Donzi 16 Timeline - The Boats Built During 1964

[mattyboy]

So as I dig into this the grab rail is an option and would have to be ordered by the dealer as stated on the oct 65 price list

the two choices were a full cockpit grab rail in alum or SS. list/dealer net price of 60/45 for alum or 80/60 for SS the rail was made standard sometime after this when unsure.

so any 16 65 or earlier would need to be ordered with the rail.

[Greg Guimond]

.............so any 16 65 or earlier would need to be ordered with the rail.

I'm thinking you need to word that a bit differently. I don't think a buyer even had the option of ordering a 16 with a grab rail at all in 1964. The grab rail was designed and manufactured ONLY in 1965 given it was price listed all the way out in October, 1965. This is my opinion, unless Frank Civitano's grumble green 16 can be validated as a 1964 build AND has a grab rail. We'll never know that for sure.

The other solid green boat was built for Michael Aronow but it was a different shade of solid green and it was built in 1965, not 1964 so that is off my 1964 timeline list.

[mattyboy]

Looking back at the Teknikens boat it may be a 64 not 65 I would say it would have been built right after the June 64 rewrite of the spray rails by Walt and sent to Sweden to be rigged with the aq 200 there.
So I would say I am at 5 hulls and all white the color hulls come in 65 when the interior is re done

[woobs]

So.... which 2 hulls went to the New York boat show opening January 15, 1965? And which one of those continued on to the Toronto boat show a couple weeks later or, was that yet another boat?

[Morgan's Cloud]

Looking back at the Teknikens boat it may be a 64 not 65 I would say it would have been built right after the June 64 rewrite of the spray rails by Walt and sent to Sweden to be rigged with the aq 200 there.
So I would say I am at 5 hulls and all white the color hulls come in 65 when the interior is re done

That reminds me ... remember the barn find in Sweden that showed up for sale a while back that had a windscreen with the aerodynamics of a 24 cubic foot refrigerator on it ? Like it just rolled off the production line ? That one was surely a very early boat as well , but it might have been a different color than white .
I know it was discussed here somewhere . Might have been in the Donzis for sale section .

[mattyboy]

MC

could be TOMRON Tomas Ronnberg has that one which is hull 141 or 146 and he also has the teknikens boat the teknikens boat he picked up over there the other was a US boat he had shipped to him.

[Greg Guimond]

So.... which 2 hulls went to the New York boat show opening January 15, 1965? And which one of those continued on to the Toronto boat show a couple weeks later or, was that yet another boat?

I suspect you will gather that piece of information once you review the Shepherd Boat files

[woobs]

Yes, I hope to. But, my contact lives in British Columbia (3000kms away) and the documents are at his cottage about an hour and a half from me. It will not be until next summer or, such time that he has available for us to meet there.

[Greg Guimond]

Yes, I hope to. But, my contact lives in British Columbia (3000kms away) and the documents are at his cottage about an hour and a half from me. It will not be until next summer or, such time that he has available for us to meet there.

No rush. There aren't many folks left alive who can add info now so the papers may reveal something. I have never been able to get any photos of the NY Show 16's. The only reason I think there were two shown is because at some point in my research I ran across a tiny magazine blurb that referenced that. Of course, I can't locate it on my hard drives now but I remember it.

[woobs]

I have contacted the Toronto International Boat Show office and asked for access to their archives. They have agreed but, they are elbow deep in the 2016 TIBS show at the moment (and 2 other shows shortly after). I am assured they have some photographs (and possibly more) from the 1965 show.

We'll see in a few months when the busy season is passed.

[Greg Guimond]

I have contacted the Toronto International Boat Show office and asked for access to their archives. They have agreed but, they are elbow deep in the 2016 TIBS show at the moment (and 2 other shows shortly after). I am assured they have some photographs (and possibly more) from the 1965 show.

We'll see in a few months when the busy season is passed.

Could also be interesting. Time will tell.

