View Full Version : Cobalt Corsican Splash/Clone ?
silverghost
03-20-2011, 02:10 PM
There is a fairly rare Cobalt Corsican Splash/Clone knock-off for sale in Somers Point NJ.
The yard owner claims that everyone is afraid to touch it with a ten foot pole because it has balsa core actually in it's hull & bottom !
Did Cobalt in fact use balsa core wood in their hull sides & bottoms ?
I thought some have said that Cobalt built a quality boat ?
Not so,~~~ in my oinion, if it indeed used a balsa core in it's hull !
What a re-core nightmare this would be !
My older friend, who actually looked at it, says that much of it's bottom now sounds "dead & hollow" !
He also says the aft bottom sounds waterlogged & heavy !
I did not see this boat first hand myself .
The Cobalt decals are still on this boat !
Cobalt GT 500 ?
Cobalt was sued by Donzi for building these direct rip-off clone/splashes~~~
They were soon forced to stop buiding them !
I doubt many were built ?
This boat now has an inline Chevy 250 Cu.In. six cylinder; with one transom exhaust outlet plugged-up with a big wooden plug !
What a poor set-up for a once V8 powered performance boat !
The Corsican's sporty Euro-style deck is fantastic !
CHACHI
03-20-2011, 06:18 PM
Didn't someone on the board start a restoration on one of these Cobalts, Rustnrot maybe.
If my memory is still there, I think he posted photos of him removing the balsa from the hull.
I would say the yard owner is correct.
Ken
Conquistador_del_mar
03-21-2011, 12:19 AM
Didn't someone on the board start a restoration on one of these Cobalts, Rustnrot maybe.
If my memory is still there, I think he posted photos of him removing the balsa from the hull.
I would say the yard owner is correct.
Ken
My memories are the same.
Sweet little 16
03-21-2011, 06:44 AM
There is a fairly rare Cobalt Corsican Splash/Clone knock-off for sale in Somers Point NJ.
The yard owner claims that everyone is afraid to touch it with a ten foot pole because it has balsa core actually in it's hull & bottom !
Did Cobalt in fact use balsa core wood in their hull sides & bottoms ?
I thought some have said that Cobalt built a quality boat ?
Not so,~~~ in my oinion, if it indeed used a balsa core in it's hull !
What a re-core nightmare this would be !
With your above statement, I would like to know your opinion of Donzi.
They used the same coring methods on some of their models.
Your the guy looking for a Hornet benchseat right? They used balsa coring in the hull sides in most of them, some even had a fully cored hull depending on the power plant. They even used a balsa core that was cut in a manner that the grain was more likely to wick up water .
When you find your hornet benchseat don't worry it will be a quality boat, and a re-coring nightmare.
The curved arches of the Corsican need extra support, at the time was there a cost effective alternative to balsa , That would work on the curves of a corsican??
Just Say N20
03-21-2011, 08:12 AM
Here is a link to the thread.
Rustnrot was the person rebuilding the Cobalt GT500.
Yes, the bottom is cored.
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56485&highlight=cobalt
mphatc
03-21-2011, 11:40 AM
The curved arches of the Corsican need extra support, at the time was there a cost effective alternative to balsa , That would work on the curves of a corsican??
The Donzi Corsican deck is a foam core deck . . .other 18s have a balsa core deck . ..
I've never seen a bad Corsican deck . . . but many of the older flat deck 18s have had or have issues.
The Corsican hull is solid glass . .
Mario L.
69 Corsican C18 C32
68 Magnum 27
gcarter
03-21-2011, 12:56 PM
All the Donzis I have worked on have had solid hulls
Sweet little 16
03-21-2011, 02:38 PM
the 68 corsican I had seen had balsa coring in the deck and sides not sure on the bottom it was a mess . The early hornets and St Tropez I have seen had balsa coring in the sides/deck as well.
George have you worked on any of those models??
Donzi was learning as they built them too in that era , and used different coring and layup methods . I'm not sure if it was a latest and greatest thing or a money thing, or a we ran out of balsa thing. The layup and construction changed over the years. Rumors had it the early boats after a year or so had the motors fall out. My point a 65-66 classic is very different construction and layup wize from 67 or later classic.
silverghost
03-21-2011, 02:49 PM
Did the old Hornets actually have basa core IN their hull sides & bottom ?
WOW~~~
News to me~~~
I did not know about about this balsa coring ! ?
I knew about the balsa cored decks~~~
Geeze~~~
I have enough FUN on my hands with the totally rotten deck core on my benchseat 18 project that had been sitting outside uncovered for 25+ years with all the deck hardware removed.
What a mess this was !
Around my large deck vent holes I actually had green moss growing from the rotten deck core !
