Donzi resto

[Butterbean]

Hey everyone... I'm completely new to boat restoration and iboats.com. I recently bought a 1989 Donzi Ragazza 17"4 with an OMC 2.3 liter engine and a cobra outdrive. I haven't seen any threads yet with anyone redoing a Donzi, so I'd like to hear what everyone thinks about it. The boat has a soft spot on the floor, so I think I need to pull the floor up and repair it. I don't know what kind of shape the stringers are in yet but I will be pulling the floor up soon. I also think I want to replace the 2.3 liter motor with something alittle more powerful. Maybe a 4.3 or and 302 Ford motor. I know the outdrive will have to be replaced or atleast the gears changed. I'm a mechanic for a utility company so I have mechanical experience just not on boats. It seems like there are alot of knowledgeable people here on these forums, and people who have been here before, so I would appreciate anyones CONSTRUCTIVE input and opinions. I have posted pics on flickr but I've never used it before. Someone let me know if this link works for or not. http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/photos_public.gne?id=42203993@N06&lang=en-us&format=rss_200

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: Donzi resto

Hi welcome to I boats,
The pics work, if you put them on photobucket it makes it easy to post on forums

The OMC Can be replaced with a Mercruiser or mid 90s Volvo Penta.
They dont use sbf in boats anymore and I replaced my 302 with sbc

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Donzi resto

Welcome to iboats. We have indeed had people work on Donzi boats. Based on your post I see you are planning on replacing the entire I/O drive system (once again has been done on many boats here) and this is a perfect time of the year to find a nice used set up. The Donzi is a great hull design and we will help guide you along.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Donzi resto

Good looking boat.If your going to repower its better to find a boat with all the stuff you need in one spot.I dont recommend using that outdrive with anything but a 4 banger.If it runs have you tried it out?It will feel much better with all the wet foam out of it.Id just get that little engine running and service the outdrive and repair the hull and have a great boat thats light on fuel.Rangers pintos mustangs escorts and more had that powerplant so you have lots of engines in scrapyards for parts.

 

[allpoints360]

Re: Donzi resto

I can't open the link for the pics?

 

[Butterbean]

Re: Donzi resto

What order should I do this project in? I have 1 soft spot of the floor, and the boat has set out for 3 years at least. The guy I bought the boat from said the outdrive was just redone before it got parked. I thought about fixing the 2.3 in it now (does not turn)... but if I have to pull the floor up, wouldn't that be the time to repower it? I thinks if I cleaned up the motor some, maybe I could sell motor and outdrive to raise up some cash to help with restoration expenses. Also, I'm a Chevy guy myself and would perfer a 350, but I don't know what the boat will handle like with that much horsepower (will she still come up on a plane)? Guess I gotta pull up floor on Monday, and check things out underneath. thanks for the info...

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: Donzi resto

Check the weight of a 4.3 and the 5.7 I think about 100 lbs more for the V8. You may want to find out if your boat is solid enough but imho a v6 would make it fly
That omc will be easy to sell and to replace the floor you need it out of the way anyway.
Plan on spending lots of time and money, take a look at the guys on here spending more time and money than the boat is worth and taking years to finish.
Its a huge commitment.

 

[Butterbean]

Re: Donzi resto

OK... I removed all the seats, and the covers today, as well as started trying to remove the deck. Holy S*#$ I can't believe what a pain that is. I've tried a circular saw, and an angle grinder, but don't seem to be having any luck with the angle grinder. Does anyone have any tips on how to get this old rotton deck outta the boat? It's kickin my butt so far. It looks like Donzi glassed the under side of the deck as well as the top, is this normal. The foam is soaked, and it looks like the stringers are rotted, but I don't know how far down the stringers the rot is. I need to get this deck UP!!!! HELP!!!! I posted new pics and they are not pretty

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42203993@N06/

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Donzi resto

Nice looking project. As for removing the deck, use anything that will cut fiberglass and wood. Most use a circular saw, sawzall or a grinder with a cutting wheel. I think some even have used a chain saw which I find extreme. You can cut the deck a few inches away to avoid penetrating the hull and then grind the lip that will remain with a grinder with either a grinding wheel or sanding disk.

Just a note that some find it easier to separate the cap from the hull to have better access to the deck.

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: Donzi resto

to get the foam a dull electric chainsaw is what I used.
set your circular saw to the thickness your cutting.
Lots of guys go through the hull with the grinder, check out the post by lowkee
Remember the dust is really bad wear a good respirator.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Donzi resto

Nice cool to see a Donzi on here!

Nothing like an Don Aronow design.

You know after Don designed one of the Formulas and it was reviewed in a magazine that talked about how great the interior was, Don got picked on by a large guy (Morris Levy I believe or maybe it was Sal Pisello) about having to call him Donzi now.

 

[Butterbean]

Re: Donzi resto

I bought a motor and outdrive for the boat today... An old 88 350 with a Cobra outdrive. I'm thinking that between my old Cobra outdrive and this other one I bought I can come up with a whole outdrive. But if I can't i'll buy the SEI conversion I guess. Can anyone think of anything that will give me problems with this? I know I'll have to modify the stringers to support the new motor, but is it dangerous to install a 350 in a boat that origially had a 2.3L 4 banger in it?

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Donzi resto

No just make sure it was offered in that hull. Ive seen 20 foot boats with a 4 cylinder and 15 foot boats with v8s.

 

[23SX]

Re: Donzi resto

Hello,
I had a 1989 17ft Regazza with a 3.0 OMC Cobra which I had to replace the floor but I also looked into replacing the engine with a 350 as well but never did (never found a good deal on one, pre craigslist days). The hull can take the power of the 350 as long as the floor, stringers, mounts and transom are good but its only rated for 200 hp or about a 4.3 v6 as I recall. Yes, you will need to modify the stringers and engine mounts to support the 350 which you can figure out and do by measuring the proper height and width you will need. You would have to do the same for a 4.3 as well.

I am guessing you never rode in one as I see your engine doesn't run but I will tell you that my stock 3.0 dyno tuned would only run 30 mph with a SS prop within the specified WOT range. They are very heavy boats for the size!!! A V8 would be cool and its classic Donzi BUT you need to make sure its legal and if insurance would cover it with the modification. Its still a nice boat regardless.