1989 Saltare - My god Spock, what have I done???

[sybrmike]

Hi all,

First, I'm not a Trekkie - but I think I know how Capt Kirk was feeling now that I've brought my new (old) boat home. Mixed feelings of joy and dread of the work to come.

Second, thanks to all the members here. Your knowledge and shared experience has been invaluable in my quest for an open bow, inboard, ski boat for the family.

Well, partially due to a drastic price drop resulting from the "test drive from he!!" (more on that in a later post) - I just trailered home my new (old) boat. She was advertised as a white and dark blue 23' Mariah. Well, that didn't quite jive but the price was worth checking out. Nope, she's a Saltare all right and I'm convinced the oxidation is hiding light grey and black (well as black as old gelcoat will stay). Hull's in mostly good shape with some typical dock rash and dings in places (needs gelcoat touch up, sand, polish, wax, & maybe new rubrail). Interior is completely shot, but looks like most of the trim & little pieces are there. Tandem axle VIP trailer in good shape with some surface rust (need new fenders, bunks, paint, & surge brakes repaired). 454 engine pulled strong all the way to 4300 rpm, no hesitation, no smoke, etc. Only half the gauges work (oil, water, volt, tach). New resin coated plywood has been put down over the old floor (ouch!).

But the two best parts are that all the engine and tranny mounts are rust free and tight into good wood AND SHE'S ALL MINE NOW!

I know I'll be back begging for more help and info as I bring her back into shape for next spring - Service & Repair Forum here I come... I only hope that I can help others as you have already (albeit unwittingly) helped me. I'll try to post pics along the way, but please be patient as I already have a real job, family, life, etc. Sure honey, go & buy that old boat you've always wanted - What have I done??? Thanks again (I think?)

[Salty87]

welcome to the site...er, club

i can't remember having seen a black saltare, looks pretty good. they're great boats, you'll get her whipped into shape.

[sybrmike]

Don't ever remember any old black Supras either, but no so-dark-blue-you-think-its-black either. I took her over to a fiberglass shop to see what they could do with some of the gelcoat dings & they think it's just really faded oxidized black, but that old black gelcoat was never a true black. Oh well, a little wet sanding & polish & she'll be what she'll be.

They gave me a reasonable price to match and fix the gel coat dings inside and out (if I remove all the hardware, railing, etc. - which I planned on doing anyway). Plus they'll put her in a sling to get to the underside (some keel and bunker rash) & I can have the trailer to make repairs while empty.

First things first though, gotta clean out room in the garage so I can start working on her.

[Okie Boarder]

Nice find. Like Salty said, welcome...you'll get her looking the way you want. Just takes time and money.

[sybrmike]

Thanks Okie,

Time & money? That's all? I've started a spreadsheet to budget both (anal retentive engineer that I am - thankfully no, not my job description - just a personality trait). Already up to 5 worksheets with 20+ line items each. Gonna be a busy and expensive winter. At least I'll be easy to shop for at Christmas. Fortunately the family is onboard (the wife gets her patio deck surfaced in trade, the 14 year old thinks wakesurfing is "cool", & the 10 year old has offered to help wetsand).

The floor and stringers are the great unknown at this point (resin coated plywood over original floor - yuck). I only hope the tight motor & tranny bolts are a good omen. I don't have the real estate to do a coplete top cap removal job. Probably get it "good enough" until I see how amazing your subfloor ballast system works out (continued good luck!) - your and Salty's (plus numerous others') rebuild threads are truely inspiring.

[jasonba1]

great looking boat youll love it ...Trust me I know all about the time and MONEY I redid my whole boat last year but it was well worth it now I am going to sell it and abuse myself again and find another project ...sadly I enjoy it though and you will to.

[wotan2525]

I'm also in the "total rebuild" category. I tend to always be a nay-sayer but the outside of that boat shows a lot of promise. I'd like more details about the flapper setup -- It's still a mystery to me how to convert these over, but I'd love to do it.

I'm not sure how the interior gets that far gone without effecting the stringers/floor. I've got my fingers crossed for you!!

[Blackntan90]

sybrmike, ours look like book ends... well maybe after she's cleaned up a bit?

[sydneyACE]

Mike, at least yours has all new stringers and floor. Mine just has the two main ones where the engine mounts replaced, the rest is still crap. Plus your gel-coat prob looks much better.

This is what I was thinking for chairs:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/SKLZ-Sport...r-DLX/14895573
seriously... They are pretty damn comfy. Just screw-em into the old plywood. The umbrellas will be nice on hot or rainy days... Just kidding bout the umbrellas, but serious about the chairs. Should be more comfy than milk crates and you could take-em out for when you sit on the beach. Heheheh!

I know how you feel about the sandblasting. I'm about over it. I still need to do the "new" engine though, and the trans... *sigh* Oh well, I'm getting there.

I'm thinking end of April, beginning of May-ish for my first In-water test too.
Just got my registration done yesterday, my boat is "18ft 10in" cause 19ft and up was like twice as much. You guys wont tattle on me will ya?

Think I'm gonna copy and paste this on my thread cause it's a pretty good progress update...

[sybrmike]

Finished rebuilding the mounts & installed on the engine. Think I've finally got all the parts to start reassembling the engine this week.

Just a few touch ups left on the hull, but my arms are calling it quits on sanding/compounding/polishing - gonna hafta be good enough. Actually I think it turned out really nice & will take pics next time I pull it out of the garage.

New rudder & housing assembly is installed. Had to move all the holes 1/4" outward in the pattern (it was surplus NOS from now defunct Gekko), but coated all the openings with CPES, filled with 5200, and tightened the bolts real good. My Supra may develop an identity crisis - Gekko rudder, Moomba gauges, Mastercraft steering wheel, etc...

Finally finished trimming the floor panels for good carpet seams and pull rings, only to find the last of my HHR contact cement had set up. Hafta wait for more adhesive before I can finish carpeting.

A constructive weekend - that is until I started to fasten the top cap. Things must have shifted during the stringer/floor rebuild because now only about half the screw & rivet holes line up. I started running screws from the rear along both sides & could only go about up to the helm. Pulled all the screws, shifted the cap rearward a tad & now only the middle half of the holes line up & I'm not sure I'll be able to close the slightly larger gap at the transom. The cap still fits fairly tight & uniformly around the hull, but it's as if the holes magically shifted. Any of you "cap-off" resto boys run into this? Solutions? Also, how much of a gap (if any) did you have between the bottom edge of the rubrail and hull? I think I'm going to screw into holes that align in the middle section & then drill new holes in the hull towards the bow & stern. May just have a little more silicone under the transom rubrail.