mnskibb 1978 Tounament Skiier original 1 owner

Hey Skiiers! A long time ago I sent Ab Crosby $500.00 deposit so he could build my HYDRODYNE. It was July 1978 and I was 21 years old. I picked it up in late August. I left work at 4PM Friday and arrived at the the school house at 6AM Saturday. The boat was not done when I got there, but they finished it after dinner. They were missing a few parts and I walked around the school and found the parts on another boat and I was able leave with a complete Hydrodyne. I ordered a 1979 175 Johnson for it and the boat rocked! I once pulled 7 barefooters. I paid $5200.00 for the boat and motor and still have the original invoice, order sheet and even the t shirt that I got with the boat. This boat is in great shape with the original seats and carpet. It does need the transom repaired though. When I get that done I would like to get a newer motor. Someday. These pics were taken fall 2004.

 

Re: 1978 Tounament Skiier original 1 owner

mnskibb,

Welcome to Hydrodyners. That is a very nice looking boat. I strongly suggest that you have a dialogue with markbano on this board about the different options for transom repair. He is just finishing a really nice restoration. There are a couple of restoration sections on this board. One is in the forums and one is accessible from the home page with many pictures showing how the transom repair is done properly.

jim

 

Re: 1978 Tounament Skiier original 1 owner

That is totally awesome!

I'm a second owner of a '78, w/ a 200hp Evinrude. I was always curious what the original seat layout was. I still have the original driver's seat and swivel passenger's seat, but I added a rear-facing bench seat for three. It's pretty cool that you still have the original Curt Gowdy Jump Classic sticker on the back.

Out of curiousity, what is your floor layout? Do you have a footwell in front, or does the floor extend all the way to the front?

Very nice boat!

 

Re: 1978 Tounament Skiier original 1 owner

Thanks for the comments.
The floor is flat all the way to the front.
My seat configuration is back to back on the right and a swivel on the right. It was not long before I new I made a mistake by not getting the side by side observers seat. The seats are ivory color with beautiful aluminum frames. I bolted the swivel to be rearward facing since the passenger had nothing to hold onto on accelaration and the seat would pull out of the floor on hard accelaration. When seated reward the passengers would end up in the rear of the boat if they were not hanging on. The Curt Gowdy decals are in good shape and I would like to get some made. The decals really set this boat apart. As far as the transom, I like the pictures of the transom restoration. I hate to take the top off of my boat, but that looks like the way to go. My deck is perfect, I hate to mess it up.

 

Re: 1978 Tounament Skiier original 1 owner

You obviously know how to prop a water ski motor if you pulled seats loose with a flywheel rated 175. While you have the deck off there are some improvements that can be done too.

jim

 

Re: 1978 Tounament Skiier original 1 owner

We were show skiiers, I had a lot of inboard owners say, I never rode in or skiied behind an ouboard like that. A lot of my friends had smaller boats that would go just as fast. I would race them. TheY would get their boats to top speed and just as they would come by me, I would "HIT IT" and they could not pull away. I think I ran an aluminum 13 1/4 x 17.

 

I was looking thru the older post and found yours. I have the same boat, it is featured in the 2010 calender as ( May ), the boat had the original stickers as yours does. I am intersested in puting the original stickers back on it. I have the Hydrodyne old logo, but until I looked at yours, no one knew what I was talking about when I mentioned the OVAL DECAL near the back. I would love to re-produce that and put it back to orginal, Can you take a close up picture and send it to me, I would be VERY GRATEFULL... If you can, please e-mail it to ( rodneyyon@comcast.net ) Thanks in advance, have been looking a long time for it, again, thanks.. Rodney

 

Are you talking about the Curt Gowdy Texas Ski Jump Classic sticker? I have them on my boat and will take a pic if you would like.

 

Here is a pretty good pic of it I took a while back.
http://hydrodyners.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 7c1992abf5

 

Actually, I think the one that was on my boat had, A Jumper, A slolom skier and a trick skier or ir was a female one trick skier. It had three items on it and it did say Offical Tounament Boat !I dont remember it havingjust a ski jump on it !
Well if anyone has a clue, please let me know... Thanks, Rodney S.C.