Worst "High Performance" Boats Ever Built?
01-26-2014 | 11:47 AM
#151
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 314
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From: Riverside, MO
Crawled around on one of these at a boat show and thought what a piece of crap. I had a white t shirt on. My wife says to me a couple boats over, what is on your shirt I was covered in red just from call crawling around on the boat. the damn dye came out of the vinyl and covered the entire front of me couldn't believe it what a piece of crap.
01-26-2014 | 12:10 PM
#152
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,825
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From: Clarkston, Michigan
i had to throw this one in the mix it was my first boat drag racer all my life whick was when i was 25 years old (so i do some research)i read that Donzi claimed to have the strongest hulls,fist mistake(bought the boat at NYC boat show(not the display had to order with 460 me like fast!!!,didnt know/stupid that it was omc/ford 460,when (drag racing/money racer)I were running SBC all my life wasnt aware of the owner /company was changed, in 89 it was ofter with the 460 largest for the boat,things were going good till took a trip to family party in sandy hook NJ, boat was keep in a marina in brick,me and wife go sandy hook enjoy party then decide to take my nieces and niephews back to marine, on my way home on the ocean wasnt that bad at all so i drive like i was told Best and strongest hull ( 5 total on boat) everything was fine till we got inlet when we decided to turn down radio when the wife went to open the cabin she looks at me and said we have a problem, the cabin full of water as we were cruising home when the come out the water it would drain but as soon as we slowed down the water just filled cabin i was able to just make the first dock i saw at that point the engine was running more water than fuel, sea tow arrived pumped boat so it wouldnt sink after they wrapped it,Donzi said i must have hit something told them bull****,sure enought when boat was pulled Donzi took boat back to factory,and to there dissatisfaction didnt hit **** ,split the hull down the middle,Donzi gives me a new 25' 1990 model then shifting nightmares begun in service more using it..is was a 1989 25' Donzi Regazzi that split the hull(Donzi would fix the shifting problem just to last about 25-30 shifts then would bind after doing this all summer and towed every weekend ,sold the boat for like nothin just to get out....when back to drag racing,,now done with that going back to boating..after all that and with new owners still like the Donzi but they dont make the size i want 26-28 with single..looking at Hustler or Sonic really like the Sonic and with my race motor 615 w/big chiefs...need to sell race car 1990 Corvette....with that said i put the Donzi Ragzzi with the 460 omc on top of the list........
01-26-2014 | 12:16 PM
#153
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: 29°50'49.74"N 95° 5'17.55"W.......TEXAS
Thunderusone's 38 runs over 100.
the 21's are known for being extremly fast and safe river boats.
Whats more interesting is how many of them are still out there, there were only 6 of the 38's built and most of those are still on the water.
Having seen some of the crap rigging and construction that other boats of the era were subject too, not to mention handling problems, I can hardly see the justification for adding to this list.
They have not built one since 96 yet you see them out there all the time.
Obviously your knowledge of them is limited, search them on OSO you will be suprised. http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...earchid=663202
Last edited by Wobble; 01-26-2014 at 12:22 PM.
01-26-2014 | 05:47 PM
#156
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 694
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From: Richmond, Virginia
Vip Vindicators... WOW what a joke!
When i was 18, I went looking for my first deep-v performance boat. I had only experience with jet boats prior to that. I went to the BAJA dealer and took a ride in a 20' Outlaw, but all they had was the Hammer. The salesman took me for a ride in a 454 Hammer, and I was REALLY impressed. Honestly the hammer was out of my price range. So I went across the street to the vip dealer, so I can see the "Cheaper entry level boat".
The sales guy ask me which baja I rode in, so I told him the hammer with the 454 mpi. He said lets take a drive in our 21' vindicator with a 350, he swore it would be faster and more impressive than my ride in the hammer.
Well once we got out on the lake, he throttled up and the boat felt like a paint can in a shaker. As we were going across the lake a 20' outlaw was coming at us. In the salesman's attempt to impress me he cranks it hard to the left to chase down the outlaw. Well I am a 300lb guy, and these vindicators came with bass boat chairs unless you bought the 24'. When he banked it hard the bolts in the base of the chair ripped out of the floor and I went down like Fraiser. The guy was so embarrased and appoligetic, but my wife literally pissed herself. That was the quietest ride back to the marina, but my wife had a grin that ajax and a brillo couldn't get off!!!
