OK Guys, I just picked up this 1974? Hydrodyne. Q. Can anyone confirm that the ski bar is in the original Hydrodyne factory configuration? (I've only seen this configuration once before) Q. The serial number on the manufacturers plate next to the throttle control is AO730560 (there is no HIN stamped on the hull). What does the AO stand for and does the 73 mean it's an 1973 model? Thanks in advance, Kevin
Looks like the Bar is Factory, they just set it up backwards. In your configuration (Mine is the same just not the same bar) it is easier to get in and out from the back of the boat. Its harder to get in with the 2 stanchions on the rear deck especially with twins crowding up the back end. Cool boat, great engine. My friend runs a 150 inline on his Witchcraft and it does a killer job. Daniel
That AO number looks more like a Merc quicksilver part number to me. Hydrodyne boat company used an MIC code of "THI." My boat, which is a 1973, used the older, "Crosby Marine Engineering" MIC code of "CMA." Thus, a 1973 boat should have an MIC number on the hull that starts with "CMA*****"(it is hard to see - look on the back of the transom, outside starboard side, imprinted in the gel coat). When you refer to a "manufacturer's plate" are you talking about the USCG capacities plate, with the HP limit, weight limit, etc. on it? They would not normally have included any kind of serial number on that plate. Does it say it is a "serial number" or is the number just on there? Many of these boats have had transom repairs and have lost their original MIC code in the gel coat. If so, it might be available through title or state registration documents. Look again carefully at the back of the boat and see if you can find an MIC number. Nice looking boat. Congrats! Mark
Daniel, I'm hoping to keep the boat as close to "original" as possible and get this 1500 Merc running again. It goes into my Merc guy this week. Mark, The manufacturer's plate I'm refering to lists the "serial no." and the horsepower restriction. It is not a USCG plate and has the name Hydrodyne Boats at the bottom of the plate. (I will post a picture of the plate once the family returns from the lake with my camera). The transom doesn't look like it has been repaired but that is a possibility. There are no "title" documents here in Canada and the registration document does not include a HIN or serial no. (believe it or not). All the registration document includes is the registration no. of the boat and the date that it was imported into Canada. Jim L. told me that I'll most likely have to call Tom M. to find out what the particulars of this hull/serial no. are. Nice to know I've got you guys out there to help me work on this boat. Kevin
Mark, I was looking at some of your early restoration pictures and I see at one time you had the same manufacturers plate as I have behind your throttle control. I guess this plate was the equivalent of a USGC plate at that time? The top left hand corner had the serial no. which has the numbers 730560 on it. I'm still guessing that the boat is really a '73 model? As I mentioned before there is no HIN on the transom so I think you're probably correct that there may have been some work done on the transom at one time. That would explain why the transom doesn't show any stress cracks but I'm afraid the repair may have been cosmetic only. Thanks for your help. Kevin
Kevin, I think a call to Tom Miller will answer your questions. I think your boat was probably built according to the practices that were used prior to the requirement for the HIN. I have seen that AO number somewhere, but my searches have not uncovered it. I may have seen it in a discussion of a 60's boat. Hydrodyne went through a transition period during the early 70's. I remember hearing that the change to end grain balsa core occurred at the same time that they started stamping HIN numbers in the transom. I have never seen a boat with a raised floor and no HIN, but that does not mean they do not exist. You have an interesting boat. jim
We have a 1971 boat with raised floor and no HIN number stamped into the transom. Friend of mine has it and it had a metal tag on the inside of the transom underneath the rear deck.
Jim, Before I found this site last summer I thought I was the only guy who had a big appreciation for these boats. Thanks to this site, and it's members, I've been able to learn more about these boats than one person ever could on his own. Once I figure out the story behind the serial no. and the HIN of this dyne I will pass it along. MSM, I will look under the rear deck when I get back to the lake. Thanks guys! Kevin
Kevin, I think we all have learned more than we could on our own. I know I have. I am trying to track down the federal statute that mandated the data plate and the HIN on the transom. It looks like it was written in 1971 and is contained here: 46CFR24 (Subchapter C -Uninspected Vessels) I have been down a lot of confusing dead ends trying to find the exact language. jim
OK, Based on what I have learned by a little research I am going to say that your boat was built in 1973 during a grace period for compliance that Ab Sr (maybe Jr) negotiated with the Coast Guard. Cool boat. You guys are really testing my 71 year old memory. Here is the quote from Ab Jr: "When the Safe boating act first came out we were able to get a special exemption for the Tournament Skier while the Coast Guard studied the problem. We then received the notice to stop, the Coast Guard would not issue any exemption when the boat could fall into the public stream of commerce., thus the 20 was born" ....................... "There are some 18’ floating around out there with capacity plates the read 300hp they were made during the grace period." Here is the reference: http://www.hydrodyners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=459&p=2391#p2391 jim
