Restorations, tell me why?

I understand restoring old boats, cars and such. I have a hot rodded '68 Firebird. When it was built the motor was redone so it would run on premium unleaded gasoline. Everything else was also done with the best products available for performance, comfort, etc.

When I had my 1987 Hydrodyne 17.6 XB redone I replaced the motor again. The boat now has a 2010 Evinrude motor. It is the fifth motor on the boat. Over the years I added Hydraulic Steering, replaced the controls with a concealed side mount control, new cables (several times) and a GPS Speedometer. The old style back seat was replaced with a new style seat with a fiberglass base. We recovered the original front seat buckets as I liked the shape and feel. I also had the decals reproduced and also the "Hydrodyne" stitching on the buckets. It turned out nice and I will shoot some pictures and try to get them on the Dyna-Ski Web Site eventually and here also.

I don't understand why people don't use new outboard motors on boats if they are planning to use them a lot? If the boat is for parades I understand wanting the "look" but if they are going to use the boat why go with old outboards as the new outboards are so quiet, fuel and oil efficient the savings seem to make it a no brainer. I know they don't look the same but other than that please tell me why?

I'm not going to buy into the new motor cost avenue easily as machine work and labor are not cheap.

 

It is simple really if you think about it. People are RESTORING a boat, not hotroding it. It is like an old Harley Davidson or Indian bike, you don't restore the entire bike to put in a brand new fuel injected motor that makes the bike look like it has been basturdised. People like the nastalgic look and the true old boats including the motors. It is simply peoples choice. It is your choice to put on a new motor as it is someone elses choice to put back on the rebuilt old motor. Let us all just respect each others taste and quality work.
Just my opinion.

 

Hey PJP:

My 1975 HD Tournament Skier is "stuck in time" and I kinda like it that way. Its an i/o so I could upgrade the manifold, ingition, steering (maybe not due to clearance issues) and maybe carb but it runs great as is and for its current use. Jim would suggest converting to an outboard for better performance but I would look to get a outboard before ever attempting tochange the 1975.

For a comparison to the collector car arena which is not necessarly and apples to apples, I'v attached two pictures. The blue car is is a 1969 firebird 400 4spd actual 40k mi, PHS documented car with all its paperwork (build sheet, protecto plate, sales invoice) wearing its original laquer paint, metal, and motor and trans never fluffed or modified (sales value at $21K).

The second car is a grey, resto mod 1969 firebird that has been restored/reworked, non-period correct engine/trans and does not have a papertrail like the blue one (its on Epay and the seller wants $65K.

The blue one speaks volumes to me for its unmolested, all original, born with equipment and in my personal opinion, is of far greater value than the grey one. How does this translate to the current thread? To be a purest is not a bad thing and if one is restoring one of these hulls and looks for a period correct motor versus todays technology, can't fault them.

Cheers from sunny St. James City FL,

Kevinb

 

OK so should the years match for the hull and the outboard motors like for a restored car?

$65 K seems a little high for the Firebird but then with the TV auctions bringing the prices up for old car owners all it takes is one buyer with money . . . . . .

 

Hey Pete:

The feeding frenzy of the deep pockets at the Barrett Jackson and Mecom car auctions can create some unrealistic expectations regarding a vehicles true value. Lately a lot of high $$ vehicles go unsold or sell for extreemely reduced $$ than those from a year or two ago.

I'm not trying to create a point to argue here but I like to see these boats out there doing what they were designed to do, which is to create a safe plateform to pull skiers. If someone wants to upgrade their hull with a more efficient power plant or steering system because it suits theire end use, then go for it. It's really a personal decision in the end.

Personally, I like the classic, unrestored "survivor" Hydrodyne T skier boats (and cars) and would not deviate form either if I had documentation. As these hulls get older, they can only appreciate if they are preserved.

Take care,

Kevinb-

 

A new 115 e-tec weighs as much as a 1995 Evinrude 150. The Mercs are porkers too.

The difference is even more striking when you compare a Merc inline weight.

It is possible by very carefully picking the right parts to build up a vintage Merc 225/2.5 that will weigh in at less than 350. I think an inline 150 is less than 300. Some of the new 90's and 100's weigh that much. I think my 2.5/260 hp weighed 367 stock. I believe a new big block 225 is around 500+ pounds now.

The manufacturers have paid no attention to weight in favor of making them quiet and car like.

The fuel and oil difference does not make much difference if the boat sees little use.

The 18 Dyne is more sensitive to stern weight than the 17.6 as evidenced by the small hook built into the I/O's bottom at the transom. However, a nice light motor makes a 17.6 shine at low speeds too, been there done that. It will carry an unbelievable load too.

If one is powering a production line recreational boat or a high speed bass boat the weight is less of a concern. I expect a lot from a Dyne 18 and it will deliver all I need and more with a light motor.