[Greg Guimond]

This is how I'm seeing the 1964 16 build line-up ...........

Hull 1. White with Red deck stripe and red water line stripe - Jim Wynne pictured driving - Mike Aronow took a test drive with Don. Drive assumed to be a Volvo Prototype - No Deck Grab Rail
Hull 2. White with Green deck stripe - Alan Brown pictured driving - Eaton drive - No Deck Grab Rail
Hull 3. Jacksonville Boat Show boat 11/13/1964 - White with Blue deck stripe and blue waterline stripe. Shown in press photograph behind El Camino. First Volvo AQ200 Production drive - No Deck Grab Rail
Hull 4. Teknikens Varld Magazine boat - White with Red deck stripe. New design "shortened" inner lifting strakes and single thru hull exhaust shown in photo - No Deck Grab Rail
Hull 5. Bob Cox and Ed Joyce Lauderdale Marine boat. Have not found photos yet but Cox was initially a Formula and then a Donzi dealer. Deck Grab Rail unknown
Hull 6. Frank Civitano's Dad's solid green boat. Frank claims purchase took place in 1964. Motor and drive as yet unknown. Deck Grab Rail Unknown
Hull 7. Fred Darwick race boat - White with Green deck stripe and green water line stripe. Special Hot Volvo performance version and special race 100 lower unit. Invoice dated 12/10/1964. No Deck Grab Rail
Hull 8. David D. Ray boat - White with Blue stripe. Volvo powered
Hull 9. Sam Ballinger boat - Motor block casting date shows June, 29 1964 - Eaton drive, exact date not yet known. Yes it has a Deck Grab Rail, could be the first rail
Hull 10. January 15, 1965 New York Boat Show - could have then continued North to the Shepherd boys?
Hull 11. Second New York Boat Show

[mattyboy]

some thoughts

the 260 makes it into the 64 1/2 mustangs june of 64 and then is dropped the 65 model year starts in fall of 64

the 1964 eaton interceptor is rated at 160 hp the new 165 hp is added to the line up for the 65 model year

the eaton powernaut drive is not up to the power and torque the new windsor motors are going to throw at it they sign on as a distributor for the new volvo aq200 for 1965

200 210 and 225 235 271 hp are available from a FSB from 65 on , the 225 235 and 271 are mated to aq200s

[mattyboy]

MC

do you mean this boat? this is TOMRON's boat sorry was wrong hull 136


also from TOMRON on this boat

"Hull number 16-136 is ordered July 6, 1965 and delivered July 21, 1965. Order # 199.
This boat is white with a red stripe and red trim, tinted windshield. Ford Interceptor 165 HP, Engine # GT90L526036 (this is a Ford 260, same as Mustang 1964 ½ ) Eaton drive # 34008CA16L47.
Sold to: Ohio Valley Yacht Sales, Louisville, Kentucky
Delivered to: Raymond’s Marine. Jeffersonville, Indiana.
First Owner: S. Paul Jones. Louisville, KY
Second Owner: Me

things of interest:

the hand rail is ordered as an option so as of july 65 the handrail was not standard equipment

dating a build by the motor is now void here is a 65 with a 260 which was not made by ford in 65 so eaton must have done a stocking order to keep them in 260 motors for some time.

GT90L526036=

G carb 2 bbl
T= displacement 260 the 289 is W
90= reverse gear for drive 90 is an I/O
L= left hand rotation standard auto rotation
5= model year 1965
26036 = serial number

[Greg Guimond]

things of interest--- the hand rail is ordered as an option so as of july 65 the handrail was not standard equipment. dating a build by the motor is now void here is a 65 with a 260 which was not made by ford in 65 so eaton must have done a stocking order to keep them in 260 motors for some time.

If dating a Ski Sporter by the 1964 casting date stamped into the motor it has installed is no longer valid, how about dating the boat by the serial number stamping on the Eaton drive?