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rsb5772
07-20-2008, 10:42 PM
Can anyone tell me anything about Tahiti boats. I've searched high and low and haven't found anything. I have an O/B. I think it's a '72.

benski
07-25-2008, 07:17 PM
I believe Tahiti made boats from about 1968 to 1981. Anyone else care to chime in? I remember seeing some nice Tahitis in the '70's as a youth. It seems like info on these is scarce in the general population. I'll bet Mark75H has some input. Good luck with your boating endeavour.:thumbsup:

MERC SCREAMER
07-28-2008, 12:01 PM
Back in 1970 - 1977, we had a friend who had a late 60s (approx 20') gold metalflake
Tahiti we used to ski behind. It had a 427 L88 Chevy w/ Berkley jet drive. His girlfriend had
the same boat which was black metalflake and powered by a 351 Ford w/ Berkley jet.

I've seen quite a few Tahitis over the years, but never any like the two I mentioned. These
boats were unique in that they both had the "tumble home" transoms styled after earlier wooden inboard speedboats. They has the steering wheel on the port side, and no windscreens were used. I have lots of cool memories back then.


Look under fiberglassics.com under "Sidewinder boats"; there's a little info on Tahitis.

Dave

elmo4x4
08-02-2008, 04:03 PM
I currently own a '72 Tahiti with a 150 promax on it. I have pics in my album on my profile page. It has a blue printed pad added to the bottom, center steer, and was lightened considerably! I know they didnt come from the factory with a pad and offered alot of white nuckel chine walk at high speeds:eek:. I think they were manufactured by a company named Schutz? Not sure though. A guy named Dave Renfroe built my boat to compete in the "vintage" class in the FBI league over in Florida. I dont know him but alot of Folks here on S+F do. I would like to talk to him myself about these boats but I dont think he is a member here. I googled the name of the boat and saw a few pics of boats still in the original form(some had windshields and back to back seating etc...) I dont know how much help this was but I tried...:cheers:

Carter Powell
08-02-2008, 05:45 PM
Manufactured by Schuster.

Carter Powell

Cmbrsum
11-27-2008, 05:16 PM
I'm redoing a 71 Schuster Tahiti 16 right now. Nice lil boat. The hull was formed from a Glastron and had the little art wedges added to them. Mine is all original with the tag still in it and in grate shape. has an Evinrude 125 on it.

skyskier
12-21-2008, 11:38 PM
Manufactured by Schuster.

Carter Powell

Wayne Schuster's factory was on Lakewood Blvd, in Lakewood California. When I graduated Paramount HS in 1965 a lot of my pals went to work there. Tahiti was probably one of if not the biggest mfgr. of entry level boats back in the day. I grew up on flat bottoms, waterski racing behind my Dad with an 18 ft. Aqua Craft Wickens Whirlwind, by Skip Volk. I still see a lot of these old Tahitis on Lake Havasu & down on the Parker strip, an some of them still look as good today as when they came out of the mold. :thumbsup:

sspeed66
12-23-2008, 10:49 PM
Can anyone tell me anything about Tahiti boats. I've searched high and low and haven't found anything. I have an O/B. I think it's a '72.
They have a Tahiti section on www.sidewinder-boats forum...:)

TAHITI-JOE
09-11-2009, 09:55 PM
Hey, I have the exact boat. Schuster teamed up with them and put Mecury packages for poer & drive. They have a inline 140 hp inboard with a #1 drive. The inboards were rare because Tahiti's are known for there jet drives. Awesome little boat, you'll love it.

twocents
09-11-2009, 11:55 PM
Tahiti Boats was started in the very early 1960s in Bellfower, CA at 8832 Ramona Street, just south of the 91 Freeway off of Lakewood Blvd. Competitive Trailers has occupied a part of the old Tahiti plant for well over 20 years. Dick Schuster was the founder/owner. Probably the most successful Southern California boat builder in the mid-60s thru the 70s. I first owned a 16' Tahiti (1963-64) with twin V-4 Evinrudes -- then switched to a Tahiti/Berkely jet in 1965. Schuster was a master at production and developing new models quicker than anyone else in the business. Tahiti really took off around 1964-65 when Berkely's sales rep, Dick Clark, set a new jet boat drag record at 79+ mph with a Hayden Proffit built 427 Chevy. Jet boat sales for Tahiti during the rest of the 1960s were massive. Eventually, Schuster sold the business to Bell Industries and stayed on for awhile as the GM. A major fire at the plant destroyed almost everything, including a lot of the molds and the company never really recovered from the loss. At the very end, Hardin Marine in Anaheim bought what was left of the company and built boats under the Tahiti-Caribbean banner for a few years. As far as boat builders go -- Schuster is a legend.

oregondunes
09-12-2009, 12:26 AM
I had a 16' Tahiti back in the late 80's. 140 Chrysler.

My bud had a 17' marlin that looked almost identical to it with a 150 FORCE on it.

