MidMOSkier

Does it have the two-part doghouse? I believe they started that in 93.

@Orlando76 You may be right - I never purchased the Mastercraft brackets I linked so I cannot guarantee that they would work, but the dimensions offered on the website perfectly matched the brackets that came on my boat. Mine is an 89 (first year for Brendella Skier) and is quite possibly different than the brackets on OPs 95 Brendella. No telling if the brackets on mine were even original! @jjackkrash I've read that rumor as well. Seems reasonable to me that someone coming in late to the inboard ski boat game like Brendella would buy an old mold from an established company like Mastercraft as a starting point to make their own changes. The rumor seems to fit with the stereotype that the California inboard manufacturers (mainly Brendella & Malibu) started by taking MC & Nautique hulls and adding fancy 5-color gelcoat to them.

Saw your question about swim deck brackets on Dr. Jack's Brendella thread. Mine were in bad shape so I shopped around and found these: https://waterskis.com/swim-platform-brackets/ They're really pricey, but anodized aluminum should withstand salt water if you're careful to put a PVC or fiberglass washer between the bracket and the transom mounting bolts (where they contact the aluminum). Direct contact between dissimilar metals will cause galvanic corrosion when exposed to salty or brackish water. That being said, if you can fabricate and weld aluminum it usually only costs $50-100 at small anodizing shops to do parts that size if you aren't in a hurry. If you decide to make your own I can take detailed pictures & dimensions of mine to help out. Another good resource: https://alloymarine.com/products/removeable-swimdeck-brackets/

@Hoodcanal454 your bilge & engine looks great!! Funny, I actually ended up here because BOS has the most Brendella information out of all the major forums. Plenty of good restoration threads on TeamTalk, CCFan, and MalibuCrew for the older boats though.

You can also check by trying to tighten the lag bolts that mount the engine to the stringers. If they turn, your wood is rotten. You can also tap with a screwdriver, wrench, or other hard tool and listen for hollow spots. Drilling is still the best method though - even though the stringers are fiberglass encased, water can get in through motor mount bolts and other screws. I did all of this when I bought my Brendella and was lucky that stringers were solid. I envy your doghouse! I always thought the split design was brilliant. Can still check on the engine without making everyone in the back seat move in order to lift the whole darn thing.

I recently replaced all of the carpet in the 89 Brendella I am fixing up with a generic version of Seadek. It shows a LOT of imperfections in the floor - every bump is visible. I wrapped it up the gunnels in a similar manner to the old carpet and it lays very poorly. I am likely going to cut it to lay only on the floor and carpet the gunnels. I really like the way it feels and the fact that it does not absorb water. Based on these results so far I won't be using it for the doghouse or any other trim pieces like I had originally planned.

@RichardDoane how are you planning to route the blower hose? Edit: I missed the original picture where it comes from the left side and passes in front of the gas tank. Never mind! Was very confused by the routing in the Brendella I am restoring.

So nice watching this boat come together. Great job so far.

@immikerowley more interior picks would help me as well. I'm restoring an 89 Brendella and none of the seating/trim is original. Your pics have been helpful so far, especially the gunnel upholstery.

@RichardDoane @Zman @DW Thanks for the help. The Moeller 19 gal tank looks like it'll be a great fit if I figure out how to mount it in.

@RichardDoane Great job with the boat so far - I look forward to future updates. The red gelcoat is stunning. I'm in the process of restoring an 89 Brendella with a missing gas tank. Would you be able to measure the rough dimensions of yours? I can gauge what will probably fit just based on the space, but having the OEM size would be nice while I try to find a new one.