formula 17

[WarPath137]

wow i never actually saw one of the classic formula's like this one, lines on it are great, but which runs better, the donzi, or the formula? http://images.traderonline.com/img/6/dealer/754428/2003577_2.jpg http://images.traderonline.com/img/6/dealer/754428/2003577_5.jpg its on boat trader its for sale, if i had the money i'd buy it (http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/7/7/2003577.htm) :D

[mattyboy]

Formula Jr, this is right in your wheel house!

Matt

[Formula Jr]

Depends on which Donzi. The Jr has more midship beam than the 16 so it feels much more stable. But any 18 unless its severly underpowered will walk away from it. Well, at least from mine. Its essentually a fiberglass version of Wynne's Wyn-Mil II. Which was the prototype design for the 16. The history is pretty complicated but goes something like this.

Wynne had been working on a small offshore design, even before meeting Aronow as a test bed for his Stern Drives. The boat really was too small for the type of racing Don was interested in. Never the less, the Wyn-Mil II entered and won the Paris 6 hour endurance race of 1962. When Formula was sold to Thunderbird, Wynne and Walters designed the Donzi 16 - loosely based on this design. Then Wynne and Aronow had a falling out. And Wynne took the Wyn-Mil II design and handed it over to Genth to create a competing small offshore design. So thats how the Jr came about. It predates the 16 as a wooden race boat design, however it became a glass production boat two years after the 16. I've never seen one that was totally original, so I can't compare fit and finish. The Donzis appear to have been better made and finished.

http://www.epud.net/~owen/images/66formulas2.jpg

http://www.epud.net/~owen/jrhistory.jpg

[Magic Float]

If anyone has a chance to visit the Formula factory in Indiana they have one on display in the lobby,has an OMC drive. Except for the driver's seat it is !00% original,gelcoat,stripes gauges,steering wheel,etc. An absolutely gorgeous boat,but not for sale.

[lou]

Hey Owen remember these pictures?
http://www.4u2buy.com/donzi/cc.htm

[MOP]

I had a bright yellow 74 Formula 17 with a 165 Merc, it ran just over 50. It did have a little bit but not much better ride than my 16 Donzi.

[Formula Jr]

Thanks Lou, I was going to dig those up, and now I know where to find them already setup!

Magic, did you see the showroom boat in person? And if you did, what model year is that one? One day I'll have to make the trip to Decator and personally thank the staff for sending those photos.

MOP, was your '74 a JR, or was it the Formula 17. They are two different boats entirely. Walters went on to design a whole line of small Formulas. The last year I know of the JRs was 1971. Just cause thats the newest one I ever found. A '74 JR would be new information. And very cool to confirm. :D

[Magic Float]

Seen it many times,we go to the factory every November. No serial # on the transom means prior to 1971, probrably late 60's, I'll try to find out. They told me last year they had found another one,even more perfect they were trying to buy. I'll snoop around a little

[MOP]

Hi not sure what the model was, it had a single bucket stbd. and a back to back on port. Had an engine box with jump seats, will have to poke around and see if I can find one on the net.

[Formula Jr]

Engine box (Dog House) with jump seats was the later Walters' design Formula 17. Not the JR. Completely different boats. :D

[warren]

Does anyone know whatever happened to Jim Wynn's Wyn-Mill II is it still around.