1978 Viking rebuild

**Jmr1974** · 05-10-2021, 08:07 PM

Very nice. I don’t know how you can stand it anymore, you gotta be itching bad to get it on the water...

**tnelsmn** · 05-10-2021, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by Jmr1974

Very nice. I don’t know how you can stand it anymore, you gotta be itching bad to get it on the water...

Yeah, it might be time to call another shop at this point for the upholstery. I'm loosing my mind looking at it with practically nothing left to do.

25 Two, I'll weigh the seats once they're finished.

**tnelsmn** · 05-23-2021, 10:30 PM

Well, she's done! (kinda) There's a few loose ends to tie up before it goes in the water, but that will get taken care of this week. Planning to splash Saturday May 29.

Overall the project is not yet completed. I did check with two other upholstery shops in town and was told mid August and October. So I'm just going to stick it out with the shop I've been dealing with. Last time I stopped in the carpet had arrived. With them not being able to give me a date on when they can get to the interior I have no choice but to put the original seats back in it. The driver seat was torn apart so a new frame could be built. The old wood frame was tossed on a fire so the old vinyl went on the new coosa frame. Sure glad I hung onto the foam/vinyl! I changed the design of the base a bit(sits 1" lower) with the new seats so both sides are on the new bases, but the passenger seat back is just as it left the factory in '78. The gunnel pads and rear cover are going to be left off until the new stuff arrives.

I added a Garmin Ecomap42 4" GPS/chart-plotter/fish finder. I plan to go to lots of different lakes and rivers so I wanted a map, and a depth finder is nice to have. I used a glue in through hull transducer, so no extra holes anywhere. Its mounted low and practically under the dash so it doesn't take away from the old school feel. But is easy to see from the driver seat.

With the seats in, the base for the ski tow bar was bolted into the floor.

Also, still waiting on the machine shop to finish the CNC work on the switch panel. For now it will run with the plywood template that was cut, taped to the dash.

Added a forward bunk/walking plank to the trailer as well as a spare tire. This thing needs all the tongue weight it can get.

This is far from what I wanted it to be for a maiden voyage, but gotta play the hand you're dealt. I'm ready to drive this thing!

**rjdubiel** · 05-24-2021, 02:13 PM

Where are you going to get out? Saturday and Sunday mornings we are in Champlin at the Mississippi Point Park launch at about 9:30.

**tnelsmn** · 05-24-2021, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by rjdubiel

Where are you going to get out? Saturday and Sunday mornings we are in Champlin at the Mississippi Point Park launch at about 9:30.

Heading to Rush Lake. I have family there so it will work nice to the first trip back in the water. I do plan on getting with you guys this summer.

**tnelsmn** · 05-27-2021, 08:23 AM

Got the last few little things wrapped up.

Registration numbers came in and went on.

The tow bar was installed, it is set up to be a quick disconnect. Just pull a detent pin on the base and slide it out. The rear support bars pull off with a cotter pin. My dad built this for it back when they bought the boat. It was sent out to be re polished and turned out amazing. It will probably only be in the boat when skiing for a day.

I made a bunch of new capacity plates to match the original ones. (If interested send a PM) All of the info was stamped into that and stuck on the boat as kinda a finishing touch.

Fire extinguisher was mounted below the rear passenger seat.

Repaired a chip I caused on the pad a few weeks ago. I was using a long aluminum tube held against the pad to measure prop shaft height. I bumped it and took a chip out sliding it under the boat. I used Adtech P-14 filler to make the repair. It's small but I didn't want it to grow so it got filled.

**LakeFever** · 05-27-2021, 08:31 AM

to echo earlier, the steering wheel is awesome! Hope the maiden voyage is fun and safe

**tnelsmn** · 05-28-2021, 03:52 PM

Switch panel showed up just in time! So the only thing not done is the upholstery work.

I'll up date sometime this weekend with maiden voyage pictures/videos.

**mrichartz** · 05-28-2021, 08:13 PM

Videos VIDEOS VIDEOS!!!!?

**Velocity72** · 05-28-2021, 08:34 PM

Sure brings back memories of my Vector; the seats and ski pylon. Awesome job, boat is beautiful.

**tnelsmn** · 05-28-2021, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by mrichartz

Videos VIDEOS VIDEOS!!!!?

All 5 GoPros fully charged and SD's wiped clean. They'll be video haha.

Velocity72, thank you, its been a long road!

**mrichartz** · 05-28-2021, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by tnelsmn

All 5 GoPros fully charged and SD's wiped clean. They'll be video haha.

Oh I know it's been exhausting reading this as you did all the work man

. some nights I just had to push thru but...lol
Nice to see it's almost in the water. Cant wait to see the videos! Driving me nuts not putting mine in it's almost a year.. Actually might be interested in a coast guard plate just to hang on the wall.

**tnelsmn** · 05-30-2021, 11:46 PM

Happy to report that it floats! Gonna take some getting used to balancing on the pad, but was able to bump 70 so far. Here’s a couple quick shots posting from my phone while at the lake. I’ll write up more this week and get the video edited.

**LakeFever** · 05-31-2021, 07:04 AM

Congrats!!! What an awesome moment I hope you enjoyed it as much as I think you did. I really like the way yours floats at rest too, Its the perfect hydrostream stance, it looks incredible. Cant wait to see the vids