“Pickles” – One Sweet, Barn Find-ish Donzi Sweet 16.
Original fun!
The Woody Boater crew has found another very sweet boat for this years fun! A 1964 Donzi Sweet 16. The best part is that she has been a two owner fresh boat. The second owner has owned her sine 1980. And she is tight and screams. The owner knew how to take care of her and baby her. She has only estimated 20 hours on her new 350 engine, installed by the Donzi Dealer back in the day. And yes, all the paper work is there.
Turn the key!
Start her up!
Go for it!
Oh yah
Very cool original white interior.
She runs, and still has her all original everything, including gel coat we think. That needs attention, or replacement. Or just enjoy the originality and patina of it all. More photos to come, no plans yet as to what to do with her. She may wind up as this years adventure, One thing is for sure. A boat ride sure is in the works. Woohooo Donzi Time!
There she is, right in Jimmys Barn!
Gel coat needs some help, or not?
And now in the barn in Reedville ready for her test!
While WECATCHEM and Stinky are up north, we may have a little secret plastic love affair! Shhhh.
The open door awaits, now if the water would just calm down.
Donzi guarantees their hulls for life, so don’t worry about the gel coat. Turn the key and enjoy the ride. Congrats!
OH YA!
Gotta LOVE some Classic Glass!
A good buffing would probably do wonders.
Painted or gel coat? To me, paint, unless from the factory, is like fingernails on a chalkboard on a fiberglass boat. It would be like painting mahogany that was originally varnished at the factory.
Who doesn’t love a Donzi 16? Can we see a race against Alex’s XKs?
Why don’t they have windshields?? Always looks like they are missing something…
Wind shields add a very disproportionate amount of drag at higher speeds and make the boat FEEL less sporty and fast. Skimming the water with June bugs hitting your face at 50 mph feels a lot faster and more thrilling than going 70 in enclosed comfort. The 16 was not an extreme performer compared to the bigger hulls, but it could deliver the exhilaration in spades.
It’s not clear if it’s Matt’s or Jimmy’s… or if you’re sharing it, which would work, too. But what a great little boat. Ever since I was a kid I’ve played “dream garage” in my head (you know, pick two or three cars you’d love to have.) I think you’ve now got a dream boathouse. Except you have no pontoon!
For sale when checked out? I live 3 hours away in VA. Mike
I am very focused on Wecathem and Stinky, but a fun plastic distraction is always fun. Jimmy already has too many boats. The water test, which we all know she will pass, since she was just out on Smith Mountain Lake last week. But we want to have fun. And sold to a fellow Woody Boater so it stays in the “family” But subject to change with one boat ride! HA We have room, and nature deplores a vacuum!
Congrats Matt,
Can’t wait to see the WoodyBoater folklift your going to buy to stack up all of your boats!
So now we have a Pumpkin AND a Pickle.
What’s the report on Pumpkin? Have not heard about that boat for a wile. Did it get sold?
Pumpkin was sold right away and then the buyer had to sell her back without using her, She is still for sale at Katzs and is PERFECT. Scroll down
http://www.antiqueboatsales.com/UsedBoats.html
I am not trying to be a dick by asking this question. But is the price too high on Pumpkin? I thought that the sale money of that boat was planned to go back to a family or some type of charity function. Maybe it had and I just missed that story in the past. Just wandering.
Some years back, I had a good friend Named Harold Reed. Harold Was in the Navy during the mid 60s. He was lucky enough to spend four years assigned to the Presidential yacht. He had a lot of good stories. Some of his favorite stories were of the 2 Donzi tenders that they had. I cant remember the model #. I do know that they were powered by 2 427 Hulman Moody engines. They were painted Navy gray. He said it was a lot of fun burning the governments fuel taking famous people skiing. Harold has gone on to the big lake in the sky, but seeing this boat and other Donzis, make me think of him and his stories.
Fantastic find , you guys are always on top of it!!!
I found a 1969 x 18 that needs some slight updating
See below…
Thats very cool!
Nothing like an original Donzi classic from the 60’s! Donzi offered a windshield for both the 16′ and 18′ models as an option. My 1968 has one, but it is removed as I prefer the looks without. I have a great 8MM video from when my dear friends grandparents picked up their 1965 Ski Sporter from the Donzi factory when new. His Grandma had them add the windshield to protect her hair!
I like the boat sans windshield, it gives it a performance feel. And on Pumpkin its kinda useless, more of a wind diflector
I can remember talking with Bob Cox on the 1995 St. Johns River cruise and if I remember correctly, Bob was an early dealer for Donzi. He mentioned that it was like taking Geritol running those Sweet 16’s!
Get her to lake george for the dustoff this june
Very nice good luck with her
Have a hull number?
Looks like a newer model year than a 64 if all is original including the shifter knob it is a 68 or later but still a great original boat that will be a blast to drive I loved my 67
here is a pdf to help get a rough idea on year from our LGDCC website. I put this together for our members
http://www.lgdonziclassic.com/pdfs/16ident.pdf
looks like a 68 have any questions be happy to help
here try this
http://www.lgdonziclassic.com/pdfs/16ident.pdf
This is a fantastic info. I will look around more this weekend. There is a dash plaque on the dash board . Made For Peter Boas. That was the first owner. The current owner has had it since the early 1980’s.
Yes, probably not a ’64 as there were only about 10 boats made (give or take 1 or 2) in their introduction year. Four clamshell vents would not be original to an early boat either as the ’65 had no clamshell vents. IIRC, there were 2 only on ’66 boats. Also, windshields were available as an option later on… although they looked awful.
yeah, the windshields were thought to be sexy like the rest of the classic…..very low profile and Italian like styling…cool but not functional and not for some taste.
I had the embarrassing misfortune to crank one of those $$$ little windshield while climbing over the bow to handle a minor grounding…..that boat had the inboard and it was truly Bad Ass. and sounded just as good/bad!
is there a foil tag on the back seat ?
they made 2 with those colors in 68 usually grumble hulls had a white deck with a green stripe
the dash plaques were a Chisholm touch
I like the all green with the white stripe but this is was the more popular color with grumble green
what ever you do don’t sell it you will regret it and don’t ask how I know that