What year did donzi move the helm from the left to the right side? Im looking for a left side helm boat to buy. Thx, rm

Brownie?.. lil help

----Its possible that no one has answered because there isn't any good answer. Donzi changed helm sides many times over the years. The 24 model line (4 different models with the same hull) had the helms on both the left and the right. Actually,,,there were 3 helm positions if you count the center console......Bill S

Ok, sorry for such a vague question.. on the 18 2+3.

I had no idea them moved them back and forth, i thought coast guard regs made them move it from L to rt.

Im looking to buy an 18 2+3 and want a left hand helm boat, if i know the year they changed to the rt i can narrow my search. Thx, rm

The port side helm was originally an idea of Don's as it compared to the familiarity of left hand drive in US autos . It was because Volvos were capable of counter-rotating that that made the concept possible . Swing the prop to the left and put helm station on the left !
When Mercs started to catch on they weren't capable of counter-rotation thus , that's when the helm stations started to move to the Stbd side and Volvos were slowly phased out in the small classics.
I'm not sure if there ever was a definitive year where there was a complete switch over but the port side helm position probably started becoming more of a rarity sometime around 1975 or so. But a lot of that would hinge on whether the customer specified a Merc or a Volvo.

If you want a left hand helm on a 18' Look for a X-18, they have a slightly raised deck different seats & a left hand helm. Here are some pic's of my 1973 Donzi X-18.

Getting ready to sell my 1976, 18 with left hand steering and a 454.

I thought all the Volvo powered Classics were port side helm. FWIW, my last 18 2+3 was an '83 model, originally Volvo, it had a port helm. Years ago, I had a '79 Merc powered, it was Starboard helm.

thats exactly what im looking for!

my father bought one when i was 15 or 16, baby blue and white, he put a teak floor/sole in it, 300 hp sbc... i loved that boat, it was my ride to work as i didnt have my drivers license yet... i got a lol of azz in the lil donzi!

u have an awesome selection of cool old school ridez. U wanna get off one of them? Thx, rm

sweet looking ride, whats been done to the bbc?

Im really looking for a sbc boat, as the sbc are so cheap to build compared to a big block. I would run the crap out of it til the 350 puked and stroke it to 383...

How is the balance with all that extra weight in the rear, our x18 would fly flat and level when you really aired it out. Thx, rm