86 Ski Nautique Restoration (Part 4 Floors)

Tearing out the fiberglass and wood floors in the front and replacing with new marine grade plywood and fiberglass.
- Dremel Saw Blade: amzn.to/37HdkCQ
- Dremel Kit: amzn.to/2VT2t68
- Wire Brushes for Drill or Grinder (And don't follow my husband's poor example of safety! Wear safety glasses, long sleeves, and gloves! You are grinding fiberglass :) amzn.to/2Ui6vEE
- Fiberglass: amzn.to/2UgHhGL
- Fiberglass Tools: amzn.to/3CJOMHB
- Epoxy Resin: amzn.to/3AAytL6

[@shannonmccomas787]

Great video!

[@monoskier2112]

Don’t be so hard on yourself, you did a great job👍 These boats are awesome and yours is going to look great. Looking forward to the next video, take care dude😎🇨🇦🚤🛥🚢⛴🛳

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Thanks. Glad this was the first comment. Appreciate it!

[@francispalmer9737]

I have done boat work before and it ain't easy working in tight spaces so don't beat yourself up dude your doing a great job.

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Thanks. I just put carpet down over it. I’m actually really happy now with how it turned out now. Looks and feels great. Just seemed like it was getting away from me in the process.

[@duaineappleton4663]

I’m doing a 73 nautilus presently total floor restoration all foam out and all wood out

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Wow, good luck.

[@purse60]

Seeing the things that you learned is so helpful! Great video!

[@mikec.1331]

👍🏻 good job man! I like watching your videos because ive done exactly what you have but just didnt record it. I have a 90 ski nautique that was parked in the weeds for a few yrs before i bought it. It was pretty ruff shape but i brought it back to life! It makes you love and appreciate it more restoring it yourself rather than paying to have it done!

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Much appreciated!

[@johnjames77]

When mixing Polyester fiber glass resin it is best to use a quart mixing cup with an exact amount of resin in each batch and use a graduated cylinder to measure the catalyst. You want each batch to be exactly the same with about 2% never less than 1.5%. If it is colder 50 degrees weather you may want to use a slightly more catalyst but never more than 3%. It is best to use heaters not more catalyst .Never mix more than you know you can apply and work fast as possible.

[@scotthunt187]

I agree. As long as you check the stringers good, leave it. Thankfully my 98 SN is all composite and glass. The only thing I ever wonder about is how much water the fill foam has soaked up over the years. I hear over the years it can add a lot of weight. If my boat even has the foam fill in it lol. Good vid man. 👍

[@Malonesify]

I just purchased a 86 Nautique, think I am going to replace the carpet/floor as well, a super helpful video, nice work thanks!

[@jakewyler1945]

Looks like you did a good job for it being your first fiberglass project. Can’t wait to the next video!

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Thanks 👍

[@wraithconscience]

Fantastic series! Fiberglassing is not easy. It's tricky and messy. Good job! (Making' manly butt cracks great again!)

[@15EEK]

Mate, I'm a fan of your videos. Great job. A life hack for fibreglassing large areas is to lay out the mat and then apply the resin with a paint roller, then finish with the little metal roller. I'm certainly not picking on you, just trying to help save you some heartache 😊

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Yeah, I learned a lot doing it that first time. Would do a lot differently now that I’ve done it.

[@500ssrider22]

Great video! Very very helpful!

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

So glad!

[@ericwalsworth9740]

Hey it’s Wesley from school I just subscribed love ur channel

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Hey Wesley! Thanks for subscribing!

[@nautiquecowboynautiquecowb5317]

Great video thanks for bringing us along

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Glad you're enjoying it... cause these videos are a lot of work...

[@michellesoliz7800]

Love your videos! Anymore soon??

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Got tons of company for 4th of July week. Planning to do a lot on this boat in July, so I should be getting videos out more regularly. Appreciate the follow.

[@Malonesify]

started to rip up the carpet and notice how waterlogged the marine-grade plywood is, The board behind the engine was so heavy, so might now rip that out, I was wondering whats your thoughts are about using AZEK PVC sheets instead of the Marine grade plywood? Assume it's lighter and would only need to use fiberglass on any seams though I know there are really good bonding agents available for it as well. it would be great to hear your thoughts before I travel down this path.. thanks!

[@blake_nivelt_389]

Going to be doing this on my 1992 ski centurion falcon bow rider soon. I wanna replace all the carpet with sea deck and am very nervous about getting the floor mirror smooth for gel coat. Enjoyed your video. Did you do multiple layers or go over with weave anywhere?

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

That's what I was wanting to do with the next boat I restore. I've seen some really cool designs. After this smaller job, I'm not sure I'll be up for that project.

[@blake_nivelt_389]

@@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain it’s great we have dreams haha. Really enjoy your content btw, keep up the great work!

[@zeljko05]

How many layers of fiberglass did you lay down? Among to side hull did you overlap in anyway if multiple layers were put down?

