I am new to any kind of Forum so hope you can forgive me if I screw something up. Where is spell-check when I need it?
I saw my first Donzi around 1976 or 77 tied to a dock and fell immediatly in Lust with it. It was bright yellow. I waited till the owner returned and eventually got a ride in it. I can't remember what drive it had but I remember with the deep-V the outdrive was completly under water...if it "had" an outdrive. The ride was pretty good in the rough water but it seemed to want to shift from one side to the other. The owner told me that with such a deep-V it had a tendency to want to ride on one side or the other. I wasn't bothered by that but always kept my eye out for one. Unfortunatly I live in Oregon where we don't see any.
Time went on till the 90's when I saw one partially visable under a piece of blue plastic. It was faded red and the trailer tires were sinking into the ground so I inquired. It had no upolstery and the motor had a spun bearing and maybe a few other problems but the guy insisted it was worth $4500 if it only floated. I thought about it for a little too long and when I went back it was gone and I searched all over Portland for it. The internet had been invented by then and I found one clear back in Conneticut but while making plans to drive all the way across the country some body bought it out from under me. It had a 383 tri-power v-drive.
I'm not up to driving all the way across the Country any more but I may go 1/3 of the way for the right price/boat.
I'm down to 2 boats now and more to leave probably next season and I'm searching for a Donzi again. I'm 90% sure I want an 18 but I see a 22 pop up now and then for the price I'm hoping to pay for an 18 and there is the "ride" issue. I can't take the pounding of my 18 ft small-v jet boat any longer. It has a 460 with a Berkley giving it plenty of speed but I don't want to have to slow down for standard boat wake any more. I want to laugh at boat waves and if I do get a little air-born, I want a soft landing.
I would prefer a v-drive as long as it doesnt whine but a good out-drive will be fine too. I want to be able to hit speeds in the upper 50's to mid 60's. My Sister's Rinker will do 52 and I need to blow by Her at least.
I need to keep the price below $15k. ANY help/suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you ALL very much.
Bookmarks