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If you get the tape measure out the Mag 25 was 25'4" LOA and a max beam of 8'
However , the difference may not lie in a stretch job as much as it does in other subtle areas . For instance the innermost strakes could be a different length than the original Mag 25's It wasn't very often that builders who splashed a hull also did an exact copy of the deck . More often than not they did their own version , but I can certainly recognize the dimensions and curves/point on the bow of yours. Our Mag has the stock FWC 502 Mag MPI with some nicer exhaust manifolds. Instead of a B1 it has a B3 with 2.0:1 gears and a 26" propset. Handling at all speeds is fantastic. On a very good day it might bump 60 but WOT max wasn't a concern when doing the re-build. Runs over 4200 rpm are few and far between . Good for engine life and also on fuel bills where we're paying close to $10 a gallon. . |
As for what will mate up to the drives, you just need a bellhousing of the motor you want to use that can be found on eBay all the time. It's that simple.
Do yourself a favor, lock those drives in gear and spin them and make sure they work. And like I said you need to know the gear ratio. |
Gotcha. I have yet to get hard measurements on the hull, specifically the beam. I had the seller help on the length, and it’s approximately 25’4”-25’6”. He was marketing it as a mag 27’, and I quickly was able to challenge this. I still feel it’s a possible Monza boat, otherwise my thought was a mag 25 sedan hull splash. I’m still hunting around the boat for clues. I’m going to try some paint stripper on the transom next. If anyone has any pics of possible vin locations, please chime in. I haven’t found any wax numbers under dash, bow, or interior pieces. I’ll have to check out the rubrail also. Once again, thanks for all the input! |
I’ll also try to engage the drives. Thanks |
Well , as we all know , it's not a Mag 27 hull splash . The 25 , as has already been pointed out , only came in one model marketed as the 'Magnum 25 Sport' And it was the 25 hull that had the extension done to it to raise the freeboard creating the character line that goes along the hull sides. (It was a shrunk 27 hull)
Assuming that that boat was built after 1970/71 (I believe) the HIN would be on the upper right side of the transom. If you can't see it right now there could be 3 possible reasons. 1) that ridge on the transom was not original and it covered it. 2) It's in the right place but in the process of re-painting it was filled in (I hate when that happens) 3) The original HIM wasn't molded into the gelcoat in the mold but was a metal plate riveted on the stern that has long since fallen off. Also , I'm not discounting that it could be a Monza , or anything else for that matter , but whoever the original builder was it certainly appears that they used the molds off of a Mag 25 Bear in mind that the most copied hull in existence is the original Formula 233 . Dozens and dozens of builders have splashed it and in many instances stretched it as well but no matter what label they put on it it was still a Formula 233 hull. |
I agree on the HIN, it’s either under all the paint and glasswork, or too old to have one. On a different note, i think I know the route to go, but will ask opinions anyway. Coosa or Marine ply for the transom redo? It appears that M ply is a little more forgiving, especially if I use VE resin. Epoxy seams like it has a small margin for error and smaller working times, along with being too rigid. Also, any good sources for this stuff online? Glass, resin, etc. I can find plenty of commercial/large batch resources, but probably do not need that much. Thanks again for the help! |
I always use US Composites.
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Its a Monza. My dad bought a brand new 26 from the factory with twinn165 6 banger Mercs in 1973. My brother made a mold off the hull and built a new style deck mold in 1980 and than sold the molds to Mirage out of Holland Michigan. They sold them to Century boats. That ridge across the transom is factory. They had molded in HINs on my dads boat but that boat you have is older. I used to to have a pic of what I believe is that boat sitting in the water at Monza. Pretty sure that’s the one my dad and brothers test drove. There is pics of of my dads Monza somewhere on this site that I posted. Lost them off my PC. It it is not a Splash of a 25 Magnum. I have examined the magnum hull and it is similar but different. I have asked Brownie who designed it and he had no answers other than a Ken Exkland built them. |
Tommy,
Thanks for chiming in! Id love to see any original pictures of it that you can possibly dig up. I'd also like to see anything on your dad's as well. Interesting that it had twin 6 cylinder mercs... I have yet to measure the motor mount spacing, as was questioned earlier in this thread. The history info is appreciated also. Ill have to check out the Mirage and Century boats as well, just for more info! Also, Brownie designed what The magnum or monza? Ill have to look into Ken Exkland also. Thanks again!!! |
Originally Posted by Fathead2
(Post 4698370)
Tommy,
Thanks for chiming in! Id love to see any original pictures of it that you can possibly dig up. I'd also like to see anything on your dad's as well. Interesting that it had twin 6 cylinder mercs... I have yet to measure the motor mount spacing, as was questioned earlier in this thread. The history info is appreciated also. Ill have to check out the Mirage and Century boats as well, just for more info! Also, Brownie designed what The magnum or monza? Ill have to look into Ken Exkland also. Thanks again!!! Brownie is noted for his Nova 24 and Super Nova 19 but I don't think he's ever been credited with designing any other hulls , not saying he didn't have a finger in any others though. I could be wrong but I think that there's a spelling error in 'Ken Exkland' in case you go searching. |
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f878f73ab.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2b7821268.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...935d4eaad.jpeg Some design history I stumbled upon on this site while I was searching on here for pics of my dads old 26 Monza |
A pic of my dads 1973 26 Monza |
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3ebf4f660.jpeg A pic of my dads 1973 26 Monza |
Originally Posted by tommymonza
(Post 4698607)
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3ebf4f660.jpeg A pic of my dads 1973 26 Monza |
Awesome information guys! I really appreciate it. The historical background of boating as we know it today is so different and captivating. Don’t get me wrong, today’s boats and technology are awesome, but hand built boats by craftsmen and carpenters, old school engineers and metalworkers, fiberglass and paint specialists, all seam so much more valuable from a time and effort perspective. I am a finish carpenter and cabinet maker by trade, so I guess maybe I’m biased. While I continue my education on fiberglass and construction methods, I hope you all keep helping with the history and identification portion! I love seeing the old pics, ads, brochures, and especially the stories from years gone by. much appreciated, and keep it going! |
There is a name I have not herd in a while.https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...28333e96f9.jpg
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Wow. Those Novas are awesome. The lines, especially with the windshield, almost remind me of the Chris Craft Sportsman 30; a classic Ray Hunt design. Very cool. I’m getting super sidetracked... |
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...a0331dc216.png
Originally Posted by madbouyz
(Post 4698609)
If I put up a pic of mine from the same angle you'd swear it was the same hull .