Storz
09-18-2009, 07:26 AM
My father has a '77 Hardin-Caribbean jet, 460 Ford/Jacuzzi drive. We have seen a few boats over the years that look very similar but have Tahiti badges on them.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/161672/fullsize/thanksgiving-024small.jpg

Creekrat
10-30-2009, 06:36 PM
We have a sweet and all original 1972 Schuster Tahiti with a Merc 1400 that we purchased from the original owner who pampered it. We love it!

http://www.creekrat.com/images/Fliver/fliver5.jpg

Creekrat
10-30-2009, 06:38 PM
A few more picks of our 72 Schuster Tahiti 16 footer. -Creekrat

http://www.creekrat.com/images/Fliver/fliver6.jpg

Creekrat
10-30-2009, 06:41 PM
One more here. We love this boat! More boat photos at our Fliver Boat page:

http://www.creekrat.com/fliverboat.htm

Darkside's Calling
11-02-2009, 08:53 AM
There was a long thread on this Tahiti subject over on Banderlog forum a while back, Old Rigger and his dad worked for Schuster, then followed as Schuster used the Tiki and Hawaiian names. It appears there was some "funny" business going on in the later years and that (edit) "someone" went to jail for a while. I can't access Banderlog from work or I'd pull up the thread.

old rigger
12-08-2009, 09:43 PM
Dick Schuster, who was a laminator at Powercat when they made the switch to glass boats, started Tahiti in 1964 (after a short venture in Australia building boats) in Long Beach first. Then he moved into the old Bellflower Marine shop that had been owned by Bob Massey who was killed testing a Switzer wing on Lake Elisinore, and that shop was a Lakewood Blvd address across the street from Mr. Weiman's boat shop. Schuster would later build the hulls for Weiman Boats as Mr. Weiman had no glass shop. (Mr. Weiman's son Roger, who grew up with my mom, would split from his dad, race the first Tahiti jet boat and then start his own shop in Los Alamitos, then move to his shop on Rose street next to his dads old shop) Finally Schuster moved into the building around the corner on Ramona. Eventually there were 3 big buildings that took up a city block and they're still there. Before Competitive trailers was there, A&M trailers used one of the buildings to build trailers and there's many an old Tahiti still sitting on one of them.

My dad went to work for Dick in 1966 and all the early employees were, or seemed to be, Paramount High School grads and their younger brothers, my dad and I included.

Dick Clark set the fantastic record in his Tahiti, 'Harry Canary' in 1967 using the first Berkeley droop.

The fire was before the shop was sold to Bell inc. It did not happen in the glass dept and no molds were lost, just inventory items like engines, pumps, gauges and so on. After the repairs from the fire, Schuster sold to Bell for a million bucks and stayed on as President. About 1971 or 72 the move was made to the shop on Crusader in the city of Cerritos. Tahiti was in full swing now, never bigger, and few shops were building as many boats or employed more people. Many people still remember being able to see the shop from the almost new 605 freeway and the boats stacked up on large racks that we built during the winter months.

Schuster and an employee from Bell, Jerry Groom. started Hawaiian (Tiki boats at first) sometime in 1974. I went to work there full time the day after I graduated high school in '74 and we were back into one of the old Tahiti buildings on Ramona. Then we were in the building that later became Hardin marine when they built Tahiti's and then we made the move to Huntington Beach and had the two big buildings on Container lane. Hawaiian went tits up in 1980 but Schuster continued to build a boat here and there using the Hawaiian name and using a few of the guys from the old days. He also bought Sun Ray boats and his sons ran that shop.

I went to work for Roger Weiman in 1980 and stayed with him for 5 years. My dad went to Hallett for a extremely short time then got out of the boat deal altogether. I later went to Galaxie for a cup of coffee then to Advantage, to Warlock, to Howard, back to Advantage, back to Roger, did some free lance stuff and a few things on my own and then packed it in n the mid '90s. I started making wire looms for my dad when I was 10 or 11 in about '67 as the riggers back then had to make their own. If I wanted to stay up late on Friday night to watch TV, I had to make looms too. I had a little jig that dad made me that looked like the back of a dash and he'd give me a list of looms to fill. This many jet looms, I/O looms and so on. Then at 12 I started working at the Tahiti shop on Romona shop after school cutting wood, block sanding plugs and molds, stuff like that until I was out of high school.

Schuster did not go to prison, Jerry Groom did.

I really enjoy seeing the pictures posted here of the old Tahiti's still on the water. Takes me back.

The ID tag of my old 1965 Tahiti, the 9th one out of the molds.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/flyin-t/ourold65plate.jpg

Dick Clark

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/flyin-t/clarktahiti.jpg

An old ad showing the Romona shop and how we stored 16' bare hulls. That's a 19 lp in the water shots.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/flyin-t/01-09-2006084955AM.jpg

And here's a look in the shop on Crusader. This was just a tiny portion of the shop. We were at Hawaiian when this picture was taken, and except for the black 20 on the right which was tooled up after we left, it looks like home. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/flyin-t/tahad1.jpg

Darkside's Calling
12-09-2009, 12:15 AM
Schuster did not go to prison, Jerry Groom did.



Oldrigger,
Thanks for straightening me out on that one. I obviosly missunderstood before. :leaving:

old rigger
12-09-2009, 11:00 AM
Oldrigger,
Thanks for straightening me out on that one. I obviosly missunderstood before. :leaving:

They both should have gone, Schuster dodged a bullet. :)

Family Tradition
12-16-2009, 05:07 PM
I have inherited my father's 1968 Tahiti I/O boat. My father bought this boat brand new in 1968 and there are many fond memories attached to it. However, I am forced to let it go due to the extensive work that may have to be done to restore. It is a left side driver, which I have been led to believe that is unique. Would love to have any and all thoughts.

Karsten
03-10-2010, 12:21 AM
I'm redoing a 71 Schuster Tahiti 16 right now. Nice lil boat. The hull was formed from a Glastron and had the little art wedges added to them. Mine is all original with the tag still in it and in grate shape. has an Evinrude 125 on it.

