Need advice on Donzi 16
 

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.

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

Kent Peroux ???? Where are you?:D Wardey

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

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:D

Kurt.

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. :D

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.

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.

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?

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.

Don't get wrong. They are a great boat, and the 18 handles more water than you imagine possible for that size boat. I wouldn't have owned 2 if they didn't rule.

Love that boat.
For more info go to www.donzi.net this is the best source for information for the Donzi Classics.

The boat in question has a 205hp, 4.3L, I think it was mostly used in salt, but it is very clean, the price......$7500.
I was told the '84 to '94 Donzis were not of the same quality as pre and post those years, because of the change in the company's ownership.
Also, late 94's are OK while it was the earlier version had all of the problems which you all have mentioned.
Thanks for all the help. :cool:

I think it has around 730hp. Wette Vettes Baja 21' has around that much power and does 97. Not to much of a difference there.

Yeah, but do they ride port side up? I bet not. Like I said, the factory pretty much solved the problem with a little reworking of the hull.

The 205hp 4.3L engine came out right after mine. I think my boat was a very early '94.

I have a 66 Donzi 16 Ski Sporter...Been in our family since new and is a great boat, we sure love it. We have a had a lot of good people helping us bring it back into shape this last year and are really loving it. It has a 289 engine and is a lot of fun to drive and great for skiing. My thread and several other really cool boats are on Donzi.net

I know it is a really old thread...I was just bored and surfing

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachme...8&d=1278393720
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/a...j/IMG_2003.jpg

Not sure about that help your getting...someone put the drive on upside down! :lolhit:

It's the number one comment I get... It swings around and locks in place (not that easy but you get the drift)

Eaton.. I know a gut that has a Way Cool Holman Moody 427 18' V-drive that's a late 60's (if I as guessing) & still has the original blue gel... & 427 ;)

I'm glad you said that, because I was trying to see it at a jet/diverter. I'd actually love to have a boat like this that was a jet.