New project boat -1986 Ski Nautique

[Tim Hancock]

Just found a video on Youtube that shows the likely problem with my transmission not working in reverse. Probably will find I only need a couple new clutch plates and some new return springs.



I found the new spring kits and clutch plates and seal kits on Ebay. Should be only a couple hundred bucks and boat will be usable again. Previous owner thought transmission needed to be replaced. I am pretty sure I will fix it easily.

[JeremyD]

I had Velvet drives on my last Bertram - Pretty simple transmissions - but yes don't slam them from Forward to Reverse - don't have your engine idle speed to high. Change your transmission fluid consistently. While you have the transmission out - I'd install a drain extension so you can pump them clean - makes it easier to change in the future.

[Tim Hancock]

Got engine partially lifted/rotated up and trans ready to remove. Tomorrow after work I can hopefully get it out on the workbench for disassembly. Used one arm of my two post lift to lift the rear of the engine.... East peasy.

[1990C4S]

I'm hoping this turns into a terribly difficult, prolonged, and expensive repair. I don't need to see a result that emboldens me to take on a similar boat project.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Boat;
Break Out Another Thousand

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by 3rd_gear_Ted

Boat;
Break Out Another Thousand

Not for me.... I have not spent any money other than oil and a new battery for our current boat I restored about 7 years ago.

This new boat other than the transmission I will repair myself needs nothing mechanically. Of coarse the cosmetic restoration will cost me a bit for the upholstery especially.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Same here. I DIY and have made money on all three boats I have sold so far because it’s really hard to find a nice one.

[Tim Hancock]

He shoots.... He scores!

Pulled the tranny out last night and split the case... Found the 2 reverse clutch plates broken along with the mangled 12 return springs.

Replacement parts will total about $100. I will flush /clean everything tonight, buy the new parts and finally get to try this thing out. This is turning out to be a great deal.

[unclebilly]

Awesome!

[rfuerst911sc]

Sweet !

[onewhippedpuppy]

Nice! You’ll get her on the water before winter.

[KFC911]

WTB: Anything Tim has ever restored

....except fiddles

[Tim Hancock]

Just found a shop that rebuilds these transmissions in Port Clinton, Ohio that is about 50 miles away as the crow flies and they are real close to an airport. Instead of ordering parts online, I am going to fly over there tomorrow morning and pick up the parts in person. It is only about a 30 minute flight. Will cost me a few more bucks vs ordering online but I will have the boat ready to try out yet this weekend vs waiting for UPS next week.

[Tim Hancock]

Flew over to Port Clinton and picked up my parts this morning. Nice shop that specializes in marine engines and transmissions. Turns out an old college buddy was nearby at his yacht club and he picked me up to have coffee on his boat then ran me to pick up my parts then back to my airplane. Beautiful 70 degree morning and a quick 25 minute flight home.

Just started reassembly.... Should be back in the boat tonight.

[flipper35]

The more you fly, the less cost per hour the annual is right?

[juanbenae]

cool new shirt!

[speeder]

I grew up in lake country and water skied a bit behind other people's boats. My cousin had a nice boat on Minnetonka, the big lake near Minneapolis that I used to borrow but I cannot remember what the brand was. I definitely remember skinny dipping with the girls we brought out there.

My powerboat knowledge is weak, so here's a dumb question I've always been meaning to ask someone; does the inboard engine just use unfiltered lake water to cool it and do they use the velocity of the boat to force it through or do they still have a water pump like an automotive arrangement? I guess they would have to in order to cool when standing still(?)

My experience is limited to outboard engines. Those definitely just pump lake water through. I for the life of me cannot figure out how this works in salt water...doesn't everything just start corroding internally on day one?

Sorry for the highjack but I figure this thread is the place to get answers. Very cool boat, Ski Nautique was just the gold standard back in the day. Maybe still is? Does it have the big roll bar deal with the tow line attached to the top of it so the skier can get alongside the boat?

[rwest]

Since Denis started it...

Could you explain the transmission and how it works? I know nothing about boat or automatic transmissions. How many gears and how are they selected, or is it one forward gear and a reverse, maybe a hydromatic type?

Good score on the boat.

[onewhippedpuppy]

For cooling, most boats have a raw water pump that sucks lake water out of the lake, which then feeds the engine cooling system water pump just like a car would have. After the lake water is circulated through the engine it dumps overboard. So basically the lake is your radiator. But as you expected this gets really corrosive in salt water, most boats have a hose connection so you can flush out the salt water with fresh water when you’re done. There are also boats that have a closed cooling system and radiator like a car, but they aren’t as common.

[speeder]

Thanks. On the one hand, a constant supply of cool lake water would do an awesome job of cooling just about anything but some of the lakes I’ve been on are not the cleanest with algae, other organic pollutants and whatever else has wound up in them. Not exactly what you want running through your engine.

To be fair, some of the lakes in Wisconsin are as clean as drinking water.

Depending on water temperature, it seems like it might cool *too well* considering that our land vehicles are cooled with liquid that could give you a 3rd degree burn. Do they run thermostats?