Need advice on Donzi 16

[georges]

Anybody own one of these? ( past or present).
I would appreciate your input, as I am looking at a
94 sweet 16 for a v-e-r-y good price.
Thanks.

[Dredgeking]

i just bought a 1978 16. they haven't changed the hull or deck in 40 years.

[Wardey]

Kent Peroux ???? Where are you? Wardey

[Cord]

You'll want to talk to geoo. His goes over 100.

[Biggus]

I`ve had 5 Donzi Classics over the years and they are a blast! It has always amazed me how well they handle rough water for a small boat. What`s it got for power? How much $$$? Fresh or salt water?

I sold my 18 2+3 to a friend of mine and he never uses it. I want it back

Kurt.

[Macklin]

I owned a '94 16 Classic. My first go-fast boat. Had a 4.3L, 180hp I think, and would bury the 55mph speedo. Let me tell you, it was one squirrely boat!! Never knew how the thing was coming down after taking flight. Left side, right side, dead center??? Had several friends who refused to ride in it with me.

Mine had a hull (hook) problem which cause the boat the ride port side up all the time. I convinced Donzi to take the boat back to the factory the first winter and fix it, which they did.

It was good for water skiing which is what I was doing a lot of at the time. Could take it outside the inlet on only the calmest of day though. So I sold it two years later to a guy in PA for what I paid for it.

[Lee]

All of the 16'Donzi's that I have ever seen have a very noticable Hook incorporated into the hull, It's there for a reason.

[Jana]

My first boat was a '97 Donzi 16. Awesome little boat! Ran it on bays in NJ and TX and it rode solid. Just had to be pretty calm or it was in the air all the time. I'd definitiely grab it if it's in good shape. What power does it have?

[HyperBaja]

Cord, Geoo's is an X-18 with a supercharged 415 sb and Arneson Drive!!

As for the hook-It is there to help the boat plane faster, Is completley out of the water at high speeds, and it is better left in.

Can't imagine 100 in any classic Donzi! I've had 2 18 2+3s, a '76 flat deck w/Volvo racing outdrive, and a '79 w/Mercruiser with Nitrous. Both ran 66/67. A good friend has a '67 16 with a 289/Volvo racing lower unit that runs 64.

Problem I always had was they have a rounded keel, and therefore couldn't take a set like a pad bottom boat. With the inner strakes stopping so far forward, I would guess it would take ENORMOUS horsepower to even get to 80 mph.