Offshoreonly.com

Offshoreonly.com (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/)
-   General Boating Discussion (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion-51/)
-   -   Classic 22 surface drive conversion (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/367898-classic-22-surface-drive-conversion.html)

sandslot 08-13-2020 05:37 PM


Originally Posted by thirdchildhood (Post 4752865)
Yes. The one I posted of Bjorn is a stock hull. The one that crashed had a pad added and the bustle. And, yes, the pressure to make a fast run and adrenaline got the best of the driver. He obviously should have backed out of it when it started rocking back and forth.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...39c3f3cd25.jpg

sounds reasonable and logical. Is that the boat? Also, what’s a pad? I assume it’s in back

thirdchildhood 08-13-2020 09:08 PM


Originally Posted by sandslot (Post 4752895)
sounds reasonable and logical. Is that the boat? Also, what’s a pad? I assume it’s in back

It's the flat part at the rear of the hull bottom. Ours are round. Yes that's the boat that crashed and it was heavily modified and to use it to infer that a Donzi 22 Classic is inherently unstable at speed is wrong. It clearly did not balance well on the added pad.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c1b870ff76.jpg

Rookie 08-13-2020 09:17 PM


Originally Posted by sandslot (Post 4752859)
so is the thought the 22 can’t go fast or did the driver make a fatal error not catching the instability sooner and finally, couldn’t any boat under 25’ or so do that? I’m asking not telling!

Yes any boat can do that. But there are threads on here and other forums that specifically talk about the 22 being "unpredictable" and "dangerous". This is a drivers boat. Just be careful and know yours and the boats limitations.
This is one of my favorite quotes from one of the threads.

Originally Posted by snave8 (Post 4446439)
I've been driving stern drives, a V drive 4 point hydro (beismeyer) and outboards for 40 years and have never experienced a boat so "complicated" to drive. I own and fly an amphibious seaplane that's parked next to it........the airplane is a walk in the park on the water compared to my 22.


sandslot 08-14-2020 06:09 AM


Originally Posted by Rookie (Post 4752914)
Yes any boat can do that. But there are threads on here and other forums that specifically talk about the 22 being "unpredictable" and "dangerous". This is a drivers boat. Just be careful and know yours and the boats limitations.
This is one of my favorite quotes from one of the threads.

agree and thanks for the added info. I’ve had several 22s including a Blackhawk now and they can be a handful, especially the BH. I don’t allow others to drive it for that reason.

I’m really into Donzis, but curious what would you say is the most stable/easy to drive and rough-water capable boat overall under 24? Cigarette? Other?

resurrected 08-14-2020 07:54 AM


Originally Posted by sandslot (Post 4752929)
agree and thanks for the added info. I’ve had several 22s including a Blackhawk now and they can be a handful, especially the BH. I don’t allow others to drive it for that reason.

I’m really into Donzis, but curious what would you say is the most stable/easy to drive and rough-water capable boat overall under 24? Cigarette? Other?

I vote Formula 233

larslindroth 08-15-2020 02:17 AM

Ditto. Formula 233 up to 60 knots for most of us. Donzi X-18 >100 knots for the special few.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...11b8a0614d.jpg


sandslot 08-16-2020 10:15 AM


Originally Posted by resurrected (Post 4752945)
I vote Formula 233

did you mean Formula 233?

thirdchildhood 08-16-2020 10:36 AM

The Classics definitely take time to master but driving one is very rewarding after you do so! I also cannot let anyone else drive my boat which is a bummer sometimes because I'd love to ski behind it. I'm not contesting that they are difficult to drive but there are many that run above or close to triple digits and that modified one is the only one I know of that crashed.

outonsafari 08-16-2020 02:43 PM



Passenger oh sh!t
Driver, you can see the smile even with the helmet

kreed 08-16-2020 04:29 PM

I have also been entrigued with a less than 25 ft hull and a surface drive for the last 20 years! I think about it often... I had a classic 22 with a Bravo and a 600HP BBC...25 yrs ago. It could be a hand full if you werent in flat water...It also was a ton of fun in 1ft chop. I had many rides where I was concerned that I had gone beyond its limits and thought "this isnt the right hull to be running over 80 MPH in"... but at the same time, the boat totally surprised me MANY times in a good way!.... The one thing that I always have to remind myself of when running any boat fast is that no matter how much experience I have, or what "amazing" hull I am driving...the WATER IS THE EQUALIZER. No boat ride is the same twice. You just never know what mother nature has planned 500 FT ahead of you...especially at 100 MPH....its impossible to master the water conditions. I wish you the best in your quest for speed!!! BE safe!


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:51 PM.


Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.