Restoring 2001 SAN & Trailer

[brit_hunsicker]

Did you weld the trailer to the truck? Just kidding!

That picture can be used for many comments. Like...my wife hates trying to back the truck up to the trailer when I'm not around, so I welded them together to help her.

In all seriousness, as the owner of an all red 2003 Nautique, your work looks amazing.

Yes this would certainly be a good candidate for a caption contest!!

And thanks everybody for the positive feedback!


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[brit_hunsicker]

Just when you think all your hard work has finally paid off over the winter, you get a reality check. Come to find out, the V-Drive has a crack in it and the oil was milky rust. I'm just the genius who forgot to check the oil until I had the whole boat put back together and on the water twice. I think what happen is the cooling chamber froze in the V-Drive late in the year when I had the boat on a lift till early December when I was repainting the trailer.

Long story short, I checked the oil last night and it sounded like I was pulling the dipstick out of sand. Not a good feeling. Here are some pictures to show what fun I had last night.
These 2 pictures were taken about a month ago when I had first seen the crack in the top cover of the cooling chamber. Me being me I didn't want to think too much of it because I could see the lake off in the distance I was rounding the corner to make it there. I assumed it would be an easy call to Walter (company who makes this V-Drive) and I could order a new top cover. Boy was I wrong. These two photos were taken last night at 9 pm shortly after I had pulled the dipstick to see the lovely milky rust. You can see the top cover actually clean split once I loosened the 6 bolts on top. At this point I was thinking, well I've torn this apart once, I bet I can do it record time now. First I have to siphon out all 39 gallons, since I so conveniently filled it up Thursday after my evening wakeboard run. And finally at 12:30 in the morning I got it pulled out. Hoping to get it shipped to Walter early this week and maybe have it back by the first of May.


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[Jholly87]

Man that sucks. My Vdrive top cover was cracked also from poor winterization I assume. I bought a 96 super sport flood victim and trying to get it ready for the upcoming season. I had a local shop make me a new cover. Now you got me worried that it might have internal an internal crack also. I'll have to keep a close eye on it and make sure level doesn't rise or get milky. Were you able to see a crack in the bottom of the cooling reservoir?

[brit_hunsicker]

Man that sucks. My Vdrive top cover was cracked also from poor winterization I assume. I bought a 96 super sport flood victim and trying to get it ready for the upcoming season. I had a local shop make me a new cover. Now you got me worried that it might have internal an internal crack also. I'll have to keep a close eye on it and make sure level doesn't rise or get milky. Were you able to see a crack in the bottom of the cooling reservoir?

I didn't see any visible crack in it other than just the cover. I didn't get too in depth searching for the crack but it could have also been a crack or pin holes in the copper coil.

[brit_hunsicker]

Pulled the bottom cover off the main case before I sent it off to Walter. Gears looked to be in good shape. No rust or scars. Now it's just a waiting game to see what Walter has to say. They did tell me that their turn around time is 7 to 10 business days from when they receive it...so that's not bad in my opinion.



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[xlair]

Nice box! Haha


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[mgs917]

Did you get the V drive back yet? Any update? Your boat looks amazing. You seem like a very determined and skilled individual. I would probably be crying in the corner if I had that happen after all the hard work. Hope it all works out for you.

[4th ski-doo]

That's some awesome work! Winterizing scares me every year, my stomach flips until I start it each spring

[brit_hunsicker]

Did you get the V drive back yet? Any update? Your boat looks amazing. You seem like a very determined and skilled individual. I would probably be crying in the corner if I had that happen after all the hard work. Hope it all works out for you.

Yes I have gotten it back in! I was in Florida while the v drive was getting rebuilt so I wasn't pacing back and forth waiting luckily! I got the v drive back in about 3 weeks ago and just finally got the time to align the prop shaft and water test it last weekend. Runs great! Now just time to put all the interior back together!
Thanks for the kind words! In high school I was the kid that was anal about his truck and used and abused my dads old late 80s Prostar. Now it has turned around completely. I put 10 times as much money into my boats as I have my truck. After people saw what I did with my last boat, a 98 Air Nautique that I gutted and pretty much did this same thing to, they saw this boat when I bought it and rolled their eyes. They laughed and said what are you gonna do now, this boat is too nice to tear apart! Boy did I prove them wrong. It gets expensive when you are anal about how your boat looks, but I have learned that your labor is worth something when you go to sell it. Much more so than a vehicle it seems.
Here are some pictures up to the current form.
V drive is back in
On the lake for the water test

[Beg4wake]

Looks great man! Well done!! One day I'm going to buy me a project boat just like this to restore and sit next to my G!

[prorider17]

brit_hunsicker - Your boat and the work you've put into it are impressive.. You need to call me when you decide to sell it

[brit_hunsicker]

brit_hunsicker - Your boat and the work you've put into it are impressive.. You need to call me when you decide to sell it

I've tossed the idea around but can't bring myself to put it up for sale yet! This weekend I finally got the wake dialed in perfect and love it just as much as the new boats. I'd probably be set on keeping it for a long time if I go ahead and plumb my extra bags. That and not having the new style surf options are the only things that annoy me. But I also can't bring myself to spend 70k plus on a boat. That's what friends are for �


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[Joe LoCascio]

Mind if I ask what Walter charged you for the rebuild? Nautiques of Orlando just pulled mine out of my '96 NSS because it was clicking when in drive and said the gears broke so they are looking for a used or rebuilt one for me and I'm trying not to get boned no the price. Seems nearly impossible that those gears would break but it could be because the last shop (who screwed me on everything else so I should have checked) left it without oil. I kind of wish I had pulled it out myself but I was worried about drive shaft alignment.

[Joe LoCascio]

I found a new old stock unit in Orlando, RV-26D. $1,100 plus shipping which is $2-300 depending on where you are. Try the Orlando craigslist or let me know and I can give you the guys phone number. Rick was great to deal with.

[brit_hunsicker]

Hey sorry for the delay in reply, haven't been on here quite some time. I'd have to look back at receipts to know exactly what I paid but I'm thinking that new $1,100 unit sounds like a good deal. I'm sure you've already got your project done by now but if you'd still like to know what I paid I'm sure I can dig up the receipt.