CG changes from seating arrangements are a good place to pick up performance too. The Crosby's had a lot of experience with this stuff and their driver bucket and observer bench is optimal in my opinion for puling the bigger loads.

If you search my posts, I think you will see that I have written extensively about these issues.

jim

edit: I forgot to mention that these monsters cost a fortune!

 

I know that the four stroke motors have gotten very heavy. I'm not so sure that the two stokes have grown as much.

I guess if someone is building a "trailer queen" the noise, fuel and oil consumption does not matter. My 400 hp 1968 Firebird is pretty good on high test unleaded so cars are not exactly the same as boats. The motor is not original although it is a Pontiac from a Firebird. Car motors are easier to update than boat motors for most of us.

My 1987 150 Evinrude was a gas hog compared to a new 150 E-Tec and the E-Tec is easily 7-8 mph faster. The 1987 motor went on a big pontoon boat. My brother in law is still running the 1991 Johnson Fast Strike I replaced the 1987 motor with. I still have the 1996 150 on a Dyna-Ski 17.6 "test mule" boat. It currently has a no spark on #3 problem. Since I went to E-Tecs motors and restarted the boat business I tend to replace motors every year or so. A customer gets a nice used one or two season motor with some remaining warranty. I get a new motor for the family ski boat. Everybody is happy!

 

I put a lot of time and effort into restoring my 1973 Hydrodyne 18. A lot of money, too.

I could never get the money back out of it if I sold it. However, that doesn't matter. I can't imagine selling it. I use it. We have put some scratches on it. That's OK. It sees a lot of use - the use it was made for.

For some reason, there simply has never been a cooler looking boat than a Hydrodyne 18 in my humble, personal view. It handles just like you would think from looking at it. It is a water sled. You are sitting right on the water, you are one with medium you are operating in. I have never experienced anything like it in any other boat. Higher sides, wider hull, etc. of newer boats make them a drier and perhaps more stable ride - but I think you sacrifice something to get those advantages. The 18 is brass tacks. It is a pure driver's boat with a great slalom wake and exciting handling. If just the sight of one of these boats stirs something in your heart - then you know what I am talking about. I'm obviously not the only one who feels this way, as there are not websites like this one dedicated to most boats.

Can you have a new Hydrodyne 18 made? Sure. And it will be as nice or nicer than the originals. But is there something cool about knowing that your boat was "there" during the Hydrodyne heydays - - yes! My boat is a former Tommy Bartlett showboat. I think that is too cool for words. I'm lucky to have my boat stored in a place where I can walk by it every day. And I love looking at it. I love knowing I rebuilt it. I love the memories of working with my children to pull out the rotted floor and transom, and working with friends to install the floor, and re-install the deck. We had some fun, along with some coffee, and sometimes harder stuff. And my children learned about the value of getting your hands dirty, and working hard to make something happen. They learned to be finishers - people who don't just buy a junker with a plan to "someday" restore it - but rather to attack the dream, to be persistent, and to finish what they start. I made a close friend in my "fiberglass guy" who did the final finish work with me (and painted the boat). Although he died of brain cancer a year later, he lives on for me in the boat - one of his many masterpieces in a career of unbelievable fiberglass and paint work. I remember the fun and laughter we had trying to put the stripes on the deck, and the weird concoction he made to allow the decals to slide around, and all the cool stuff he taught me about rub rail and decal installation, how to polish aluminum, and more. I spent many hours posting on this website, debating methods and theories with other boat guys, and learning a lot in the process. When I could share information, I did. When I could borrow from the expertise of others, I did so. When I could trade parts with other folks on here - I did that too. It was all great fun.


Projects like this have much to offer beyond simply a nice boat at the end of the day. They involve a certain testing of human fortitude and human spirit. You get what you earn and you earn what you get. And if you are persistent, you get a boat that is just exactly what you want - rather than what someone else thinks you should want.

You can't buy the experience from a boat dealer. The real deal is the experience of a restoration of something special. I've hoped that my pictures on the restoration section of this website would assist and inspire others to take on a Hydrodyne restoration project. Not so much to keep the spirit of these boats alive (althought that is part of it), but to invite others to be brave enough to dream the dream and work to make it happen. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to rebuild this boat and to make great friends on this website in the process. Comparing it to a new boat purchase is simply apples to oranges. Both can have great outcomes. But they involve different objectives.

This website is not dedicated to just those boats that are restored. It is for everyone who enjoys the Hydrodyne boats in general, including the newer iterations of the original hull. However, a big part of this website is to provide information for those looking to restore and maintain the originals, and I'm glad it is there as a resource resource.

Why restore? Well, it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in a lifetime that has been really full of great experiences. I can't explain it any better than that...

That's my $.02 on the subject. :wave:

Markbano