Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

[imported_Libra]

We were given a boat that we can't find any information on.
The H.I. # plate reads Bell Industries Tahiti Boat Division, 17906 Crusader Str. Cerritos California -- Calling the people at that address came up a dead end, googling the rest didn't help any either. Anyone know what happened to this company, if they are still in business, where I can find information on my boat? Also the HIN is only 5 digits, I thought there were supposed to be 12. The model number is 16 O/B.

 

[salty87]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

nada guides says out of business...

http://nadaguides.com//Values/Value...nuf&Type=MR&GCode=MR&wSec=4&wPg=1008&Letter=T

TAHITI BOATS
NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. 1981-1985 INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE

 

[QC]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

You might also look under Caribbean. I recall Tahiti was sold under them once too. I have followed that brand loosely for years. What do you want to know about them? That 16 foot bottom has a nice deep deadrise and rides real smoothly if it is what I think it is. There was a pretty recent 17 footer on eBay that I believe was a '99 or something. Not sure who built it, but it was the same classic 17 I/O Tahiti that was around here for years. They were also located in Anaheim for a while.

 

[imported_Libra]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

Was wondering what kind of motor I need for it, for starters. Also -- the HIN is only 5 digits, is this normal?

 

[imported_Libra]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

Thanks for the replies, by the way.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

Is your Tahiti an outboard or inboard hull? I have seen them in either format. One of my friends had a Tahiti with the Mercruiser 470 I/O setup. It was a bear, the 470 was not a great engine, though it was a good idea on paper. Aluminum 4 cylinder block with a cast iron Ford 460 bigblock head. It was a light drivetrain that produced 175 horsepower. That little boat, when it ran, was fast as heck, and rode well in the water. As far as outboards go, just put one that is as close to the max horsepower the hull is rated for.

 

[QC]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

Yeah, I would go with anything from an 85 to maybe even a 135 on that 16 footer; 115 is probably right. How fast do you want to go?

 

[imported_Libra]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

Well the speedometer reads 80mph . . .
I'm not really sure. It's an outboard, by the way. How can I tell what the hull is rated for?

 

[QC]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

This is a C & P that shoud get you there:

The formula provided in the regulations reduces to:

(2 X L X W) -90 = rated horsepower

Where:

L=boat length
W=transom width; if the boat does not have a full transom, the transom width is the broadest beam in the aftermost quarter length of the boat.

The rated horsepower may be rounded up to the nearest "5".

For your Tahiti, 16 footer:

Length = 16' (guess)
Width = 7' (guess)

Thus:

(16 x 7 x 2) - 90 = 134

Rounding up = 135 maximum rated horsepower.

 

[douglas wendorff]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

im haveing the same problem.i have hi#26087 modle#18-deep v.let me know if you find out anything

 

[V153]

Re: Can anyone help? Can't find info on Tahiti Boats!

You'll have better luck researching "Sidewinder". Same boat with a different windshield. Btw the origional Tahiti mold was splashed from a Glastron 'aqua-lift' hull with the sides taped off.