The 25 Magnum has a lot more flare in the bow area and a larger radius at the stem. Closest design that is over all similar is the 24 Cigarette. this one in the pic was docked right next too my parasail boat in Naples Florida back in the day so I was able to really check it out. |
Originally Posted by tommymonza
(Post 4699026)
The 25 Magnum has a lot more flare in the bow area and a larger radius at the stem. Closest design that is over all similar is the 24 Cigarette. |
Love the old 24 Novas up until 1977 when they changed the windshield. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...50a5081d5.jpeghttps://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...0a450828e.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...067c919e8.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7e249ec37.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...4db4c73f7.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...1deb3421d.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...ede8ce142.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...ca615a0de.jpeg |
The original 'Brownie' Novas were da bomb !
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Originally Posted by madbouyz
(Post 4699032)
It's been said that the Mag 25 and the Cig 24 are the same hull and I believe that if you take the area above of the character line out of the equation they probably are the same . With the pic above of the dark blue Monza it almost looks to me as if they trimmed down the height a bit in the area above the character line in the forward 3 feet or so of the hull . That could impact on the amount of perceived flare in the forward section of the hull . The communication with Brownie posted above is all nice but bear in mind that the title of that was 'Info on old 1969 Monza 19' , a 26-28 was mentioned but nowhere was it said who actually designed it .
yea the clarification was a little foggy on the design. I asked Brownie who designed the 26 way back in the day when I first got on this site back up. 2005. He said he didn’t know. The bottom does have a Ton Rocker in it though. When Century sent the Ultra to Powerboat magazine with twin 365s they commented it was the worst handeling boat they had driven because of the porpoising. The one one I ran for a summer that my brother built was a porpoise machine with twin 260s |
Originally Posted by madbouyz
(Post 4699037)
The original 'Brownie' Novas were da bomb !
sitting in a field that needs a full resto with the outside running gear intact. Think i would rather find a old well craft and cut the windshield down another 1/3 in height and build a modern back bench seat and engine hatch area like well craft did in 78 when they changed the style of windshield. Though it does remove a lot of the functionality and room out of the cockpit I like the Brownie boat for originality but I like what wellcraft did with them in 75 by lowering the windshield height a couple inches and introducing a little more rake into it. |
I prefer no windshield. lol
http://www.supernova19.com/bc2faaf0.jpg This is the first production 24. http://www.supernova19.com/bc358850.jpg |
Very cool boats. Great pics and info guys. I’d still like to see if you can dig up any more monza info. Cheers! |
Originally Posted by Fathead2
(Post 4699261)
Very cool boats. Great pics and info guys. I’d still like to see if you can dig up any more monza info. Cheers! https://www.proboat.com/2015/05/fast-company-at-a-clip/ |
Very cool. Kind of nice putting faces with names. Interesting how the evolution of marine engineering was grown through passion and experimentation. Today , it seams, most new products are researched, developed, created, then tested in an all too quick process. I really have much respect for the people and products that are actually tested thoroughly before hitting the market. Years gone by, r&d involved a lot more hands on testing. Now, a lot of that is lost in technology. |
Originally Posted by tommymonza
(Post 4699336)
Some video of a meeting of the minds from back in the day.
https://www.proboat.com/2015/05/fast-company-at-a-clip/ |
Thank so much for sharing. Fantastic stuff!
Originally Posted by f_inscreenname
(Post 4699743)
Shame there's not more to it.
https://pbbackissues.advanced-pub.co...=155&pageID=29 |
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More great reading. https://pbbackissues.advanced-pub.co...103&pageID=188
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Some great articles. Thanks for sharing! |
Nothing like quality writing.
Originally Posted by Fathead2
(Post 4700588)
Some great articles. Thanks for sharing! Very interesting reading and excellent documentation of the history of fiberglass boat building etc. That generation of innovators that gave us the modern fiberglass powerboat, as we know it, is just about gone and there are several legends that have past that I sure wish I'd have been fortunate enough to meet. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...fb29213cc2.jpghttps://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...bbc0de1468.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...37eb825c1b.jpg |
Very interesting!
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