Needless to say, I ended up with a 20' outlaw...
When i was 18, I went looking for my first deep-v performance boat. I had only experience with jet boats prior to that. I went to the BAJA dealer and took a ride in a 20' Outlaw, but all they had was the Hammer. The salesman took me for a ride in a 454 Hammer, and I was REALLY impressed. Honestly the hammer was out of my price range. So I went across the street to the vip dealer, so I can see the "Cheaper entry level boat".
The sales guy ask me which baja I rode in, so I told him the hammer with the 454 mpi. He said lets take a drive in our 21' vindicator with a 350, he swore it would be faster and more impressive than my ride in the hammer.
Well once we got out on the lake, he throttled up and the boat felt like a paint can in a shaker. As we were going across the lake a 20' outlaw was coming at us. In the salesman's attempt to impress me he cranks it hard to the left to chase down the outlaw. Well I am a 300lb guy, and these vindicators came with bass boat chairs unless you bought the 24'. When he banked it hard the bolts in the base of the chair ripped out of the floor and I went down like Fraiser. The guy was so embarrased and appoligetic, but my wife literally pissed herself. That was the quietest ride back to the marina, but my wife had a grin that ajax and a brillo couldn't get off!!!
Needless to say, I ended up with a 20' outlaw...
Now I'm just depressed! LOL.......
Funny thing is I looked at quite a few Baja's before I bought mine. Just happened to get a much better deal on the Vindicator. Hindsight 20/20 neither one would be in my driveway.
01-26-2014 | 06:40 PM
#157
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 8
From: Southeast Michigan
Man, I wish I could remember the name of the boat. Early to mid nineties, a local dealer was running around in a demo trying to sell them. Was a 26 maybe, and they offered a couple other sizes, looked a lot like a liberator. Got on the thing and started grabbing hold of winshield, gunnels, etc and everything flexed, I mean visible movement including the hullsides. Supposed to be "high performance offshore boat, very fast" LOL. I want to say Mirage but not really sure, been too many years.
Honestly I can't believe this thread has went 16 pages without mentioning Klym, as his name was synonymous with crap... Guess only people on the Great Lakes got exposed to it.
01-28-2014 | 05:52 PM
#158
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,400
Likes: 25
From: Michigan
The Four Winns Unlimited U-17 and U-19... They look like Donzi Classics with a different deck. Made in 1996 and 1997, they got a bad rap by Powerboat because (depending on the story version) either-
A. The one they tested didn't have a trim limit switch.
B. The one they tested had a duo-prop that was too much for a 17'.
C. Somebody at Powerboat hated somebody at Four Winns.
I've driven one with a single prop Volvo, low/mid 60's boat, didn't feel any less safe than any other similarly sized boat.
A. The one they tested didn't have a trim limit switch.
B. The one they tested had a duo-prop that was too much for a 17'.
C. Somebody at Powerboat hated somebody at Four Winns.
I've driven one with a single prop Volvo, low/mid 60's boat, didn't feel any less safe than any other similarly sized boat.
It's too bad cause they were bad azz little boats. Accerated like a slingshot and handled rough water great for their size.
Last edited by onesickpantera; 01-28-2014 at 05:55 PM.
01-28-2014 | 06:00 PM
#159
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,473
Likes: 2,110
From: Milton, Fla!
I remember them well. Never picked through one or drove one but knew what they were and where they came from.
Awesome idea and w/current power and rigging would a great toy for any one w/any gray matter at all.
01-28-2014 | 06:23 PM
#160
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,825
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From: Clarkston, Michigan
Uhm, wouldn't that prove any driver on this site a dumb ass?
I remember them well. Never picked through one or drove one but knew what they were and where they came from.
Awesome idea and w/current power and rigging would a great toy for any one w/any gray matter at all.
I remember them well. Never picked through one or drove one but knew what they were and where they came from.
Awesome idea and w/current power and rigging would a great toy for any one w/any gray matter at all.
