1986 Nova III

[SuperNova]

Just wanted to say Hi! I bought an '86 Nova III last summer and wanted to get some opinions or suggestions from people who know Wellcraft.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: 1986 Nova III

No love, huh?

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: 1986 Nova III

Just noticed your post today
Just you and I SuperNova, we're the only two Nova owners left. :/

 

[zeezer]

Re: 1986 Nova III

Slow down now I've got a 23 Nova XL. Bought her 2 years ago & brought her back from the dead. Guy had it parked next to his barn for the previous 5 years. Didn't even get to hear it run, the outdrive was in a box in his garage. Rebuilt the lower unit & all the rear wood as well. Every piece new. Reupholstered all of it myself, put a ballistic stainless prop on it, & run it hight forties all I want. Motor is strong & smooth. Parting with it soon though. My buddy loved what I did with it so much that he bought it. My wife & I are closing on our first new boat ever. We met at the lake when I used to have a Nova 260. Sold it to buy the house, but it was a great boat.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: 1986 Nova III

Resurected from the dead! See, I knew it, just wasn't counting on that. So, we have one more Nova...Welcome, Zeezer!
What's the "new" boat? (Pic did not come through.)

 

[zeezer]

Re: 1986 Nova III

We bought a brand new 28 Maxum express cruiser

 

[SuperNova]

Re: 1986 Nova III

My brother-in-law has a '83 Nova II, that's why I bought mine. I had already had a couple of smaller Wellcrafts and liked the way they were built--very sturdy. 3/4 " ply everywhere it seems like. I don't have thru-hulls either and it's kind of a mixed blessing. They sound so cool, but man, they get annoying very quickly running down the bay. I can have a regular conversation on my boat, even running both engines at 4000 rpm.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: 1986 Nova III

Way-to-go Zeezer! Cruisers are great for families. Had a '76 Trojan F-32 (sister ship) for a long time on the left coast. Now my family is all grown up and have their own toys. I've had my eyes on the Nova's & Scarabs since they were introduced, but at the time family and finance would not allow it to be. Now (100 years later) I get to play with all the toy's I ever or always wanted, exluding the ladies.........

No thru-hulls for me either. All the noise I need is available on my XM on steriods. Thru-hulls do get my attention at the ramp, however. My Trojan had inboard 360cid's, I always liked the way they burbled(?) and barked with the wet exhaust.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: 1986 Nova III

There was a boat show at the local marina this weekend and I took the family. My little ones went nuts over the mid-cabin express cruisers. "It's like an apartment down here, Daddy!" and "You can use REAL SHEETS on these beds, Daddy!". But with two little ones and a third on the way it's all I can do to keep the Nova in the water sometimes. We do overnight on it just fine. And It's a lot easier to maneuver than some of those single engine cruisers. Plus, it's trailerable.

 

[zeezer]

Re: 1986 Nova III

We over-nighted a few times last year, but it's really cramped with me, my wife, my 13 year old son & a 90 lb lab in a cuddy. Making the transition from go fast to go comfortable. The Nova will still be around though. like I said in an earlier post, my buddy is buying it & will be out with us a lot anyway.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: 1986 Nova III

That's cool, I know what you're talking about. I just stepped up to the Nova so this is still a novelty for me and my cabin is a little different than the Nova II- I have two sofas that face each other in addition to the 7- foot v-berth, so the two kids (4+6) sleep on the sofas and the wife and I sleep in the v-berth and the mutt sleeps in the cockpit. I'm sure I'll get sick of it in a season or two and look to trade for something with a bigger cabin. Towability is a priority for me, too, so I can't go too big. And don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to put you down or anything. If anything I'm jealous of you. Bastard with a big new boat.

 

[mikesjohnson]

Re: 1986 Nova III

a friend and my-self are just about to finish a '78 nova 250. we were given (not a missprint) boat in baskets, as in no money exchanged hands. the motor was freshly rebuilt, the outdrive was freshly rebuilt, t&t cyls were fresh, and the boat never even saw the water. the trans was blown up so we overhauled it. the trailer was about rusted through in many places, so we did a complete overhaul on it, includung replacing all of the cross beams. still working on some details, wiring and such, but it wont be long till she goes on her first fishing trip. i think we are gonna call het "The Big Mistake" because neither one of us has the money to pay for figgen gas to fiah anymore!!!!!

 

[jimspeer]

Re: 1986 Nova III

Would anyone know the original purchase price of my '84 Nova II, twin 350's.
Thanks ahead.
Jim

 

[SuperNova]

Re: 1986 Nova III

No idea. I have original sales brochures from that era, but price is not mentioned. Sorry.
--
Stan

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: 1986 Nova III

Here is my boat's original quote The invoice is the same $37,947.00
I now also have the aluminium Eagle Trailer.

 

[time flies]

Re: 1986 Nova III

hello, new to forum, wanted to say hi, i have had my nova III for a few years now, well cared for and still near mint after 23yrs. cleaner than most 2005's

 

[SuperNova]

Re: 1986 Nova III

Welcome to the forums!!!Nice boat, timeflies. It looks just like mine, except my hull is grey on the sides where yours is red and I don't have the thru-hull exhaust like yours. Other than that, the interior appears the same and the black stripe on the hull is the same. Where do you run it at?

 

[jtmarten]

Re: 1986 Nova III

Here is my boat's original quote The invoice is the same $37,947.00
I now also have the aluminium Eagle Trailer.

Don't know if you're still around, but that could be the invoice for my Nova II as well! Thanks for posting!