1996 16' Donzi Top Speed?

[Mike Ellison]

I am thinking of purchasing a 1996 16' Donzi. It has a 350 motor with 235 hp. Can anyone please tell me if the have ever clocked one on a GPS? Also, is $12,900 a good price? It comes with an Eagle trailer.

Thanks,

Mike

[Sam]

Mike I had this same set up in my sixteen prior to some engine mods. I ran 56-57 mph (GPS) with a 21" stainless prop. Jamie Root was also in that range prior to his many changes. If you do pick one up you will be in good company, there are lot's of Donzi owners in the area. As a matter of fact Bill Stephenson lives in East China. If you want to chat give me a shout. Just as an FYI I'll be leaving for some R&R on the 27th and will be gone for a week.

Sam :p

[MOP]

Not sure about the value, being F/W it is worth a bit more than salt boats. Does it have trim tabs, through hull exhaust, cover or covers etc. Any idea on how many hours on it. If you get serious check compression, feel risers right after a fast run and last but not least buy an oil sample kit and get a sample after the run.

My 2 cents!

[Rootsy]

in GOOD condition 12 isn't a bad price... that means a solid motor and sterndrive... clean exterior (including stress cracks and nicks, faded gelcoat etc) intact and unharmed interior and carpet... my boat is a 1997, sams is a 1996... i paid way more than 12 for mine in the summer of 2000 but it was perfect except for faded gel which i took care of in short manner...

sam's motor makes about 310 - 320 pshp... he runs 65ish... all accumulated from valvetrain, cylinder head, induction and exhaust...

from what i've been told the 350 in the 16's were called a "sport" motor and were rated at 210 pshp. i've had my motor apart NUMBEROUS times and i've taken the time to measure and blueprint a lot of it... it is identical to the 250 pshp 2V 350... compression ratio, cylinder heads, camshaft, intake, carb, ignition.. all the same... i was told that in 1995 - 1997 mercury had a shortage of 305's (max rating for the 16) therefore they detrated or detuned a 350 and substituted it for the 305...

my boat ran 54 - 55 with a pretty nastily beat-up 19P mercury vengence prop. I could spin her about 4400 - 4500 rpm.

i pretty much know that 350 and alpha inside and out and then some...

is this boat a 2+2 or a 1+3 seating? (2+2 = 2 front buckets, bench rear... 1+3 = 1 bucket & L shaped bench)

Jamie

[Rootsy]

do you mean private messaging a person?

[MOP]

Mike we read you loud and clear!

Glad Rootsy popped in with the value, my two cents you will need tabs. A 16 without tabs can be damn anoying. With tabs it thinks its bigger than it is. Exhaust will give you a bit more power on top, I love my 16 and with luck I will get to keep it.

Phil

[Rootsy]

yes sir... we will see it...

[oldLenny]

Mike, that depends on how bad you want to go boating on any particular day. wink

[MOP]

You mean comfortable or have to go home afternooners?

[Rootsy]

yes it is fairly easy to do thru-hull exhaust...

i've been in waves up to 4 feet... 3 and under is comfort... 2 and under really... 3 starts to beat you up...

[MOP]

You can go through hull easily, deciding on diverters or not, bit of a cost difference.

[MOP]

Rootsy what tabs are you running?

[Rootsy]

MOP.... NO TABS...

corsa exhaust tips are 200.00/pair, 4 feet of 4 inch ID exhaust hose and a block off plate for the wishbone... unless you want to keep it and run diverters and those are somewhere in the neighborhood of 350 / pair i believe...

[Rootsy]

i prefer the 2+2... especially at the speeds i am running.. my passengers really prefer it... it is all a matter of choice though... 1+3 was the way it came for 30 years from donzi...

[MOP]

I have the same setup that Rootsy has, honest I would rather have two buckets. The L is great I like the look of it, and for skiing its great but on a long run it sucks for the passenger up front.

[Mike Ellison]

I felt the same way looking at the set-up with the seating. Maybe I will keep looking...lots of time until boating season.

[oldLenny]

Mike, I have the 1+3 and have spent time in the 1+3 in big water. The passenger on the starboard side, forward, WILL end up in the lap of the aft starboard person every couple minutes. It is not the greatest set-up, but when these things went 45-50 it was not a big deal. Now they go 75...

It makes a GREAT lounger tho on a two person ride...

...careful, when you say Criterion around here :D

[Voodoocanoe]

Mike Ellison:
I know where a critrion is that has'nt been used in at least the past 5 years. William Clay Ford owns it. The marina puts it in the water every year, but it never leaves the well. It has a 400 in it...looks like a 70ish boat. Only 150 hrs. Good shape. Shhhhhhhh...."Lion's Den" has not moved in about 15 years. Keep it under your lid, or next thing you know it will disappear and mysteriously end up in Miami with all the rest of them. :D

[Sam]

Mike, you have mail, by the way clean your mail box out it's full now.


Sam wink

[Mike Ellison]

Sam..How do I access my mail???

[Sam]

I meant your personal e-mail.

Sam wink

[RedDog]

OK - what's going on here? Has someone being posting information about another Criterion. Seems to be several suspicious gaps in the thread - deleted posts - or is it just a paranoid conspiracy theory wink

[Mike Ellison]

Red Dog....No a Criterion is not for sale. I just stated that I know of one that has not been on the water for a number of years. Sorry for getting everyone excited!!!!

Best,

Mike

[boldts]

So, that's what all those duallys with Southern license plates were doing heading North on I-71 :D eek! :D

[BUIZILLA]

Boldts, I have a Tenn tag on my dually, specifically for covert operations. We now know that snow and ice are never an obstacle for Criterion retrieval.... be afrad.... be very afraid....

J

[John W]

I have the 2004 16 donzi with the 5.0 mpi engine, running now a 14.25 x 23p prop, the gaffrig speedo says 65, but the gps says 60, thats with full fuel and two full people. And it does need trim tabs, damn annoying below 40.
JW