Supra Saltare project, very long read with lots of pictures.

[Commodore]

As many of you know, I'm a Supra guy only. I will only rock Supras, and even then it will most likely be the old ones only. I grew up on an 89 comp, had a 90 Mariah, and just acquired in May a 90 Saltare. The big boy, the biggest old school Supra out there. 24', deep as hell, and a big block 454 powering it.

Well I have been on the look out for a Saltare for a while. I recently sold my Mariah to a guy on my local lake. So nice to see that beauty crusing around, and still hearing people compliment it.

So the search began, and after quite a few deals fell through I stumbled across this one, in a barn. Yep, barn find.

But here's the best part. I was the 3rd or 4th person to ski behind this boat when it was brand new. It was a family friend's boat. They had enjoyed our Comp so much they went and got a Supra as well. This was it. A boat I had enjoyed in my childhood was staring me in the face.

It was a great find. Myself and the owner's who we are still good friends with worked out a deal, and the boat was mine. They were actually excited because they knew their old boat was going to be restored to it's original beauty.

The reality was though, it was in terrible shape. And they knew it. It had been very neglected for the past 21 years. Here it is when I bought it.









Tape
deck, oh yeaahhhhh







So I get the boat back to my shop, and begin the process. First things first, get it running.
Well that would require a new starter, coil, plugs, wires, cap, batteries, and I had to rebuild the carb. After toiling with all that and getting it dialed in, she fired up and sounded soooooo nice.

[Commodore]

Okay, so here's where I'm at. I finally got the motor issues all fixed. Now it fires right on the first crank, and runs like a champ. Sounds soooooooo sexy. I just love that rumble!

What I've done to it is a moderate overhaul. This winter it will get the full "Haugy" treatment. But seeing as it's summer I want to be on the water. As many of you know the boat was in awful condition when I bought it. Yes we've seen worse, but those full rebuilds from the start. I'm trying to save before rebuild.

The interior was beyond nasty. The seats did not want to come clean at all. I tried Exquisite, and after 10 minutes, put the 3/4 used bottle on the shelf, and there it still sits. It didn't even phase the grime. Water was more effective.

So I mixed up my specially formulated highly sought after mix of super uber-cleaning spray.
And it worked like always, I'm going to have to patent this stuff. After I got the vinyl clean, all I could do to the carpet was vacuum the hell out of it. The carpet is being replaced next year.

Now came the gelcoat/paint. All of the boat is original gelcoat EXCEPT the giant black stripe down the middle of the boat. That is paint. Now what the pictures don't show is that the boat was actually yellow, not white. I purposefully cleaned off one section with wet sand, polish, etc. And next to the untouched section it looked like a yellow notepad sitting next to a white one. I was amazed at how bad it really was.

So I've wetsanded and wetsanded, and wetsanded some more. Then polished, and polished, and polished some more. The black paint stripe hasn't been wetsanded yet. It has a small hint of orange peel and it will be getting wetsanded this winter when I can take my time.

The bottom is in need of some serious work as it's so oxidized it's like dragging your hand across 2000 grit sandpaper.

So I've cleaned up the interior, and here's where it's at now.







Now, onto the trailer. This thing was shot to stuff. The bunks were uncovered from the carpet rotting off, and the wood was cracking from dryrot. I was waiting for the boat to go through the wood into the steel.

Not on my watch.

Here is the trailer:






So this past weekend I decided to overhaul the trailer. In 48 hours.

I put the boat at the In-laws dock, and started to bust my hump. I spent all day Saturday grinding off the old paint, or rust as it covered 50% of the trailer. Once I got it all grinded off, it was 10pm Saturday night, I was exhausted, and I looked like a chimmney sweep.

Sunday up at 5am, start working on the trailer again.

Now here is the catch. I'm very detailed, most would use the term "anal". If I'm going to do something, I plan on doing it overly right. But alas, time would not allow me to do that this time. I didn't have time to sand the trailer again to the grit I desired to give it a smooth finish. So I started priming the trailer.

Here is before primer:






So here it is with primer on it, you'll notice I did not remove the side fender boards. Due to time, I left them on during this process. Since I can take them off anytime, they will be addressed this week at a more relaxed pace.

Primer:





Now came to the paint. I used a thick enamel since it will be more durable. It does take longer to dry, but at 95 degrees in the shade, I knew the sun would cook it dry quickly. And it did.

To note, when looking at the pictures of the primer you will see some thin spots with little primer. With me going to black again, not a different color, with the sanding, and a thin coat of primer I didn't need to layer it on thick in certain areas. I only did on the sides to try and fill in as much as I could from sanding.

I sprayed with black high gloss rustoleum. I couldn't use an HVLP gun because I don't have the compressor for it, yet. So a nice cheap rattlecan job will do.





While I let the paint dry in the sun, I started covering my bunks. Now as I stated before, I overdo things, alot. So instead of just using wood and thin carpet to protect the boat, I added something extra. I bought rubber anti-fatigue matting at Lowes and cut it into strips. I then laid them along the bunks with enough overhang on the sides to allow me to staple down the sides to the wood. Creating a nice rubbery soft bunk. I then covered that with the new black marine trailer carpet.

