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WOT-sup
10-10-2001, 07:36 PM
Greetings all:
New to the Regestry and looking for info:

Earlier this year I acquired a hull /deck that is supposedly a Donzi. The title says “1972 18’ Donzi”. I grew up in Miami back then when Donzis’ ruled Biscayne Bay. It looks like a Donzi, but the lay-up seems lighter.

Hoping to get some info about telltale indicators as to whether it is the genuine article or one of the pop-offs. Gather there is something about 2 vs.3 piece construction and chance of an Aronow signature under the deck. Any more info regarding these or other indications? (No HIN number observed, but I don’t believe they were required until fall of ‘72.)

This is a project boat: no engine package (although there were a couple of old ragged-out Volvo O/D’s laying in the boat); little hardware and in need of some structural work (floor). The boat has been partially painted with about a 25’ paint job (i.e. looks good from 25&#8217 ;) and has brand new upholstery.

I would like to confirm what it actually is before getting into it in a big way. Speaking of which, got a bead on a 5.7 liter Merc package that looks good so far. Will have more details in a few days. Any comments on this engine in an 18’ Classic?

Do have some digital photos available if you’re interested.

Going to be out of town (naturally) for the Sarasota Rally weekend, but hope to talk my wife into going to check it out.

Look forward to any replies.

Brad Whitmore
:confused:

HP 600SC
10-10-2001, 08:14 PM
Brad, I looked at that boat for sale in Sarasota about 6-mos ago....definatly the same boat with the 2 volvo drives and the
25' paint job with the stripe too narrow.
I was a light lay up...and had some fiberglass repair to the hull side.
I also thought the stringers were "skinny"
It was offered to me for $3000.00...did you get a good deal??
I have owned 11 donzi's and worked at the
Donzi factory for over 2 years and I was
not sure if it was a Donzi or a pop off of a
Donzi....the fact that the title says Donzi
is very good though. I know it is the 2+3 style rather than an X-18 style and thats why I did not buy it. Sorry i cant be of more help....maybe you can do a title history
search from the state of Florida for a fee.

Formula Jr
10-11-2001, 06:43 PM
Just for giggles, run a stud finder over the port side, topsides panel between the transom and the firewall bulkhead. Look in the center of this area. I don't know on how many of these boats this was done, but I have seen metal dogtags with serial numbers glassed into the hull in this area.

Gearhead99
10-11-2001, 07:42 PM
What???????? are you talking about here..... are we smoking the strange weed??

Formula Jr
10-11-2001, 10:06 PM
Gearhead, I'm completely serious about looking for this tag. I haven't come across enough 70-72 boats to see if they are in all of them, but I have seen these tags glassed in on some boats. Only in the 70-72 models. This makes sense cause donzis were getting stolen right and left in the earily seventies. So it would make sense as a stop-gap measure at the factory before using the transom inprints.

Craig
10-12-2001, 11:46 AM
Brad,
Other guys here could tell you exactly how a '72 18-2+3 was layed up. I've got a 1970 Powerboat Magazine Peformance Report of the Donzi 18-2+3. It says: "HULL CONSTRUCTION: Hand layup throughout. Three layers of 3/4-ounce mat, three layers of 24-ounce roving, normal laminants and normal Gel- Cote." Not sure how you'd verify all of
this, but for what its worth maybe the info. will help. To get the article, if interested, contact Powerboat Mag. They sent me a copy. It was the March issue of 1970.

Dennis
10-12-2001, 11:57 AM
My 79 X-18 has the hull numbers behind the rear seat back top center on the Hull and I believe my brothers 1975 X-18 it is in the same place

Gearhead99
10-12-2001, 08:22 PM
Sorry, didn't mean to offend. Just never saw a metal piece on any of my old Donzi's.

If the metal is steel/iron you should be able to find it with a decent compass. The needle will pull toward the ferous metal. The mention of a "stud" finder sounds like it might work too.

I hope you're talking about the hand held electronic gizmo you buy at Home Depot/Lowes. Not my sister-in-law, she is on the hunt for a few "good studs" too.

WOT-sup
10-14-2001, 07:11 PM
Thanks to all for the replies. Look forward to getting back to the boat and I'll check 'em out. Will also get some digital pics posted in the near future.

harbormaster
10-28-2001, 04:53 PM
Here are the photos of the boat
http://www.donzi.net/photos/none01.jpg
http://www.donzi.net/photos/none02.jpg
http://www.donzi.net/photos/none03.jpg
http://www.donzi.net/photos/none04.jpg
http://www.donzi.net/photos/none05.jpg
http://www.donzi.net/photos/none06.jpg

CDMA
10-28-2001, 04:58 PM
Looks real to me. Keep in mind regarding the light lay up that most Donzi's aren't heavily built. My stripped 18 hull can be lifted with three guys. Granted we are struggling but the point is the bare glass isn't too heavy. The deck is if anything the heavier part of the boat.

Chris

Gearhead99
10-28-2001, 05:17 PM
Looks real to me too. The stringers weren't big and wide on the 18's. They were set up just like the pic's show.

Paint and seats make it look fake.

Did you check under front deck and rear of dash for any hand written vin number??

boldts
10-28-2001, 09:22 PM
Can't say yes or no about the authentisity of the boat, but the inside hull pictures look exactly like my 69 18' Classic. There is no flotation stuff or anything extra in mine.

Scott Pearson
10-29-2001, 07:30 AM
My 2 cents.

Stringers where very thin compared to later models. There about 3/4 of an inch thick. As far as the extensions off of the stringers that looks added. I have seen later years that didnt have these.

Can you give us a picture of the Transom? Outside and inside would be great.

Ok...the Deck stripe. The early Donzi's where only 7 1/8 inches wide. Boot stripes changed here and there. Could be 1 1/8 inch to 2 inches.

Also look under the dash for black marker writing imbeded in the glass. Could be across the dash or deck area by the dash.

As far as lay-up. That also depends on what they where doing that month. Donzi did alot of experementing with wood, foam and balsa.
For an example. My 1968 18. The deck from the dash to the bow is all Grain End Balsa. From the dash to the transom, including the hatch was all foam. Dash was wood. The floor was all plywood. The area under the rear seats where all balsa. I know other 68-69 that where not done like this.

For whats its worth...

(NJ)Scott

Looped
10-29-2001, 08:23 AM
WOT-sup,
In your forth picture, have you noticed that
you may have a Donzi paddle stuck along the
outside of the stringer? You can see it better
in your larger picture but I have circled it in a
downsized pic.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/bwhitmore030.jpg
You never know?

Craig