I went into this project with my eyes fully open knowing I was in for a FUN total deck re-core.
I also expected to re-core the transom, and aft stringers !
If the Benchseat Hornet has a balsa cored hull I guess If I find & buy one I am in for some more re-coring FUN !
Can anyone else actually confirm the existance of balsa core in the older Hornet's hull sides & bottom ?
I guess Scott Pearson needs to confirm this ?
Was there balsa core in "The Sting" 's hull sides or bottom ?
Sweet little 16
03-21-2011, 02:58 PM
Can anyone else actually confirm the existance of balsa core in the older Hornet's hull sides & bottom ?
like I am pulling your chain?????? :rolleyes: find an owner of a daytona turbo benchseat ask them.
silverghost
03-21-2011, 03:09 PM
Hey~~~
If you say so~~~
It must be true !
I do NOT doubt you !
Never really considered this before ?
I just checked-out rustnrot's thread here on the now abandoned Cobalt GT 500 restoration~~~
What a rotten hull core mess he had on his hands there ! ~~~
If anyone could save that boat~~~rustnrot could !
He had most of the tough work already done~~~
It's a shame it's owner stopped the project due to lack of funds !
If anyone is interested in The Somers Point Cobalt GT-500 Corsican Splash/Clone it is in a marina yard right on the back bay in Somers Point NJ ~~~
Our Friend says you can't miss it !
The Somers Point waterfront bay & marina area is only a few blocks long.
mphatc
03-22-2011, 06:50 PM
Silverghost,
I am mildly interested in this boat, and have another Corsican that either needs a deck, or pieces there of and the foot well, a separate piece of the cockpit . .
I have no interest in the Cobalt as a boat, it would clearly become a donor for a real Donzi, if only as molds or parts. The Corsican hardware is unque to the boat . . .
Are you able to take some detailed pics for me of this boat?
Thank you,
Mario L.
silverghost
03-22-2011, 07:20 PM
Mario:
As I mentioned in my first post here~~~
I have not seen this boat first hand; nor any photos of her.
I live 80-90 miles away in Penna.
The older fellow who tipped me on the boat is a friend of my late father !
He knows his fast boats as he once worked for the famous Ventnor boat works as a young fellow & later for "Uncle" Jack Thompson of Thompson Boat Works. also Ronnie Holtz of Holtz Boatworks, and Stanley Haynes of Allglass & Pacemaker. Finally he worked for Lauterbach building unlimited & limited hydroplanes !
Frank has many a great tale of Arno Apel the Ventnor boatworks owner & three point hydroplane co- inventor & and Guy Lombardo's famous "Tempo" unlimited hydroplane race boats that we all built there ! Frank used to help build the famous Ventnor hydroplanes !
He built Guy Lombardo's last "Tempo" unlimited hydro race boat which is now sitting in a closed museum up in Canada !
Frank also worked for ELCO and built PT boats during WW II !
What this man can do with mahogany planking is simply stunning !
Our old friend Frank is up there in years but still likes to "poke-around" fast boats.
Frank does not have a computer, nor does he want one !
He also does not have a digital camera !
He is 86 !
In a month or so I will be in Ocean Ciy NJ and can possibly get you some photos of this Cobalt Splash Corsican, as Somers Point NJ is just across the causeway bridge !
If it is not sold by then ? !!!
I would assume that the Cobalt GT-500 deck would fit an old early Donzi 18 hull ?
I have Frank on a quest to find a Benchseat Hornet, or a Donzi Corsican, or a Donzi 18 X-18 Jet-boat for me !
Frank knows where quite a few old speedboats are hidden away in South Jersey !
fogducker III
03-22-2011, 07:53 PM
Wow, can you say, "name dropping".....:popcorn:
silverghost
03-22-2011, 08:14 PM
Wow, can you say, "name dropping".....:popcorn:
Yea~~~I know~~~
But Frank is one of the very last of his era alive that actually knew & worked for all these great old boat guys !
I'd bet you could all listen to old Frank and ask him questions for hours on end ! :shark:
I have often done so !
The last mahogany wooden speedboat guy standing so to speak !
Frank has spar varnish running through his veins !
Bet you guys didn't know that old "Uncle" Jack Thompson was once a South Jersey Rum-Runner in his younger days ? !
silverghost
04-19-2011, 02:49 AM
I will be in Ocean City NJ /Sommers Point NJ early next week 4/29&30/ 11 if someome wants me to check-out this Cobalt GT-500/ Donzi Corsican splash/clone.
I can snap a few digital photo shots also.
Drop me an email if you want me to get a few shots & check-it-out for you~~~assuming it is still For Sale & Still There ?
It sounds like this boat might be a rotten balsa core nightare ?
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