Used new hardware to secure it down, and when it's all said and done, here is the result.

I will be putting Supra Decals on it, and Supra guide pole covers to really round out the look. It's getting a new black winch, and trailer coupler jack. I'm also going to get new wheels for it in the winter.

Ignore the scum line on the boat, it had been in the water for two days, and I was too tired to wipe it down when I pulled it.





And here she is out on the water.

[Broccoli B]

Your shoulders soar?

I've been poliching and waxing an old mustang and my shoulders are dying.

Please patent you interior cleaning recipe so that i can buy a bottle of it.

Boat and trailer look fantastic.

[vette74]

Nice work man! It has really come along.

[Nor*Cal]

If this is just the preliminary treatment I cannot wait to see the full Haugy treatment. Looks sharp. What are your future plans after a few months of enjoyment?

[97Crownie202]

That cleaned up very nice. I got to do the same with an old tri-hull I learned to ski behind when I was a kid. Rebuilt it up and sold it.

So what is in the vinyl treatment bottle?

[Tracktor]

For cleaning just go to the Dollar Store & buy Totally Awesome cleaner. Clear bottle/yellow cleaner. Nothing even comes close for every type of cleaning.

Great job, boat looks great. I dig bringing stuff back from the dead it gives one a sense of accomplishment.......

[anw7405]

Wow! You should have your own business doing this. Awsome looking boat. Did you keep the tape deck? haha

[boardordie]

OOOHHHHH!! AAAAHHHH! That shor iz Purty!

Awesome job. Like others posted above, can't wait to see the finished "Haugy" treatment.

[gswake]

haugy, that upholstery looks fantastic. You really should sell that stuff.

All around nice looking job. Can't wait to see what you do to it over the winter.

[slidin_out]

where do i send money for a bottle of that secret upholstery elixir you brew up?

[ridininmd]

Looks good man, nice work

[Commodore]

Thanks everyone. The cleaner is a combination of things already available. But if used alone won't do anything or will hurt the vinyl. But mixed properly you get those results without damaging the vinyl or the stitches holding it together. I really am looking to figure out a way to patent it.

Some of the winter projects will new carpet, LED's, underwater LED's, Polished way more than it is now. LED trailer with landing lights, and one more major overhaul.

Nor*Cal, if the funds allow this winter, it will be a feat to be remembered. But diapers come before boats now. So I'll just have to play this one by ear.

anw7405, I wanted to keep the tape deck, but couldn't find my old tapes. How hilarious would it be to be rocking some Def Leopard, and be like "Hey you wanna hear the next song? Hold on *presses fast forward button repeatedly trying to find song*. " But I swapped it out for an Alpine unit.

[jjaszkow]

haugy, that looks great! Can't wait to see the total treatment.

[kartman]

great job. im trying to sell my current boat to grab a saltare. im jealous! cant wait to see it done completely

[Chad H]

haugy,

One more "DAMN SON"

That looks fantastic. I'm jealous of your skills.

[SilverMustang35]

Haugy! Great job and thats amazing that this is just the rush haugy job. Those boats look sharp and glad to see its in your hands instead of wasting away in a barn.

[Okie Boarder]

haugy...looking good. You are really improving her and bringing her back to her glory days. Keep it up!

[Wakebrad]

Wow, that's really impressive. That is already a great looking boat for its age. Tower looks made-to-fit.

[eeven73]

Dual Captain's Chair...FTW.

Get some wake shots up.

Really go all out and turn her into a v-drive.
http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=84377&highlight=ski+nautique+vdrive

[Commodore]

eeven73, the captain's chair is actually a lose for me. Too small for two. And me and my wife are skinny. Too big so it blocks walking through easily. It will be replaced with a single seat with telescopic seat that goes up/down, forward/back, and swivels.


And.......

[vette74]

I agree with the captains chair. Mine was good if my son was sitting next to me other than that it too big. Very interested in the next few months of updates.

[Tracktor]

[boardordie]

[jjaszkow]

[Commodore]

Tracktor, I will. I've got the layout already planned. I'll get some pics and part numbers when I do the build. But not until Fall.

boardordie,

Like I said, Diapers first. So we'll see how things flow.

[jjaszkow]

haugy, I'd be interested in how you are doing the telescoping bit as well. Our seat currently moves forward and back and swivels, but while the bolster works for me, it sits too low for my wife's liking when she's driving/

[Commodore]

jjaszkow, what kind of seat mount is it currently?

[jjaszkow]

haugy, I'll have to look at it closer, but it's whatever the stock Axis seat uses.

P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack.

[Nor*Cal]

haugy, you have me inspired.

[Commodore]

jjaszkow, is it a pedastal on a pole? Or a square floor mount? And it's no hijack. This thread was just to show some people a current project and it's path to resurrection.
If it goes somewhere that helps others, so be it.



Nor*Cal, And what will you do with this inspiration? Keaton?

[kartman]

[Nor*Cal]

Yup, it is in the driveway.

[dbismyname]

I'm so bummed you sold your boat this year, as soon as I saw it on CL I knew it was yours. If you would have been selling next year it would have ended up in my driveway, but oh well, other boats will be out there. This project is gonna be ridiculous, can't wait to see the finished product.

[Commodore]