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

I believe I put down two layers. I just took the fiberglass up the sides about 4-5 inches and blended it. Floor has been great so far.

[@bryanmyers9977]

More tips: 1 be sure to wear a good face mask while mixing the Cabosil. You really don't want that stuff in your lungs. 2 Roll up the wetted out fiberglass. You can unroll a little bit, squeegee it out, unroll more, squeegee et cetera. Folding faberglass breaks strands and weakens it. 3 You can put on layers of Nitrile gloves so that when the outer layer gets mucked up just quickly peel it off to a fresh layer underneath. Saves a lot of time while working quickly 4 have a metal paint tray with acetone in it for any tools that comes in a contact with the epoxy. Anything that gets wet just toss it into the acetone. You can wipe them off later. Chopstrand is really just for creating thickness. There's not a whole lot of structure benefit to it. Look for biaxle and S class for that. What do you did for a floor though should be fine. You were really just protecting it from water

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Thanks, I will definitely roll it up if I ever decide to do that again.

[@johnjames77]

Another good tip-When grinding FG where one of those Dupont Tyvek paper suits. They are hot in the summer but are warm in the winter and stop the glass from filling your skin.

[@abdusaid3527]

You are professional. How can I contact you in order to discuss the renewal of the 1986 boat.

[@professordogwood8985]

Do you have a video on replacing stringers on a boat like this? (I respect your judgment, it's just my own boat may need that replacement).

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

I do not. Given how much work that entails and how messy that process is, I would never buy a boat that requires that. If the boat is already yours and sentimental I know there are few good KZbin videos on it that I have watched in the past when considering it.

[@professordogwood8985]

@@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain Thank you. The boat is my dream on a budget. I wakeboarded as a kid behind a 4 cylinder runabout but now that I'm a bulky, ripped man, I bought an '86 Supra because I needed a v8 to pull me out of the water. I'd prefer something newer but by the time I have the money I'll be too old to wakeboard.

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

🤣 do it while you still can man. The more work you put into it the more special it will be.

[@douglasthompson2740]

I hope you didn't actually pay marine grade ply prices. On that one shot of your ply you had 'plugs' filling imperfections on the 'A' side. Something they do not do on marine grade and there should be at least seven layers in a piece of 3/4" with no voids. Also both sides will be 'A' rated. Looks like what you have is an ACX or an ABX (since I didn't see the bad side). Could also be a BCX but that is usually a special order. In some instances the 'bondo' used to fill imperfections in regular plywood interacts with epoxy and poly resins causing a bad reaction.

[@chrishassmann1433]

I know you are trying to be budget conscious, but did you consider SeaDek? (Or something similar?)

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Yes. Still consider doing that on one of our boats too. The biggest issue is the floor of these older boats. They aren't real conducive for SeaDek; not level, smoothe, etc. But I'd like to learn how to coat the floor to make it conducive sometime. If you are re-doing your boat for you and want to enjoy the SeaDek, it's worth the price. If you are re-doing your boat and want to make a little profit, I'm not sure you'd get your money out of it.

[@chrishassmann1433]

@@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain I agree. I might replace the carpet in my '02 Ski Nautique with SeaDek in a few years.

[@stevesnyder4172]

Just a note for you. Epoxy does not work well with American csm. CSM in America is bound with polyester which does not dissolve with epoxy which is why you had a tough time. Last, be aware that Polyestester does not bond well to epoxy. Great job though for your first time.

[@peterleiza4351]

What is csm?

[@ghiradelli777]

Are you from Indiana? I've got an 86 2001, that i wanna restore

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Yes, north of Indianpolis

[@ghiradelli777]

@@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain I'm about an hour west of Indy

[@brickmason4410]

Wet the stringer first let it get tacky then put your mat on them wet your mat.. also can to that on the deck boards...

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

Yes! Wish I would have understood that when I first started adding glass to the stringers.

[@brickmason4410]

@@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain I'm doing my 1980 stars and stripes floor now.. I watch your video series over and over.. that yellow nautique is sick and the video was great.. keep it up man.. I love old ski boats.. I've done three master craft stars boats 2- 1977's and 1980 ( currently) .. thanks for your time..

[@user-li8rr8uu7d]

Hilarious butt crack observation/lesson Lmao!!!

[@sandybaker6092]

I have an 89 Nautique. The floor is starting to get weak. Great video! Will watch the rest. How long did it take to replace the floor in man hours. If I decide to do this it will be a weekend project.

[@MakeSkiBoatsGreatAgain]

If you had everything you need, you could bang it out in a weekend.

[@vbealer32]

Shouldn’t do your fiberglass like that you’re just carrying around a big ass mess. Put your resin on where you’re gonna put your fiberglass mat then put your fiberglass mat on it and then add a top layer of resin to it by rolling it in otherwise you’re just making a freaking mess everywhere.

[@megankries9977]

Great video!!