the responses everyone! I'm still figuring this site out, and having some trouble adding photos.
As I was dismantling the boat last year, I was impressed by the simplicity of the straight shaft and cable steering system, and even a bit guilty of removing it. I'm aways into making things as simple as can be, with the least amount of moving parts and rubber seals.
I am a commercial tour boat captain on the Na Pali coast during the summer months. One of the boats I run is a 32' 8 ton power cat with twin volvo diesel inboards with outdrives. The other is a much lighter 22' Corsair Foiler with twin 90 hp Honda outboards. The bigger boat stays in the water in a bay all summer long( except for maintainence or emergency pull-outs), while the smaller boat can be launched and retrieved daily out of a river. Where I live on the island, boaters are supplied with next to nothing. I have been taught launching and retrieving boats in a river sandbar that changes daily. All of our ocean access points on the North shore are either through rivers or over faint channels in shallow reefs. Other parts of the island have real launches and harbors, but that can be an hour+ drive. I will drive there when the bite is on that side, but I need a vessel that can work in any launch so I can follow the fish.
The conditions over here can be very demanding. While a lot of people envision fishing in Hawaii like the "Kona" Marlin tournaments or something, Kaua'i is nothing but exposed open ocean, fresh trade winds, and constant ground swells. I've done enough commercial boating to not feel comfortable with only one engine, so twin outboards is a necessity.
I have undertaken a pretty serious project, but I'm already well on the way. If It turns out I don't like the boat....
I guess It'll go on craigslist! I hope not...
There are many design qualities of this hull that I admire, and then there are also many corners that have been cut as well. The wooden stickers placed beneath the deck on top of the poured foam was pretty bizarre. SInce the boat sat for so long they had composted completely. I cut out the walls of the bilge with a grinder, then with my chainsaw I cut the foam straight across towards the hull about 4" below the deck. Then used a crowbar to pull it all out till I had exposed the inside of the hull on both sides the full length of the open bilge.
I'm not trying to go to the boat show or nothing, I just want this boat to be strong enough to handle the water over here, at least long enough to get some blood on the deck, and I'll sell it if I'm not stoked on it.

Thanks for the link, Jeff. That looks like a lot of power! I wonder where he placed his fuel tank. Looks like he may have modified the transom for the conversion, and it looks like he lowered his deck a few inches, at least from what mine looks like. I think i need to create a site of my project photos and post a link. Any suggestions? I'm not too computer savvy.

Wow this is going to be quite a project, will be cool to see the end project.

Well, I had some issues with Photobucket. I have very little patience for computers, and I have a pretty weak internet connection. Sorry they're not really chronologically organized. Hope you enjoy!

http://s72.photobucket.com/user/Nautikai/library/?sort=6&page=1

Very cool Jon. Here's the fixed link for individual pics. Here's the slideshow.

It would be a shame to make that an outboard, but I understand it does make sense for you. That thing cleaned up real nice and the gel looks to be in great shape. Interesting that the decals said "Fish Nautique".

You guys certainly have the right equipment for lifting the boat and engine! That would have saved me about 2 days of work with my San Juan.

You should try to contact that guy from the HullTruth forums to find out how he did it and some do's and don'ts.

My wife and I were on the Na Pali coast in 2001. We loved it and enjoyed some of the treacherous hikes.

Post some pictures of the river you launch in too! That sounds really cool.

There is a lot of knowledge on this site to help you with your project.