Well this Tahiti is now my Tahiti and soon to get new carpet and have the seating redone.

Same 125 Evinrude that will get a fresh paint job and I hope to get the trailer painted before summer.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3999/mytahiti1.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/89/mytahiti2.jpg

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/4475/seatsout.jpg

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6206/beforemotor.jpg


I plan to relocate the fuel tank to a bow mounted one if I can get it all figured out.

Karsten

tirediron
11-10-2011, 03:43 AM
Enjoyed the account of Tahiti history. I am researching boats built by Wayne Hornung, The designer of the Wayne 12 Port head for GMC's and Chevys. He built a number of Corvair powered boats with the engine vertically mounted with an outboard like lower unit mounted through the bottom about a foot forward of the transom, The initial boat was a 16' Glasspar Avalon. Later production (?) was called a Tahiti. Articles on Hornung's boats appeared in HRM, Oct 1965, PM, Sep 1965, & A boating magazine. I wonder if during your time at Schuster you knew whether they supplied the "Tahiti" hulls for the later Wayne 100's. It is said that about 95 highly modified Corvair engines were built and the company was known as Inboard Marine, Temple City, CA. I know the location of two Wayne 100's, one is an Avalon the other a Tahiti. Others have been photographed, usually at Corvair events. I hope to acquire one and am anxious to learn more about these novel boats.

I'm a newbie and intended to post this to old riggers thread about Schuster, Tahiti history. Mea Culpa! I'll learn to be careful about replying!

Greg G
11-10-2011, 04:29 AM
Talk about a cool old thread!

2us70
11-10-2011, 11:26 AM
In 1968 a company called Banshee built a copy the Tahiti in Hollywood , FL. Action Marine was started using those molds. I built more than i few of them when I worked at Action in the 70s. I also raced a couple of those boats in FJ and SJ classes. It was kind of like trying to drive an over powered oil drum. We built a real light one for Barney and I saw well over 70mph in it. Prop blowout was a real problem with that boat and when it happened the boat became a real handfull. Banshee also built several of these hulls with 455 olds motors and jet pumps. The outboards were faster.

dnelson964
11-10-2011, 06:09 PM
Cool thread guys ! 246378Here is an old picture I found of my 1971 16' Banshee (or was it Sidewinder..not sure now) which had a 135 mercury straight 6 on it. I think i ran a 20" 2 blade bronze prop on it in 1973. Fun and fast but not a very deep V boat. I remember getting a crack in the rear of the hull jumping some 2'-3' waves around the Hampton bays inlet on Long Island, NY.

Karsten
11-10-2011, 07:16 PM
This is my 71 Schuster Tahiti posted above and started by Cmbrsum on the 1st page. New carpet, interior, 13 gallon fuel tank, refinish motor and pinstriped.

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/3577/dscn06739.jpg

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7515/dscn06717.jpg

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/6551/dscn06706.jpg

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/8599/dscn06684.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4936/dscn06651.jpg

Karsten

dnelson964
11-10-2011, 07:28 PM
This is my 71 Schuster Tahiti posted above and started by Cmbrsum on the 1st page. New carpet, interior, 13 gallon fuel tank, refinish motor and pinstriped.


Karsten


You did a beautiful job on the Tahiti ! :cheers:

Old fiberglass
11-15-2011, 05:56 PM
Speaking of Tahiti the pictured 70's jet boat has to be one of the most splashed/copied hulls. Below is a list of the companies that splashed it. Not sure who the original designer was.

Kachina
Anthony
Challenger
Charger
Tahiti
Hondo
Cole

tirediron
11-15-2011, 10:40 PM
I have no involvement with the seller. Just found it while browsing thought it fit this thread.

1973 Schuster Tahiti Jet Boat - $1500 (Winnemucca) sale-kux77-2689324736@craigslist.org (sale-kux77-2689324736@craigslist.org?subject=1973%20Schuster%20Tahiti%20Jet%20Boat%20-%20%241500%20%28Winnemucca%29&body=%0A%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Freno.craigslist.org%2Fboa%2F2689324736.html%0A)

John
775-304-0088

http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh283/1fixit1/Schuster%20Tahiti%20Jetboat/

TahitiDave
12-19-2011, 03:16 PM
Found these pics of my old Tahiti 16, thought they were pretty cool pics. this is the Tahiti mentioned earlier in this thread with the blueprinted pad bottom. one pic is at 90 mph and the other is coming off the line at the same race. motor is a slightly modded 2.4 carb merc. the restoration of this boat was totake out anything that wasn't absolutely nessecary! DAVE

TahitiDave
12-19-2011, 03:18 PM
Oops! forgot the pics!248361248362

elmo4x4
12-19-2011, 04:19 PM
Cool Pix Dave! Here is the same boat a few years after when I owned it. 150 promax running mid 80's

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g96/elmo4x4/Tahiti28.jpg

TahitiDave
12-20-2011, 09:11 AM
Thanks elmo! that was areally quick boat! mid 80's with a 150 is awsome. best top speed i got with the 2.4 was 97.6 gps. started to get spooky! this thread is really interesting cus when i had the Tahiti i couldn't find any info at all on Schuster, interesting story. DAVE

williamj
11-04-2013, 09:03 PM
Pics of the older engines really bring back childhood memories. Love the Tahiti man, hope you still have her!!!

Da Bull
11-07-2013, 04:07 PM
Speaking of Tahiti the pictured 70's jet boat has to be one of the most splashed/copied hulls. Below is a list of the companies that splashed it. Not sure who the original designer was.

Kachina
Anthony
Challenger
Charger
Tahiti
Hondo
Cole



I had a 1972 17ft Kona made by Fiberglass Unlimited in Westminster, Ca. I was told at one time that it was a copy of a Tahiti. I don`t know this to be true its just what i was told. There was a lot of copying going on back then.

DB

2us70
11-07-2013, 05:59 PM
You can add Action Marine and Banshee to that list. I don't know who did the deck but the hull is basically a Glasstron.

rbryan
11-07-2013, 08:22 PM
I can add one more to the list... Springfield Marine. I have a 1997 16ft with a 3.0 Mercruiser. Looks like it`s out of the same mold as Tahiti Daves, only I/O.
I will try to post some pics soon

pcrussell50
12-25-2013, 01:48 PM
Speaking of Tahiti the pictured 70's jet boat has to be one of the most splashed/copied hulls. Below is a list of the companies that splashed it. Not sure who the original designer was.

The bolded part is really the main question of this whole thread. And thanks to OldRigger's account of the wild and wooly boat building days in Southern Cal, back when it was a still a business-friendly place, before all the "dirty" industries like fiberglass were run off, with shops opening and closing, and skilled boatmen transferring here and there, or opening new shops of their own, and taking splashes and molds with them as they moved, we might never know where this hull originated at it's very first.

Here's my 1968 Sportline, made by Sportster Mfg. Co., also of Southern Cal., with a 135 Evinrude v4 crossflow
One pic:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WjxgUrCLmLY/UotJXhQtG5I/AAAAAAAAKr4/ILaffEa_OLg/w746-h560-no/IMG_0320.JPG


Rest of the album: https://picasaweb.google.com/103914732582316922948/Mar62010?authkey=Gv1sRgCJnhwrCwleyE4wE


Kachina
Anthony
Challenger
Charger
Tahiti
Hondo
Cole
to this, i would add:
Sportster Mfg. Co.
Sidewinder
Baja
There are probably others... And while these probably all share the same hull, some of the deck designs vary.

Merry Christmas all,
-Peter

58Evinrude
12-26-2013, 08:22 AM
289218289219It was/is my understanding that the Tahiti was a splash of a Sidewinder? It doesn't really matter, they're cool boats, but they do make for interesting rides above about 60 mph. The lack of a pad just makes 'em chine walk like mad.

I've got a 16 'Winder SS that had a 150 Johnson V6, and a 16 Winder Lo-Pro that's getting a 160 - 170 Evinrude V4, after a pad is added :)

wanagofass
12-26-2013, 04:42 PM
Oops! forgot the pics!248361248362

That bottom looks almost exactly like my 72' Glastron GT 160

Karsten
12-26-2013, 06:06 PM
I did a lot of research when I bought my 1971 Schuster Tahiti. Schuster had gone to a boat race and watched as the new Glaston Deep Vee Hull was taking all the trophies. After looking the hull over he asked a boat dealer buddy if he could demo a boat for the weekend.

Rather than demo the boat he took it back to his shop and Splashed the Hull. Then Sidewinder Slashed Schuster's Tahiti hull and a war began. The Schuster Tahiti was 1st built with a wrap around windshield.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/196/dscn06662.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/5gdscn06662j)

Sidewinders had the Low Pro Deck like a traditional S/K, S/J back then. The Schuster Deck was so popular that Sidewider Slashed Schuster's deck as well and made both a 16 and 18 ft boat. Again laywers got involved and nothing happened ( back in the day Splashing one companies hull or deck was common place).

To get even Schuster Splashed the Sidewinder Low Pro Deck but never made anything longer than 16 ft.

Schuster also bought a bunch or surplus Tahiti Boat Emblems from Tahiti hence both Tahiti and Schuster sport the same side plates with the Tiki face.

Karsten

Da Bull
12-30-2013, 11:12 AM
Splashing hull`s still goes on today. Maybe not as direct copies as back then but it happens. Here`s an interesting note. I`ve seen a picture of a Jones tunnel taken way back in the late 60`s and the Skaters, Tricks, Lightning`s and so look just like it. Amazing!

DB

T2x
12-30-2013, 12:02 PM
Splashing hull`s still goes on today. Maybe not as direct copies as back then but it happens. Here`s an interesting note. I`ve seen a picture of a Jones tunnel taken way back in the late 60`s and the Skaters, Tricks, Lightning`s and so look just like it. Amazing!

DB

Not so sure about this quote... Trick and Lightning may have splashed Skater, but Skater splashed nobody. Peter made all original plugs for every hull he ever built. Ted (father) and Ron (son) Jones made a bunch of one off tunnel hulls back in the 60's both full tunnels and pickleforks from about 16' to big Offshore versions. I have never seen any of them "popped".

1BadAction
12-30-2013, 12:32 PM
I'm always up for a good splash debate, at least some splashes don't fall apart like the original does :reddevil:

Rick1964
04-03-2014, 08:41 PM
Just thought I would post a picture of my 1970 19 foot Schuster Torino Tahiti jet boat. I took a picture of the emblem on the side. I rebuilt the pump myself last november, with a rebuilt 454. Would love to here some feedback from anyone with info. I do all my own work so far on it. I've had it about 5 years, got it from a friend who got it from a friend as payment of a debt. My friend didn't know how much trouble the berk and BBC were in, and he didn't want to put money into it so he sold it to me for 500 bucks, and then I had the motor rebuilt, and rebuilt the pump myself, first time. So far have 15 hrs on the newly rebuilt drive train. Just thought I'd share it and see what kind of info is out there! :)

rsukup
11-23-2014, 08:20 PM
289218289219It was/is my understanding that the Tahiti was a splash of a Sidewinder? It doesn't really matter, they're cool boats, but they do make for interesting rides above about 60 mph. The lack of a pad just makes 'em chine walk like mad.

I've got a 16 'Winder SS that had a 150 Johnson V6, and a 16 Winder Lo-Pro that's getting a 160 - 170 Evinrude V4, after a pad is added :)
If I can reply to this older post; How does it run?
Any porpoising problems? Beautiful boat. Always wanted one since my first ride in a 70 low pro w/a 125 Merc but got a Carlson CVX 16 instead.
It was a mod-V hull thought to be made in the early 70's as a Sidewinder and had many clones.

58Evinrude
11-23-2014, 11:46 PM
No problem. I've got the pad on it now, and tried the modded V-4. It didn't get to anywhere near what it should have run, I found out the supposedly 160 to 170 was closer to about 150 hp. So I dropped on a 235 'Rude :) It porpoises like crazy!! It didn't do it without the pad with a 115 on it, but with both the modded V 4 and the 235 it's just a bouncing SOB. I couldn't drive through it with the V4, but with the 235 once I get it up on the pad it runs good. Coming off the pad is another story, I have no idea what the boat is going to do... sometimes it just settles down, other times it's a white knuckle ride. I don't have a lot of time on the set up yet, I'm hoping I can sort the bugs out of it in the new year. I only ran it for maybe an hour, and I cooked 2 pistons in the 235.

So, it's still a work in progress. The best speed I got with the 235 was about 75 mph, I have a long way to go with the set up. I may even pull the 6" jackplate, and bolt the motor to the transom and try that to cure the porpoising. Here's a couple of pics of the pad, it's a copy of a Charger DL pad. My buddy made it in his mold, and grafted it to my hull.

rsukup
11-26-2014, 10:04 PM
Need more details about the modded V4. Looks like your pad is V-ed. Most are flat or concave between the strakes. Does it Chine walk? I think chine walk is reduced when you raise the motor. Mine is a small block 140 Johnson Looper. With trim tabs. Tried to adjust them more neutral but it just porpoises. OK with them flat now. 1" setback blocks with cav about 1" up. The Carlson pad is not made right, in my opinion. Hope you have a warm building to work on. Looks like we're in for a long winter even here in Nebraska.

58Evinrude
11-27-2014, 04:25 PM
The boats are all put away for the winter, it's getting onto snowmobile time here. The V4 had some porting work done, CCM reeds, 1 3/8 carbs, dry stacked, and was in my opinion putting out about 150 hp at the prop. The pad does have a slight v, but it's the same as what's on my Charger SK, and that boat runs nice all the way into the 80's. I have a 6" jackplate on the 'Winder, and have tried the motor in all heights. So far it's been the best with the propshaft level with the pad, but that's as far as I can lift the motor for now. I'll have to make some changes to the jack next year. It does still chine walk, but only when coming down in speed, not on the way up. Between that and the porpoising, it's a handful to drive. I think that with some more set up effort, I can calm it down.

Onetime
11-27-2014, 05:44 PM
Speaking of Tahiti the pictured 70's jet boat has to be one of the most splashed/copied hulls. Below is a list of the companies that splashed it. Not sure who the original designer was.

Kachina
Anthony
Challenger
Charger
Tahiti
Hondo
Cole

Another one you can add to the list is Wriedt. Had a 16' that was definitely a clone of the 16' Tahiti which I thought was a clone of the 16' Sidewinder.

58Evinrude
11-27-2014, 05:48 PM
Ever heard of a Dorado? I swear it's a clone of a 14 Sidewider SS, right down to the pad. One of my buddies just bought one, and I was checking it out.

brocluno
10-31-2016, 10:40 PM
Here's an excerpt from Sidewinder's History:

In 1971, Ken Baker, president of Sidewinder Marine, Inc. in Palo Alto, California was in litigation over a lawsuit filed by Sidewinder Marine against twenty manufacturers, who had copied the revolutionary Super Sidewinder design, first produced in 1970. Imitators included Marlin, Tahiti, Wriedt, and Taylor. In 1971/72 production moved from Palo Alto to Anderson, CA. and by July 1972, at least four manufacturers had admitted infringement on the Sidewinder design patents. About 1971 Canadian Sidewinder production moved to Ontario, where, by 1972, they were manufactured as Sidewinders - not Cobras, by California Glass Marine.

Seems there was a lot of copying going on back then :D

pcrussell50
11-01-2016, 09:13 PM
Here's an excerpt from Sidewinder's History:

In 1971, Ken Baker, president of Sidewinder Marine, Inc. in Palo Alto, California was in litigation over a lawsuit filed by Sidewinder Marine against twenty manufacturers, who had copied the revolutionary Super Sidewinder design, first produced in 1970. Imitators included Marlin, Tahiti, Wriedt, and Taylor. In 1971/72 production moved from Palo Alto to Anderson, CA. and by July 1972, at least four manufacturers had admitted infringement on the Sidewinder design patents. About 1971 Canadian Sidewinder production moved to Ontario, where, by 1972, they were manufactured as Sidewinders - not Cobras, by California Glass Marine.

Seems there was a lot of copying going on back then :D

Oooh yeah there was copying:

Here's my clone of a Sidewinder LowPro:
https://goo.gl/photos/qmovWKovnSHDiN146

https://goo.gl/photos/nfFdwt47bvLLhAfLA

https://goo.gl/photos/DzSqhL6vWGjqKCUR6

55 mph with just me in it. Stock '75 bubbleback, no pad, but that classic Sidewinder, wide round keel with a strake on each side, "kind of like" a pad. Mine is called a Sportline, by Sportster Mfg. co. of Paramount, CA (suburb of Los Angeles). Sportster did not make speed boats. As far as I know, mine might have been the only one. I met the oldtimer who built mine. We became email pen pals, until he died a couple of years ago. He was shop foreman at the time. He said they eventually went out of business, swamped by the chopper gun companies. He said the owner of his shop insisted on hand laying, full encapsulation, and no shortcuts. Tough to maintain, when others are making the "same" hull by chopper gun, and the consumer doesn't know which is better, only which is cheaper. Bummer.

-Peter

capnzee
01-03-2017, 12:54 AM
Nice running Tahiti with OMC 4 for sale at Apple Valley Marine, California--Mickey has specifics~~!

lilabner
01-05-2017, 06:00 PM
I used to have a Banshee around 1970 just for a ski boat, kid of looks like that..Jim knows where they came from, I forgot. It was a great ski boat though with my Bay of Pigs Merc 700 on it..Traded my G3 for it from Tommy Sikes..

2us70
01-05-2017, 08:59 PM
The Banshees molds were the origin of Action Marine. Barney bought a couple of boats from Banshee and had a business relationship with them. Barney and I turned one of his Banshees into a JP/SJ boat. I raced it a few times. It was like trying to drive an over powered oil drum. Single RideGuide steering didn't help much either. Those molds were the original 16' Action. We eventually got one to run over 70 mph with a 1500.

GENE LANHAM
01-05-2017, 09:04 PM
t..Traded my G3 for it from Tommy Sikes..

---Wonder where Tommy got it---

lilabner
01-05-2017, 11:54 PM
---Wonder where Tommy got it---

I didn't know it came from Tommy for about three months. I didn't know Tommy either at that time. The deal was made by a friend of mine on my behalf. The registration worked so I was happy.

lilabner
01-06-2017, 12:10 AM
The Banshees molds were the origin of Action Marine. Barney bought a couple of boats from Banshee and had a business relationship with them. Barney and I turned one of his Banshees into a JP/SJ boat. I raced it a few times. It was like trying to drive an over powered oil drum. Single RideGuide steering didn't help much either. Those molds were the original 16' Action. We eventually got one to run over 70 mph with a 1500.

Thanks Jim, that's what I thought you had told me, but because of CRS I wasn't sure.

FUJIMO
01-07-2017, 01:42 PM
The Banshees molds were the origin of Action Marine. Those molds were the original 16' Action.
...Not to be confused with the "original" 16' Action / HydroStream Ventura 1 boats, correct? They came along a couple years later...?

FUJIMO
01-07-2017, 02:04 PM
...CRS = Can't Remember S... (I think). If you ask me, you have one of the best memory's on this board...Frank.

2us70
01-07-2017, 03:03 PM
I started to work part time at Action in 1972. We built the 16' Banshee carry over and 3 Checkmate clones. A 13', one of which I ran for a couple of years in EP,a 15' and a 15 1/2'. A couple of years later my real job made working part time impossible so I took a break. It was during that time Action started making the HydroStream based boats. Action Marines versions of these boats were almost always faster than the original due to improvements Barney made to them.
...Not to be confused with the "original" 16' Action / HydroStream Ventura 1 boats, correct? They came along a couple years later...?

2us70
01-07-2017, 03:12 PM
Action Marine was also where the molds for the "Paramont" boats originated. We built those molds from a larger higher freeboard boat which was never produced in any numbers and we cut it down. One of the employees at the shop decided to go out on his own and he purchased the molds. We must have done a pretty good job on those molds because every "Paramont" ever built came out of them.

Little yeller
05-28-2017, 02:14 PM
I recently purchased my first boat it is a 1998 16' tahiti i/o 140hp i have only been able to find info on the older ones. Anyone know about these? I have been told there are only about 200 made in the two years thwy brought them back

Karsten
05-28-2017, 04:54 PM
Mine doesn't look quite like it did when I posted pic back in 2013 after the original Evinrude 125 gave up.

hang a 2011 Mercury 150 Optimax, oil injection, converted over to hydraulic steering, new stereo and speakers, Mercury Smartcraft monitor, new gauges, control lever and I forget what else.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/921/mGgg0Q.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/plmGgg0Qj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/924/grihkQ.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pogrihkQj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/923/BZxcVc.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pnBZxcVcj)

Playing around with 4 Blade SS props now.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/924/F3yyRb.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/poF3yyRbj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/924/E4yNEo.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/poE4yNEoj)

Whole lot of motor hanging off that little boat.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/922/r2QnlH.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pmr2QnlHj)

Karsten

brocluno
05-30-2017, 10:52 AM
Go Karsten, go :D

5NovemberTango
03-24-2018, 08:44 PM
I know it's a old thread, but do you have anymore pictures of that rear bench seat??

Karsten
03-24-2018, 08:58 PM
I know it's a old thread, but do you have anymore pictures of that rear bench seat??

If you are referring to mine I actually don't have a rear bench seat....It is a panel that covering the gas tank, oil tank and battery box.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/820/dscn06739.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/msdscn06739j)

My Rear seat face to the rear

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/31/dscn06728.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/0vdscn06728j)

Karsten

5NovemberTango
03-24-2018, 09:09 PM
That looks good, but this is the one I was thinking about.

https://preview.ibb.co/cFcmZn/image.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/gybPLS/image.jpg

Karsten
03-24-2018, 09:19 PM
That looks good, but this is the one I was thinking about.

https://preview.ibb.co/cFcmZn/image.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/gybPLS/image.jpg

That is the same rear panel on a Sidewinder Low Pro Deck with Fiberglass back to back A Frame seats

Karsten

5NovemberTango
03-24-2018, 09:43 PM
Roger that.

So there is no actual put your butt on seat for the back, just that padded rest?

Karsten
03-24-2018, 10:02 PM
Roger that.

So there is no actual put your butt on seat for the back, just that padded rest?

I suppose you could put a pillow on the floor in front of the rear panel and call it a seat but the 16 ft Schuster or Sidewinder are only rated as 4 person boats.

Karsten

5NovemberTango
03-24-2018, 10:31 PM
Lest we get crazy lol

I could care less about the $$ aspect or the USCG, just want to know how my new boat was sposed to look.

58Evinrude
03-24-2018, 11:33 PM
My 16 Super Sidewinder had a pair of front buckets, and a rear bench. My low pro had back to back seats, with just a panel at the back. I can't get the pics attached using my tablet :(

58Evinrude
03-24-2018, 11:44 PM
Figured it out!

Karsten
03-25-2018, 10:45 AM
Figured it out!

That set up looks great and looks a lot more comfortable than the back to back seats they came with. Somewhere in the past they added head reats to mmy seats....Supposethey got tired of banging head.

Karsten

5NovemberTango
03-25-2018, 12:14 PM
Figured it out!


You wouldn't happen to have any photos of the padded rear panel itself would you?

Like how it attaches, how it was made, I'm thinking I'm going to have to replicate it unless I can find one for sale, which I feel might be tuff.

58Evinrude
03-25-2018, 12:43 PM
The panel or the seat? The seat was a one piece wood unit, that was hinged at the top of the seat back. The whole swung up to get at the battery, gas tank, etc. The panel on my low pro I could get pictures of, I still own it, but its wrapped up for winter here in the great white north.

Mines made out of 3/8" ply, its held in place with a couple of bungee cords that come off the transom and hook onto eye hooks to hold it in place. The padding on mine was shot, I covered it in carpet when I redid the floor and replaced the rotten back to backs with a pair of buckets.

5NovemberTango
03-25-2018, 12:46 PM
The panel or the seat? The seat was a one piece wood unit, that was hinged at the top of the seat back. The whole swung up to get at the battery, gas tank, etc. The panel on my low pro I could get pictures of, I still own it, but its wrapped up for winter here in the great white north.

Mines made out of 3/8" ply, its held in place with a couple of bungee cords that come off the transom and hook onto eye hooks to hold it in place. The padding on mine was shot, I covered it in carpet when I redide the floor and replaced the rotten back to backs with a pair of buckets.


Yeah, the panel is what I'd be looking to replicate.

58Evinrude
03-25-2018, 12:50 PM
Once the snow is gone I'd be glad to shoot as many pics as you need, measurements, etc. Its original to the boat, except for the covering.

5NovemberTango
03-25-2018, 01:00 PM
Once the snow is gone I'd be glad to shoot as many pics as you need, measurements, etc. Its original to the boat, except for the covering.

Thanks!!

Karsten
03-25-2018, 01:00 PM
Somewhere I have seen patterns for all the Glastron seat frames.....I did run across this post where the owner is parting out a 16 foot CVX 16 which should be close interior size wise to a Schuster/Sidewinder.

http://www.classicglastron.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=11551&p=69884&hilit=Seats#p69884

Seeing as how the seats need to be recovered it shouldn't be hard the adjust the rear bench to fit the transom of your boat.

Keep in mind you will most likely want the vent the back where the gas tank/battery fit for safety reasons (note the vents on either side rear of 58 Evinrudes boat)

Karsten

58Evinrude
03-25-2018, 01:40 PM
My SS had a 20 gallon built in tank at the stern vented outside, but not original to the boat, I installed it. The Low Pro has a bow tank, again vented to the outside, but factory installed.

5NovemberTango
03-25-2018, 05:29 PM
I just noticed you're in ON, I'm just on the other side of the river, you woodnt happen to have any leads on a soda blaster up there, or if the price with currency conversion is right I'd also be interested in having the boat re gelcoated vs doing the gelcoat myself (presuming I don't go with paint, still have 100% decided).

58Evinrude
03-25-2018, 06:09 PM
Sorry, I have no leads on a soda blaster. I had my hull painted with an epoxy paint, I'm still debating what to do with the deck...the flake has faded badly.

5NovemberTango
03-25-2018, 06:15 PM
Sorry, I have no leads on a soda blaster. I had my hull painted with an epoxy paint, I'm still debating what to do with the deck...the flake has faded badly.

Looking back, or forward, if you were laying a pearl (reds and whites), would you go with awlgrip paint or new gel?

58Evinrude
03-25-2018, 06:25 PM
I'm the wrong guy to ask....I can rebuild floors, transoms, but when it comes to finish work thats outta my area.

Karsten
03-25-2018, 06:47 PM
Looking back, or forward, if you were laying a pearl (reds and whites), would you go with awlgrip paint or new gel?

If you want Pearl (or Metal Flake) I would go with Gel....There is no way to spray Awlgrip with Flake or Pearl as they don't offer a Clear. Do a search on you tube about spraying Gel and you will find it is not the hard and rather forgiving.

Karsten

5NovemberTango
03-25-2018, 07:02 PM
If you want Pearl (or Metal Flake) I would go with Gel....There is no way to spray Awlgrip with Flake or Pearl as they don't offer a Clear. Do a search on you tube about spraying Gel and you will find it is not the hard and rather forgiving.

Karsten

The pearl is pretty important and part of the vision when I got the Tahiti

402603402605


like this white for the bottom and stripe and the red for the top and sides.

Karsten
03-25-2018, 07:18 PM
You wont get that look with Awlgrip or even Gel....That is a Kustom Color Brandy Wine on the left and not sure the white.

Karsten

5NovemberTango
03-25-2018, 07:38 PM
You wont get that look with Awlgrip or even Gel....That is a Kustom Color Brandy Wine on the left and not sure the white.

Karsten


Balls

so what's the solution? Or best bet?

5NovemberTango
03-25-2018, 07:46 PM
So what's the closest I could get?

Karsten
03-25-2018, 07:48 PM
You need A base Gel Color Coat, Clear Gel and fine Pearl or Metal Flake.

This will give you the Pearl you are looking for.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6oz-177ml-Bright-White-Pearlish-008-Metal-Flake-Auto-Paint-Additive-LF216/322094476197?_trkparms=aid%3D555019%26algo%3DPL.BANDIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150817211623%26meid%3D9cfc 3f4a96e34f25b8866a9f73b2dd68%26pid%3D100505%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D322094476197&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226

Karsten

jhonster
04-25-2019, 02:50 AM
Nice thread. Question for anybody who's got experience with the floors on these old Tahitis. I've got a 1973 Tahiti, and noticed in the center portion what looks to be a wooden floor. I'm assuming they put these in at the factory because of the deep vee hull so you have some sort of floor. Anyway, I just tore out the old carpet & factory interior and was going to replace the carpet and the seats. The wood is all rotted in the seat frames, so I was thinking of buying these pre fabbed seats on the internet and cutting the bases to fit the contours of the hull floor. But, where they had the old seat anchored to, there were some bolts.....i'm assuming some sort of lag screw.....that was keeping the seat bases in place. The bolts were all rotted away and the holes they were in are now 2-3 inches in diameter after pressure washing the hull. Whoever put these seats in also fiberglassed portions of the seat bases to the floor. I tore the bases away from the fiberglass to get them out. So my question is.....do I need to do something about these 4 holes, or should I just carpet over them and use a different place in the wooden floor to anchor the new seats to?

jhonster
04-25-2019, 02:52 AM
We have a sweet and all original 1972 Schuster Tahiti with a Merc 1400 that we purchased from the original owner who pampered it. We love it!

http://www.creekrat.com/images/Fliver/fliver5.jpg
Thats the exact same boat I have. Mine is still the original green and silver gel coat.

Karsten
04-25-2019, 09:50 AM
Nice thread. Question for anybody who's got experience with the floors on these old Tahitis. I've got a 1973 Tahiti, and noticed in the center portion what looks to be a wooden floor. I'm assuming they put these in at the factory because of the deep vee hull so you have some sort of floor. Anyway, I just tore out the old carpet & factory interior and was going to replace the carpet and the seats. The wood is all rotted in the seat frames, so I was thinking of buying these pre fabbed seats on the internet and cutting the bases to fit the contours of the hull floor. But, where they had the old seat anchored to, there were some bolts.....i'm assuming some sort of lag screw.....that was keeping the seat bases in place. The bolts were all rotted away and the holes they were in are now 2-3 inches in diameter after pressure washing the hull. Whoever put these seats in also fiberglassed portions of the seat bases to the floor. I tore the bases away from the fiberglass to get them out. So my question is.....do I need to do something about these 4 holes, or should I just carpet over them and use a different place in the wooden floor to anchor the new seats to?

I had new seat bases made for my seats, carpeted them with the same carpet I used on the floor. It appears the original based were wrapped in vinyl that didn't breath so the wood could dry out.

As for the existing holes just fill them with caulk, Liquid Nails or what ever then use SS screws and L Brackets to secure the base to the floor. On the outside edge where the floor meets the hull you will find a fiberglass bracket or wooden block......Don't drill any screws there or you could go through the hull. 2 L Bracket on the front and rear of the base and 2 more on the inside edge of the base will hold it.

For added support there should be a couple holes in the inside Gunwale where you can run a couple lag bolts with washers into the wooden vertical seat back.

Karsten

Jccourso
06-22-2022, 12:08 PM
I am interested in jumpstarting this Tahiti forum and want to gauge additional interest. I have a 1974 Tahiti with a Aq130c Volvo engine. I have completely restored the hull and interior. I have also rebuilt the engine recently. I’ve read the posts on this thread about the Schuster history however I have not seen anything specifically mentioned about the set up I have. Any feedback is appreciated.