Here's another one up for sale! Sounds like it has a real power plant in it! http://easttexas.craigslist.org/boa/2899105913.html If you buy it post pics for all of us!
What a shame somebody ruined this very rare 20' IO by putting a motor like that in it. Wonder what a Hydrodyne acts like at 80 mph. If any one wants the buy the motor I'll take the hull. Assuming it's in good condition.
The engine does not sound that radical to me with a marine cam and 9 to 1 compression. A small carb and possibly a head change (only if the valves are overly large which I doubt) would make a good ski engine in my opinion. jim
Hey Folks: After bit of debating, I decided to give this 1985 Hydrodyne 20 I/O a new home. Thanks to Mike Mohr for the heads up. The boat has seen some recreational use and the rear floor under the bench has some deflection (i.e. the marine ply deck needs to be changed out) but nothing I haven’t done before (except ~12 years ago….after working on the 75 Tournament skier that we own, felt I got run over by a truck backwhen I replaced the rear deck for the same reasons). The engine is a bit unique. Thanks to Jim L. of this site for discussing the cooling system. It is a closed loop, straight ethylene glycol setup and should be very corrosion proof, if the coolant is changed every 2 to 3 years. There is a lake water intake that routes through a heat exchanger and exits the risers, never circulating through the block. I contacted Tom Miller to discuss how many of the 20 I/O HD’s were produced and he indicated that there we less than a handful (I re-iterated less than 6 and he responded not that many), so what is displayed on this web-site through brochures and owners pic’s are likely the only ones in existance. They may not be the best platform for show skiing or course skiing (nothing personally documented or otherwise) but they are very unique, rare, and in my opinion, definitely worth restoring and preserving. Back to the project which arrived a little weathered two weeks ago. I wet-sanded the engine cover, applied 3M rubbing compound and after 1 coat of Maguire’s 49 oxidation remover & polishing compound and 2 coats of Maguire’s Flagship cleaner wax, it looks like the gel coat will come back (used a variable speed Porter cable 7346 for the compound and wax applications). This was the test plot and the rest of the hull will take a bit of effort….How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time (see attached pics) We have a 1975 Tournament Skier 351 cid Mercruiser I/O will be listed this spring but would much rather see it go to someone from this venue and preserved for what it is. I have all the original documentation including the original warrantee and bill of sale from Ab Crosby Jr. and it has a huge rap sheet…. Special build for a Cypress Garden’s Water Ski Show celebrity, which is documented by Ab Jr. PM Me if you are interested. Kevin- Brookfield, WI
Here is the pic of the engine cover. It should come back with a bit of effort. based on the initial trials/tests.
Now there are three. Alabama, Georgia and Wisconsin. Any others out there. I would love to see pictures during and after restoration. What is the hull # of your boat? Wish I could buy a 2012 20 I/O. Vann Owens Birmingham, Alabama
Hi Jim and Van: Jim, I have given it some thought regarding holding onto the 18 and will probably keep it this year if the 85 isn't ready for the water by the end of May. We have three boats (I have a NACRA 6.0 meter catamaran as well) and three vehicles so space for stagging is getting to be an issue. The and The 18 is in storage at the inlaws for now. Van, the hull # is THIC0002B485. There was a 78 20'I/O in Tennessee that was for sale last year (pictures are in this thread) but it had a Jasper replacement engine and the seller wanted a lot of $$. I didn't care for the gauge/instrument pod which was added to the topdeck (not integrated with the mold and fiberglass lay-up). I've got a bit of work to do but look forward to getting it out on the water. Take care, Kevin-
Glad you got the boat. Maybe we can get the three 20' I/O's together sometime. I would of bought the one you have when it first went for sale but didn't have the time to put in it and I already have two dynes. The one that was for sale in TN was a 18' 1978 model that had a prototype top on it. I went and looked at it and it looked pretty good if someone wants it. I have alot of pics of it also.
Kevin my hull # is THIC000183G. Mine being a 83 model and yours being an 85 we are to assume these were the 1st 2 made. I bought mine from the orginal owner who was a boat dealer and was sold to me after being used as a demo. Can you trace the owners of your boat. This weekend I'll take a picture of the decals on the spark arrester and the side of boat and send to you. The brochure picture on the media page showes the motor sticker but the "Dyne" sticker was not on the boat when that picture was taken. Ashley what is the hull # of your boat. Vann
