TOPIC: 1968 Performance (Donzi)

We just began the restoration of a 1968 Performance which apparently was built along the same lines as a Donzi but one foot longer...17'. We're starting from scratch...even the transom was sealed closed by another restorer at some point. After we stripped everything inside and out, we pressure washed it. Interesting boat.

Hmmm very interesting project, looking forward to watching the progress on this one.

Bob

We made a wooden form to re-cast a fiberglass engine hatch. All holes are being filled with fiberglass body filler.

Cool boat! Can't wait to see it complete.

Thats a sweet resto you have going on there. As usual looking foward to the progress, keep up the great work.

The Performance (Donzi) turned out to be a monumental bodywork job. The bottom was in really bad shape and the tarantula-sized spider cracks on the topsides also were a giant pain. We ended up gel-coating just about everything, sanding for days, priming, more sanding, base coating white and blue, sanding more, clear-coating, wet-sanding to 2000 grit, buffing, polishing and then waxing. Unfortunately, it snowed in South Carolina today so the photos had to be taken inside in bad fluorescent lighting. (How far south do I have to move to get away from the stuff?) Anyway, here are the results:













Here's a little something I built to stuff under the new engine hatch. She's rated at right around 300 HP. The exhaust manifolds/risers are aluminum and the difference in weight between them and the stock cast iron ones is 80 lbs! The exhaust will be run straight out the transom!

Looking GOOD Jan! I want to stop by again and check out your work.

Awesome can't wait to see her done.

Bob

For the light, spider, hair line cracks... did you sand all the old get coat off or just just about 50% of it off.

We used a grinder on every single crack and dug V-shapes to well below the gelcoat. Then we filled the cracks with long strand fiberglass filler. When faired, we sanded the entire topsides and re-gelcoated...two coats.

Thanks.

One of your photos suggest that you fiberglass tabbed the deck to the hull. For strength and boat stiffness?

I modified the gauge panel a little.

Ok Jan, you are inside my head again! I love the engine turning... I'm planning to incorporate it in my Deluxe also.

Really nice. not sure who decided to add a foot to the Donzi Sweet Sixteen design but it seems to look better proportioned, less stubby. Beautiful work.

Bernie

Gonna be another real "head turner" Jan, looking great! And that power plant would make any old "motor-head" grin.

I got to visit Jan today and let me tell everyone following this thread... That Donzi is gorgeous! Perfect finish. Great work Jan!

Almost finished. The outdrive still needs to be installed and we're missing a couple exhaust reducers but other than that, she's done. The new aluminum trailer is still MIA so the boat remains on the dolly in the shop. When we can finally get her out in the daylight and away from these damned fluorescent lights, I'll take a few more photos.

Absolutely gorgeous Jan, another fine job by the Nautilus crew IMHO.

Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

That turned out really great!