Barn find : One owner 1968 sidewinder 16ft with 150 merc

[LOSTINJ]

Got a call last summer from an ex girlfriend that her neighbor has a so called " California ski boat " for sale She's kinda clueless so I asked what the hell is it before she sent pics . She was like its a California ski boat . So the next Sat I took a 30 min drive to see what it was . Here is the amazing back story . According the orig Owner which I bought from he bought it directly from the 1968 Philadelphia boat show floor and his brother bought the I.O version . He said it was the first 16 ft Sidewinder to get to the east coast . Not stress crack ANYWHERE !! Not even in corners of motor well

Ok condition, it has not been out garage in 38 years , gelcoat / metal flake like new , best part No cleats . no lights , no gauges , orig purchased with 20 inch 115 merc and now has 1980 150 merc which is very nice , but not gonna work for me . I have 1988 mecr 200 that will be cut to 15 inch with sportmaster . engine and trailer going by by Hope you like it

Larry

[Pulse186]

Nice, I love NOS (or near NOS) stuff like this. Would love it even more if I could find one!

[LaveyT]

Nice Find!!

[FUJIMO]

...just plain wow...https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=501038&d=1644536856

[FUJIMO]

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=501040&d=1644536883

[FUJIMO]

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=501042&d=1644536925

[FUJIMO]

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=501034&d=1644536798

[FUJIMO]

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=501037&d=1644536837

[Instigator]

Very cool!

Always liked them.

[bbezok]

Awesome find, just proves that there are still gems out there waiting to be discovered.....good luck with her!.....BTW....nice Ex-GF to give you a heads up!

[Turtleherder]

Beautiful sidewinder low pro. Watch that rounded bottom with the 200.

[Dave Strong]

Nice find, I would not bother with the V6. Get that old inline running add a steering cable should be a 60mph fun boat. With a 200 V6 and the round bottom will just be a rodeo to try and drive over 60mph.

Dave

[FUJIMO]

...kinda have to agree with the last two posts...

[LOSTINJ]

I agree as well , I own a 16 Donzi Outboard 24 degree bottom , on the Donzi Im going to bring inner strakes to transom . remove hook on outer rear outside running surface and put a pad on it . I have a 300 , 15 inch with sportmaster

The sidewinder engine is 1980 150 merc and its perfect , pretty much an antique dinosaur

[LOSTINJ]

For years my ex girl would say " hey I found you another boat " and it would be a like a MFG tri hull , almost blew it off but something said go take a look . I cant believe its a 1968 and this orig condition . Gonna be one hell of estate sale when I die !

[LOSTINJ]

more pics

[FUJIMO]

...it has not been out garage in 38 years...


...and this is how it deserves to be stored going forward as well...

[WaterZebra]

I agree! Stick with an inline. A V6 will look wierd!

[LOSTINJ]

its in my pole barn now

[Pulse186]

I hope you keep it as is it, there are plenty of boats out there you can throw a V6 on.

[Instigator]

Please put me on your mailing list ��


Gonna be one hell of estate sale when I die !

[WaterZebra]

more pics

I had a brand spankin' new SideWinder LoPro in 1974. Bright canary yellow with black accents like this one. Identical seat interior. The BIA rating for this boat at the time was 115 hp. Dealer had me lower my new Merc 150 on the transom myself because of liability issues. Power trim was fairly new then too (factory separate option). I wanted the LoPro look of a Tahiti but wanted the Sidewinder brand. Everybody owned Sidewinders with the wrap windshield. Mine chine walked like crazy near 60 mph.
Nobody thought about adding a running pad on the bottom to stop the chine walk at the time. The Sidewinder LoPro, Merc 150, tach, water pressure, power trim and HiPerf bronze 2 blade 26P prop and Calkins trailer was out the door complete turn key outfit for a whopping total of $3100 in 1974.;)

[LOSTINJ]

beautiful story !

[Bodhi]

What a great find! I find plenty of barns where I am....just nothing good in them yet

[Wayne Cammidge]

Is that engine not a 1976 or maybe a '77 model.
1978 - 81 the L6 was called a 140
And the last generation 140, probably the 1980 and 81 model went to the ADI/ CDI electronics and did away with the distributor.

[LOSTINJ]

No tsure as im not up to speed on the old stuff . It definitely has a dist, what is last yr for dist ?

[Forkin' Crazy]

I would have to run it at least once with IL6. It may run better than you think.

[Dave S]

Real nice stuff..... the motor still has good yellow wires........;)....Jack it up 4 inches and it will not chine........

[Pulsare2400]

I agree with that statement. I had a 16 ft Sidewinder that I bought new around 1978 and by 1980 I installed a 140 HP Merc TOP. It chine walked but I could control it at wot. At that time you could only buy a manual jack plate. I made a hydraulic plate myself using an OMC trim pump and ram to lift the plate. I had a water pressure gauge and would run it at least 5" up. At that height the chine walking was virtually gone to the best of my recollection. I was running a 22 Chopper repitched to a 23P and getting around mid 60's. We used to slalom ski a lot at that time, and for that I used a 19P 3 blade aluminum with the engine all the way down.

[mr fun]

I agree with the earlier posts , leave it alone and enjoy it for what it is. if you start down that rabbit hole of trying to turn it into something it's not you will never be satisfied. Killer Surviver (sp).

[dnelson964]

I had one back in the 1970's brand new in light blue. They are light boats and do not have a very strong bottom in the back. I ran a 140 straight six merc on it. It was a lot of fun until I went over a rolling wave to fast and landed hard which caused a big crack in the bottom. Treat it well and never to hard as they can break.

Good luck

[Dave S]

Yep.... no core......just a flexi ride.:rolleyes: