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Thread: Its a movement

  1. #1
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    Its a movement

    Hi, I have been lurking here for sometime now. It is time to come out of the boat house.
    I have emailed “Just say N2O” seeing that he is being pained the same way I am. Yes I have a 67 Ski Sporter. Unlike Bill this is my second time around with this boat! In 1990 I had it with the 351 Cleveland that was in it so I replaced it with a 351 Windsor. Other than moving the exhaust and painting the bottom I did very little to her. I ran the you know what out of her for 3 years then built a house. Meaning to get back to the Donzi but life got it the way… IT’S TIME! She came out from under the deck in July and into the garage. I started to work on it the weekend after Labor Day.

    I have owned this boat since 1985. I bought it from a guy who had no idea what he had. I spent all my summers on the Niantic River living right next to a house with TWO Donzis (18’2-3 and a 16 Ski Sporter) I know what it is!

    Previous owners have hacked it and smashed it. My goal is to make it the best it can be… During the 1990 repower I found that the engine mounts had ruined the stringers so I dropped back and punted and put engine beds in it. This I might revisit…

    Anyway, Hi again and HELP!!!

    Bill DiFrancesco

    The new image is to day, the rest are 1990...

  2. #2
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    Welcome!
    I guess you have lots of company here.
    Probably lots of advice too.
    Have fun!
    George Carter
    Central Florida
    gcarter763@aol.com
    http://kineticocentralfl.com/


    “If you have to argue your science by using fraud, your science is not valid"
    Professor Ian Plimer, Adilaide and Melbourne Universities

  3. #3
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    2landseers, nice to see another 16 being brought back. You'll have a lot of input from those of us restoring 16's and get to use the "search" function a lot.

    Keep the pics coming and welcome!

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by 2landseers View Post


    I have owned this boat since 1995. I bought it from a guy who had no idea what he had. I spent all my summers on the Niantic River living right next to a house with TWO Donzis (18’2-3 and a 16 Ski Sporter) I know what it is!
    I think he meant he has owned it since 1985.

    He has the advantage of an overhead lift, and a heated space to work in. Yes, I would be jealous .
    “Oh right, because you walked into strippers discount warehouse and said ‘Help me showcase my intellect.’” - Archer

    Bill
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    1985 Donzi Criterion SS
    1967 Donzi 16 Ski Sporter, C16-409, Has a new home!
    38' Carver Aft Cabin
    1968 Sea Ray SRV 180 w/1975 70 hp Evinrude
    10" RIB w/15 hp 1984 Evinrude

  5. #5
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    you are right! it was 1985, I told you I dont type...

  6. #6
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    How about some brand info on that overhead lift? I could use one of those babies in the garage.

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    Sorry Greg, the cran is a product of my mine when I have too much time on my hands. So is the rest of the toybox, I mean garage...
    Here are some better non cell phone photos...

  9. #9
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    Well that certainly must come in very handy.........

  10. #10
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    Engine out yet?
    “Oh right, because you walked into strippers discount warehouse and said ‘Help me showcase my intellect.’” - Archer

    Bill
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    1985 Donzi Criterion SS
    1967 Donzi 16 Ski Sporter, C16-409, Has a new home!
    38' Carver Aft Cabin
    1968 Sea Ray SRV 180 w/1975 70 hp Evinrude
    10" RIB w/15 hp 1984 Evinrude

  11. #11
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    Not yet, Life got in the way the last two days. I think i am going to play with the engine in the boat to see how much work it needs before I pull it. I am planning to close loop the cooling system so I need to make some measurements to get that to work.. Does anyone know where I can get a heat exchanger? I can make the expansion tank...

  12. #12
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    When I bought my boat it had closed cooling. I am not going to use it. If you can use it, you are welcome to it. My engine is a 350 Chevy, so you will probably need a different T-stat housing.

    I will take a couple pictures of it tonight.
    “Oh right, because you walked into strippers discount warehouse and said ‘Help me showcase my intellect.’” - Archer

    Bill
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    1985 Donzi Criterion SS
    1967 Donzi 16 Ski Sporter, C16-409, Has a new home!
    38' Carver Aft Cabin
    1968 Sea Ray SRV 180 w/1975 70 hp Evinrude
    10" RIB w/15 hp 1984 Evinrude

  13. #13
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    Here's a short discussion on my TR thread about closed cooling systems.

    http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthre...=50476&page=25
    George Carter
    Central Florida
    gcarter763@aol.com
    http://kineticocentralfl.com/


    “If you have to argue your science by using fraud, your science is not valid"
    Professor Ian Plimer, Adilaide and Melbourne Universities

  14. #14
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    All good info, and I know you have recommended I keep the system on my boat. I believe that everything you say is true about closed loop systems.

    I decided not to use it because I have no intentions of using this in saltwater.

    The engine compartment in a 16 is already very full, and the heat exchanger/hoses made access all that much more difficult.

    I have had great success running 160º thermostats in 5 previous boats (4 * 350 Chevys, 1 * 283 Chevy, 1 * 300 Hercules, 2 * 454 Chevys), all without closed loop cooling, so it would be fixing a problem I have never had.

    My new engine is a simple 350 Chevy with pretty standard internals, and a Holly 4 bbl carb. No fancy anything (except the yellow paint ) so I am not looking to squeeze the last mph out of it.

    Sorry for the HI-JACK.
    “Oh right, because you walked into strippers discount warehouse and said ‘Help me showcase my intellect.’” - Archer

    Bill
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    1985 Donzi Criterion SS
    1967 Donzi 16 Ski Sporter, C16-409, Has a new home!
    38' Carver Aft Cabin
    1968 Sea Ray SRV 180 w/1975 70 hp Evinrude
    10" RIB w/15 hp 1984 Evinrude

  15. #15
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    I am going for the closed loop to keep sand out of the block... I ran this boat in some shallow water and when I was flushing the engine, I ended up with sand on the pavement... NOT GOOD...

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