Hull #18-83
04-16-2008, 12:03 AM
The time has come for me to sell Hull #18-83, my 18' 2+3 built on 7-19-66. This is the 83rd hull built and is an ultra-rare triple hatch barrelback design. Very cool and classic. Colors are white with red deck stripe, red hull sides and white water line stripe. In the dozen years I've owned her, this boat has undergone a complete mechanical refit and upgrade. It offers reliable, serious performance and is NOT for the beginning boater. It is best suited for a Donzi enthusiast that desires a very early, collectible model coupled with strong performance. Some highlights of this boat include:
-An early 1970s SBC LT-1 crate motor stroked to 383 CI by Rex Hutchison Racing Engines in Sacramento. Engine has 32 hrs. With a compression ratio of 9.38 to 1, the dyno showed 393 HP @ 5,500 RPM and 439 lbft @ 3,600 RPM. Top quality parts. Stainless Marine exhaust with custom fabricated SS risers (from Brownie) to match up with original exhaust tip locations.
-A Volvo 270 T upper (hydraulic trim/tilt) coupled to a rare Volvo E-Drive lower (1.45 to 1 ratio, straight-cut gears, 1" shorter than std lower, 15 spline prop shaft, cast-in nose cone, thinner (3.5") housing, external water p/u). Prop is a brand new Mazco Round Earred 3 blade 14.25" X 24" LH.
-Full hydraulic steering with a Teleflex Seastar helm, kevlar lines and inside cylinder ram to the Volvo tiller bar. This system eliminated all torque steer and makes for safe, easy control of the boat.
-New Aluminum fuel tank with 30+ gallon capacity.
-New Built-Rite upholstery (white w/ red piping) and Red carpet with Donzi logo in 2003. Full Sunbrella mooring cover.
-The original plywood stringers and transom coring are in great shape.
-Boat sits on a V&M single axle, painted white steel trailer that was completely refurbished three years ago. Custom welded double bunks.
-All new wiring harness and new VDO gauges (like original).
The boat is a blast to drive. While it offers strong performance it is also very reliable. It consistently runs low to mid 70s at WOT, with an average of 74 mph @ 5,250. Note this is in FRESH WATER (Northern California rivers and Lake Tahoe). This running gear has NEVER been in salt water and it shows it!
OK, now for the things needed to make this one a show winner:
-The boat was repainted long before I bought it in 1997. The hull and sides are great but the deck is in need of new paint. The thick original gel is showing signs of crazing in spots on the deck.
-The boat was fit with cavitation plates (similar to an old flat-bottom inboard, ie: Sanger) when I got it. I removed them during the restoration but have not replaced them yet. The transom holes were temporarily sealed with 3M 5200. Doesn't look good, but keeps the boat afloat!
-The prior owner wanted to inspect the old steel gas tank but didn't want to remove the deck, so he simply used a sawsall to create a joint behind the ski locker. It would be a fairly easy task to reglass the parts together, but I haven't. Everything rides fine as it is and the carpeting covers the cut.
-Only occassionally, the hydraulics on the 270T drive are slow to tilt the drive up when preparing to load onto the trailer. The drive hydraulics have been rebuilt.
-I have had the E-drive on the boat for only a few years (still have a Volvo 280 lower) and am still playing with props. I have Mercury Chopper, Machs and the Mazco - all three blades. Due to the shorter E-drive, the boat now cavitates when coming out of the hole - worse with a heavy load on board. But when it hooks up, it HOOKS UP AND GOES!!! I am thinking a 4 blade (Mazco or Mach) might solve this problem and increase the cruise speed, which is already excellent. Just haven't tried it yet. Remember that the E-drive requires an over-hub prop (like an outboard) and has 15 splines (like Merc) rather than the std 17 spline Volvo design. This boat has a port helm, hence it requires a left-hand prop.
-You will note that I added a few parts that were not original. The first is a specially made, Taylor low-profile windshield. I like the look and really needed it to keep that cold Tahoe water off me. Second was a set of air horns. I like a LOUD horn and these do the job but they were not original. Third, I wanted a foot throttle so I could keep both hands on the wheel. This is my third boat with a foot throttle and I really like them! These could be removed with little hastle. Of course you all know that the boat came with a Ford and a Volvo 200 drive. The old Ford was junk when I got it and quickly made the decision to replace it with a Chevy. Going from the 200 to an E-drive was a no brainer.
