Just bought a 1969 Ski Sporter - Info Needed

[ss04vv]

Hi guys, new to the forums, just picked up a 1969 Ski Sporter from a guy on Lake Joe in the Muskokas in Ontario. Looking for some information and opinions on the boat.

It was advertised as a 351C engine, but I'm 99.9% sure she's a 289 as it's an interceptor motor, and I think it had the 6 bolt valve covers. Not a big deal either way as I know a ton more about Windsors than I do the Clevelands. (I'll post an engine bay pic in a bit)

Anyways. If she is an interceptor, is there an easy way to distinguish between the 165 and 210 hp versions? I kinda bought this thing on a whim because it looked cool and I've been a huge Donzi fan for a long time now....seeing a 22'er on our lake a few weeks ago rekindled my love, and well...here we are.

Any good places to find information/specs/original parts (or information on what was original on these boats) for the 1969 year etc. Also, does anyone know anything or have pictures of the original Trailers that these boats came with? The owner has a trailer, he's not sure if it's original or not. If it's original I'd like to convince him to sell it to me.

IMG-20120823-00149.jpgIMG-20120823-00147.jpgIMG-20120823-00148.jpg

[Rodger]

The 165 HP was a 260 cu. in. with a 2bbl. carb. I don't think it was still available in 1969.

[superhatz]

Doesn't the rear vent mean it's earlier?...say '67ish?

[glashole]

is there a big dish in the bow?

as far as trailers don't over pay for something cause its "original"

you would be better off to go buy a brand new one and not have to worry about servicing it

[ss04vv]

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Yah there's a small dip in the bow...looks alot bigger in the pictures than it actually is. It's only an inch or so and has been there since the guy I bought it off off picked it up 12 years ago. Not too worried about it. If I keep it it'll get a deck-off restoration in a couple years.

[maddad]

A 351C would be a tight fit in a 16. The easiest way to tell them apart is on the 351C, the water leaves the block vertically in front of the intake manifold, on the others, it leaves horizontal from the intake manifold. The pic is the 351C that was in my 18.

[mattyboy]

the 351w in a 16 is tight a 351C would be even tighter.

looking at the pics this may very well be an early 16 earlier than a 69. the lack of clamshell vents and the rear louvre it must be a functional vent with the blower. the grab rail is not there is there any evidence it was there and the holes were filled and faired? if you have any numbers on the motor ,bell housing, drive it would help.

I can give you some historical data on the 16 and can give you an idea on how it was setup. is the deck cored with wood?


if there is any thing I can help with just shoot me a pm

[ss04vv]

Thanks, I've been reading through the forums most of the day and have found some information. I'll get the hull ID number when I pick the boat up (Does anyone have a picture of where it is?). The deck was refinished on the top side but never removed. (How do you split the deck anyways...do you have to cut it, or just pull it apart???). Also, if there is no water coming out of the exhaust when the boat is running I'm assuming this is an issue....how do the cooling systems work on these boats anyways...am I looking for a plugged intake hose somewhere, water pump etc? I've been working on cars (mainly mustangs....hence buying a boat with a Ford Motor in it) and small engines/ outboards up to 135 hp the past 10 years so I have the mechanical knowledge, I'm just brand new to the I/O scene.

[mattyboy]

the hull number will be handwritten in black marker on the back side of the dash and up by the backing plate of the bow eye. the deck is screwed together at the deck hull seam and has small glass tabs in the floor locker , rear seat and ski locker areas these need to be cut then the deck can be split from the hull. the cooling is a tad different from auto stuff and lack of water could be a bad impellor or plugged plumbing or both . i would not run the motor like that and make sure the impellor has not broken up and caused issues downstream.

post some pics of the motor and look on the top of the drive for a silver tag with a serial number, engine block casting numbers by the starter and a metal tag on the bell housing with numbers on it. that will help me help you ID they boat.

[Rob M]

I remember seeing that boat at the Lake Joe Club about 8 years ago. The deck was wonky then. Looks like deck core rot.

[superhatz]

I have an original Rocket trailer for a 16 if you want it...free. I'm in Minnesota....

[ss04vv]

I'll get all that information today when I pick the boat up. I'm trying to find some information on what these boats weigh but all I'm find is a 1500 lb gross weight. Has anyone ever weighed one of these classic sweet 16's. Just want to ensure it can be towed with the Ford Escape (3500 lbs tow cap.)

[mattyboy]

my 16 with a 351w/Volvo sitting on an overbuilt custom steel tandem trailer 3400-3500lbs depending on fuel and equipment. I would figure around 2400-2500 lbs for the boat rigged with fuel then plus your trailer. depending on the era of the 16 the layup and layup methods were different. I towed my 16 with a ford 3.3 6cyl windstar many miles without issue.

[ss04vv]

I took a bunch of pictures this weekend, and of course as soon as I got home my blackberry went for a crap. I'll be back up next weekend to GPS/re photgraph the boat.

The only number I got was off the engine. its D1OE-6105-AA (so, somehow it has a 1971 engine in it?), and the intake manifold had a FoMoCo C5 casting number. The carb is an original looking holley 4 barrel leading me to believe its a 210 hp interceptor engine. Hull number behind the dash, and on the transom have some overspray from when the deck was repainted so I can't make them out. I didn't check the drive or the nose (forgot).

Also, there is no issue with the impeller, it pushes a good amount of water through, and runs cold. I'm thinking the t-stat might have been removed at some point.

It also looks like the deck was off at some point, but the tank appears to be original. Perhaps the deck was removed to replace the original engine? I wish people kept records of their toys 1/10th as good as I keep of mine, so any future buyer won't have to ask so many questions.

And to answer an earlier question, yes the deck is cored with wood.

[mattyboy]

not really all that strange probably a cracked block and they replaced the original motor with a 71 302 block and kept all the "tinware" hard to judge what you have without knowing the casting on the heads and the cam specs. I have an 87 5.0 ho that's dressed up with the original 225 hp 289 trimmings