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Thread: X18 or 18 2+3 You choose...

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    X18 or 18 2+3 You choose...

    If you had the choice what would you rather have and why?
    X18 or a Classic 18 2+3?
    They are both really sweet boats and even though they have length in common is that it? What would be the differences in other characteristics of these great boats
    The sting of poor quailty far outlasts the Joy of a cheap price...

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    Buddy:

    18 vs X-18 ~~~& Corscan
    All are basically the exact same boats & hulls from the rub-rail down !

    Just a deck swap update on the old "Classic" style 18 to make it an X-18 !

    I like all three deck types !

    The upswept deck of the X-18 gives you a slightly deeper cockpit passenger area !

    Our family had a new X-18 in the early 1970s !

    Other friends have/had the "Classic" style Donzi 18 .

    Donzi made far fewer X-18s .
    156 total I believe ?
    (Where is Matty , our history & production numbers guy ,when we need him ?)

    The X-18 deck was dropped after a short time in production~~~ 1973-79
    Why ?~~~
    Don't really know for sure !
    Possibly lack of sales compared to the standard "Classic" deck style ?
    Did the old X-18 deck mold wear out ?
    Who really knows for sure ?

    Everyone around today seems to know the standard 18, or so-called "Classic" deck style Donzi .

    Then there is always the rare & sporty Corsican 18 !
    1969-71 only 58 built !

    Again~~~ basically the same boat & hull from the rub-rail down.
    But what a sporty & radical deck design with storage area !
    Last edited by silverghost; 03-18-2011 at 10:12 PM.
    "BENCHSEAT 18" ~~YellowJacket~~ project owner~
    1929 Chris~Craft 28' Tripple Cockpit Mahogany Speedboat / A-120-A 845 Cu.In. 375 H.P. Chris~Craft V-8 racing engine.
    24' American Skier
    Super Eagle 454 HO Skiboat
    1991 454 SS Chevy Super Sport Pick-up for towing my "Toys".

    There is no such thing as going too fast ~ ~~
    OR~ Being too old~ for a new "Toy"!

    Brad Hunter
    Huntingdon Valley Pa (Just outside Philly)~
    Ocean City NJ
    silverghost1926@msn.com
    215 947 4676 (PA Home)

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    I like the X-18 because:

    1. Upswept deck looks cool.
    2. Gauges stretched across the dash looks cool.
    3. Front seats being higher looks neat and probably gives a bit more support
    4. Seem to be more rare.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jstrahn View Post
    I like the X-18 because:
    1. Upswept deck looks cool.
    2. Gauges stretched across the dash looks cool.
    3. Front seats being higher looks neat and probably gives a bit more support
    4. Seem to be more rare.
    Ditto. Exactly.

    I've owned both, shown below.



    “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

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    is that an Aspen wagon in the first pic?
    Charter Member - WAFNC, SBBR, KWOSG
    1955 Perfect Mate
    1986 Hornet III, 502-415 TRS

    www.donzi.org


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    X-18 holds the fastest record of all Donzis
    Most beautiful 18 ever made
    and it is rare . . .

    The front deck keeps the bow down at extreme speed

    There's a kind of glow to them that's hard to capture.


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    Buddy,

    For the ones that you're dealing with, you're going to get a rare boat either way. It basically depends on (in my opinion) if you want the old school original classic, or the sports car version. It's kind of like a stock '69 camero vs. a Super Sport. I've driven both, and like both just fine. However, I personally love my original 18, and wouldn't trade it for anything that I've found yet.

    If I were you, I would drive both and see what you think. That should do the trick.

    Good luck,
    David
    1970 18 Classic-original

    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin

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    I'm going to vote for the X-18 as well....but of course I'm biased. Rolled her out today and started doing spring prep work.
    -Kev

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    Quote Originally Posted by BUIZILLA View Post
    is that an Aspen wagon in the first pic?
    You are scaring me. Yes. I supplied the boat, and a friend offered to drive, and he had an Aspen Wagon. Towed the boat from Rockford, IL to Geneva, IL where we put in and ran the Mississippi River.

    Wing Dams are scary.
    “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

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marlin275 View Post
    X-18 holds the fastest record of all Donzis
    Most beautiful 18 ever made
    and it is rare . . .


    The front deck keeps the bow down at extreme speed

    There's a kind of glow to them that's hard to capture.

    Not the fastest any more..... I ran this one at 132 MPH on GPS
    U.S.C.G. Master Captain
    "Pioneer of insane speed concepts & creations"

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr X View Post
    Not the fastest any more..... I ran this one at 132 MPH on GPS
    Its Official
    X-18 holds the fastest record of all classic Donzis . . .

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    Having seen Marlin275's X-18 up close several times last Summer I would vote X-18 as well without a doubt.

    --- X-18 has "the look"
    --- X-18 looks rare
    --- X-18 is in fact rare
    --- X-18 fastest ever amongst the Classics, and that record won't ever fall
    1972 16 OB - C16B-63 - "Surface Tension" Resto Project
    1974 16 OB - DMR16106017-B - "The Mule"

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Guimond View Post
    Having seen Marlin275's X-18 up close several times last Summer I would vote X-18 as well without a doubt.

    --- X-18 has "the look"
    --- X-18 looks rare
    --- X-18 is in fact rare
    --- X-18 fastest ever amongst the Classics, and that record won't ever fall
    thanks Greg . . .



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    Quote Originally Posted by jstrahn View Post
    I like the X-18 because:
    2. Gauges stretched across the dash looks cool.
    right on . . .






    Nasa scientists have found enough water on the moon to support a modest colony for centuries.

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    Old Century speedboats on the Moon ! ?

    Hey~~~ I thought we were talking Donzi X-18 / 18 speedboats here ? ;-)


    Speaking of Century speedboats~~~

    In the late 1950s to early 1960s the Century Coronado was advetised as "The World's Fastest Production Speedboat " in their sales catalogs !

    Then Don Aronow & his Donzi came along and changed everything !
    Last edited by silverghost; 03-19-2011 at 04:42 PM.
    "BENCHSEAT 18" ~~YellowJacket~~ project owner~
    1929 Chris~Craft 28' Tripple Cockpit Mahogany Speedboat / A-120-A 845 Cu.In. 375 H.P. Chris~Craft V-8 racing engine.
    24' American Skier
    Super Eagle 454 HO Skiboat
    1991 454 SS Chevy Super Sport Pick-up for towing my "Toys".

    There is no such thing as going too fast ~ ~~
    OR~ Being too old~ for a new "Toy"!

    Brad Hunter
    Huntingdon Valley Pa (Just outside Philly)~
    Ocean City NJ
    silverghost1926@msn.com
    215 947 4676 (PA Home)

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