In the nearly 12 years of owning this boat, I have replaced ALL mechanical parts. It is a great, collectible boat from the very early Donzi years. Brownie estimates that fewer than 100 triple hatch boats were built. All hardware is intact and in good shape. I am 49 yrs old and own three boats (Donzi, 33 Scarab w/ twin 525 SC and a Cobalt CS7). With a wife and 7 yr old son I am not able to enjoy this as much as I once did. This turn-key package is available now for $16,500. You can reach me at jstone@johnobronson.com or cell phone 916/213-1313. Please let me know what you think and have a great summer on the water! Thanks for reading and photos will be posted very soon. Jeff Stone
-An early 1970s SBC LT-1 crate motor stroked to 383 CI by Rex Hutchison Racing Engines in Sacramento. Engine has 32 hrs. With a compression ratio of 9.38 to 1, the dyno showed 393 HP @ 5,500 RPM and 439 lbft @ 3,600 RPM. Top quality parts. Stainless Marine exhaust with custom fabricated SS risers (from Brownie) to match up with original exhaust tip locations.
-A Volvo 270 T upper (hydraulic trim/tilt) coupled to a rare Volvo E-Drive lower (1.45 to 1 ratio, straight-cut gears, 1" shorter than std lower, 15 spline prop shaft, cast-in nose cone, thinner (3.5") housing, external water p/u). Prop is a brand new Mazco Round Earred 3 blade 14.25" X 24" LH.
-Full hydraulic steering with a Teleflex Seastar helm, kevlar lines and inside cylinder ram to the Volvo tiller bar. This system eliminated all torque steer and makes for safe, easy control of the boat.
-New Aluminum fuel tank with 30+ gallon capacity.
-New Built-Rite upholstery (white w/ red piping) and Red carpet with Donzi logo in 2003. Full Sunbrella mooring cover.
-The original plywood stringers and transom coring are in great shape.
-Boat sits on a V&M single axle, painted white steel trailer that was completely refurbished three years ago. Custom welded double bunks.
-All new wiring harness and new VDO gauges (like original).
The boat is a blast to drive. While it offers strong performance it is also very reliable. It consistently runs low to mid 70s at WOT, with an average of 74 mph @ 5,250. Note this is in FRESH WATER (Northern California rivers and Lake Tahoe). This running gear has NEVER been in salt water and it shows it!
OK, now for the things needed to make this one a show winner:
-The boat was repainted long before I bought it in 1997. The hull and sides are great but the deck is in need of new paint. The thick original gel is showing signs of crazing in spots on the deck.
-The boat was fit with cavitation plates (similar to an old flat-bottom inboard, ie: Sanger) when I got it. I removed them during the restoration but have not replaced them yet. The transom holes were temporarily sealed with 3M 5200. Doesn't look good, but keeps the boat afloat!
-The prior owner wanted to inspect the old steel gas tank but didn't want to remove the deck, so he simply used a sawsall to create a joint behind the ski locker. It would be a fairly easy task to reglass the parts together, but I haven't. Everything rides fine as it is and the carpeting covers the cut.
-Only occassionally, the hydraulics on the 270T drive are slow to tilt the drive up when preparing to load onto the trailer. The drive hydraulics have been rebuilt.
-I have had the E-drive on the boat for only a few years (still have a Volvo 280 lower) and am still playing with props. I have Mercury Chopper, Machs and the Mazco - all three blades. Due to the shorter E-drive, the boat now cavitates when coming out of the hole - worse with a heavy load on board. But when it hooks up, it HOOKS UP AND GOES!!! I am thinking a 4 blade (Mazco or Mach) might solve this problem and increase the cruise speed, which is already excellent. Just haven't tried it yet. Remember that the E-drive requires an over-hub prop (like an outboard) and has 15 splines (like Merc) rather than the std 17 spline Volvo design. This boat has a port helm, hence it requires a left-hand prop.
-You will note that I added a few parts that were not original. The first is a specially made, Taylor low-profile windshield. I like the look and really needed it to keep that cold Tahoe water off me. Second was a set of air horns. I like a LOUD horn and these do the job but they were not original. Third, I wanted a foot throttle so I could keep both hands on the wheel. This is my third boat with a foot throttle and I really like them! These could be removed with little hastle. Of course you all know that the boat came with a Ford and a Volvo 200 drive. The old Ford was junk when I got it and quickly made the decision to replace it with a Chevy. Going from the 200 to an E-drive was a no brainer.
In the nearly 12 years of owning this boat, I have replaced ALL mechanical parts. It is a great, collectible boat from the very early Donzi years. Brownie estimates that fewer than 100 triple hatch boats were built. All hardware is intact and in good shape. I am 49 yrs old and own three boats (Donzi, 33 Scarab w/ twin 525 SC and a Cobalt CS7). With a wife and 7 yr old son I am not able to enjoy this as much as I once did. This turn-key package is available now for $16,500. You can reach me at jstone@johnobronson.com or cell phone 916/213-1313. Please let me know what you think and have a great summer on the water! Thanks for reading and photos will be posted very soon. Jeff Stone