Formula 233 hull #3 ????

[Team Hula Girl]

I happen to run into this boat the other day and was talking to the owner. He told me some of the history of the boat. It was very interesting to hear. Rumor has it that this is the oldest 233 still in existence. If anyone is interested I will tell more of his story. here are a few pictures of the hull during restoration.


www.donzi.net/photos/pict0097.jpg
www.donzi.net/photos/pict0098.jpg
www.donzi.net/photos/pict0099.jpg


John

[Cuda]

MadPoodle:
Killer hull, one of my favorits. I am looking for a CC version of one to restore.

Tell us a bor about this one..

Scott B

Trivia question: How many versions of this hull did Formula build?


Trivia question 2: How many clones of this hull were built (Brands)?

Answer to number 2, in my opinion, that is the boat on which all performance v hulls in existence was based on,

[Greg Maier]

Here is a Formula 233 that is sitting in my parents back yard. My brother found it at the dump. Some guy bought it to restore and decided not to continue, so he dropped it off at the dump. It was sitting on its side in a marshy part of the dump. The guy told us that if we can get it out of there, we can have it, title and all. After 4 hours of work with some house jacks, we finally got it onto the 22 Classic trailer. The interior has been completely stripped out. My brother wants to put an outboard on her when she is done, which would not be my choice, but it is his boat. He is pretty sure that it is a 1965 model.

Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3

[Team Hula Girl]

according to the owner, this boats name was "cigarette". The name was placed above the motor on the transom. This is where Don got the name "cigarette" This was the boat that won the miami to key west race in the early sixties. (1963??) I think he said the number on the side of the boat was "16" ? (can be seen in THUNDERBOAT ROW). I don't have a copy for reference.

Apparently hull one and two were destroyed from use. This hull being the third one that was built would be the oldest Aronow formula?

The owner had the motor block also, a 4 or 6 cylinder that was a monster.

Interested in hearing others input and maybe some input from anyone that was around during that time. How would you indentify the hull with no hull id #'s present? anybody remember any distinctive markings?

This boat is going through a complete restore and should be ready early next year. He said the boat was going to be as original as possible.

John

I can probably take some more pics if needed.

[Formula 233]

JOHN AND BEA GREAT FIND ONE OF THE BEST 23 FOOTERS EVER MADE I HAVE 73 233 MYSELF I THINK THE MADE 4 MODELS CUDDY LONG DECK SHORT DECK 233LS AND CENTER CONSOLE CANT BEAT THE RIDE

[Bigbroadjumper]

Allan Brown would have some info on that boat. I think he raced a 23' Formula named Challenger. And the name Cigarette was taken from an old "Rum Runner boat from the '20s.

[Team Hula Girl]

The current owner was just telling me that the boat had the "cigarette" sticker/painted letters on the transom. Apparently the letters were small compared to todays standards. Maybe this was just the first time he used the word cigarette on a boat? Did they really put 4/6 cylinders in these boats back then? I don't know that much about the history of Aronow/Wynne from back then and I would imagine a lot of this era was undocumented. I am sure that the majority of the stories that you hear have been passed along and told differently. I would love to hear Brownies take or anyone that was around during this time.

Which Formula model was the first one built?
Who raced these boats during this time? Who were the other builders other than Bertram that were involved in racing? Was it just a hobby for most and they were building boats just for the races? How many Formulas were made prior to Donzi?

John

Always eager to learn more about boating history and folklore.

[HyperDonzi]

greg maier-would your brother be looking to sell by any chance?

[Greg Maier]

Hyper,

I will ask him. I'll get back to you.

[Greg Maier]

Hyper,

You have mail

[HyperDonzi]

Where at? My hotmail acct? not there?

[Greg Maier]

Hyper,

I sent it to

mailto:HyperBaja17@hotmail.com yesterday. I just sent another email to the same account. Let me know if you get it.

[HyperDonzi]

Dont have it. Try this one: HyperBaja17@att.net

Thanks,
Tommy

[Greg Maier]

I sent another email to HyperBaja17@att.net

[steplift58]

the blackfin 25 was based off of this hull. karanda marine built it as a 24