New Project - Ski Brendella

[Mattraymond60]

First time posting on this particular forum. I have been hanging out on the Cobra outdrive forum while I get our Four Winns boat sorted out, not quite completely done with it yet but at least it is usable. But I have new much more ambitious project. Bought this at an estate sale for $300 so here we go!

It is a 1989 18' 10" Ski Brendella with a PMC drive and Ford 302 in it. The owner died a few years ago so I really don't know any history about it. Supposedly he was a championship skier and used it in his competitions. The last year it was registered was 2002 and has been sitting out uncovered since who knows when. Luckily the engine cover is intact and stayed in position.

Hull, drive, and engine seem to be decent but the interior is rotted out. So far it looks like the water didn't get into the foam compartments but I am going to cut the fiberglass deck out this weekend. All of the plywood was reduced to small slivers on the deck so there is no removing of that material, just sweeping it up and throwing it away.

Going to clean the exterior off real good this weekend also. Any good tips for getting all this junk off of it?

I plan on reading a lot more of this forum for education while I wade into this mess. One thing that seems to suck is that there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of info on these boats on the internet. If anyone knows of any good sites I would appreciate hearing where they are.

More news as it happens!

 

[Mattraymond60]

Re: New Project - Ski Brendella

Long time between posts but haven't had much time to work on this project this winter. Attached are some photos of where I am at with it now. Found out the stringers are completely rotted out so they will have to be changed out.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: New Project - Ski Brendella

Does it run? 1st things 1st! Read up on Frisco coaters threads pretty much a video bible on how to. Good luck and pst back.

 

[Mattraymond60]

Re: New Project - Ski Brendella

Frisco Boater does have a lot of good info, I will be reading all of his posts to learn as much as I can.

I am looking at this project as a learning experience since I got it so cheap. Obviously I don't want to just throw money away but I think that I can build it back up and still be able to recoup my money whenever I want to sell it on down the road. It is a hobby so my time is free, all I need to count on is the actual costs of whatever repairs need to be done. I am going to fire it up before I pull the engine out just to see where I am at with that. Everything turns over real nice, the oil looks good, there is no water in it to have frozen so we will see. It appears to have been winterized well before it went into storage although I bet they never considered that it would sit for 10 years when they did it. That will be a bonus if no major work is needed there.

As much as anything there don't seem to be very many of these around and I would rather keep something like this alive than add it to a landfill somewhere. I have several skiing/boating buddies that are excited to be able to put it to use when it is seaworthy, they know much more about ski boat history than I do and they think it is pretty cool. It will be on Lake Lewisville where Frisco Boater takes his out so we will be in good company!

 

[sickwilly]

Re: New Project - Ski Brendella

Scroll on down at this page: MB Sports Owners

There is a picture of the guy who built your boat originally wake surfing. Yes, he still builds boats in Merced California.

 

[Mattraymond60]

Re: New Project - Ski Brendella

That is cool....

 

[jsturvey]

Re: New Project - Ski Brendella

Definitely a project worth taking on especially at a $300 purchase price. Keep posting the pics of the restore. I haven't seen many of these boats recent years, so it would be worth bringing this one back to life just for the nostalgia of it. Honestly, I can't help but be a little jealous. Good luck!

 

[sickwilly]

Re: New Project - Ski Brendella

Me two. It is going to be a hell of a ski boat.

I see a couple around here (middle TN). They remind me of the Malibu Skier I had from the same era, but both were made in the same town in California, so it makes sense there would be some similar influence.

If I am not mistaken, Ski Brendella turned into Calabria boats when Mike Brendel left, and he has been running the MB Sports line since.

 

[Skiline00]

Re: New Project - Ski Brendella

I'm picking up a project Ski Brendella this week, but it looks like you've got a bit more work to do than I do. Let me know if you need a hand with anything, or if you need a reference boat to look at, we live right around the corner from each other.

Chris

 

[Mattraymond60]

Re: New Project - Ski Brendella

That sounds great!! Maybe we will have both of them out on the water sometime this summer.... I may have to take you up on your offer since this is my first restoration.

Matt