14' Sidewinder vs. VooDoo

[Snowman]

Looking for opinions on the pro's and cons of each. Both boats have interested me for a while. Just curious.

Thanks,

Jamie

Comparable speed?
Stability?
Durability?
Weight?

[AnthonySS]

The 14' winder is actually a neat boat that you don't see much of any more...I think they actually had a pad and where one the best flying winders.

BAck in the 80's a guy on our lake had a sweet one with 90 black tower on it, swinging a 26 Chopper...he ran a sweet 60 or so mph

I liked the dash and front deck on those boats...

Its certainly more boat than the voodoo but propbally not as fast with equal power.

[Raceman]

I like the styling of the Sidewinder better, but have never seen one in any configuration with a pad. I've only seen one 14 footer, which was a no winshield version, at least in the one I saw, and wouldn't say for sure that it didn't have a pad, but I sho' don't think so.

I'm doin' a full blown search for my old 18. I've gotten a reported sighting from a couple of weeks ago.

[chris_lacey]

The 14' Sidewinder's had a "delta" type pad. I had one with a 115 Johnson on it and it was good for about 55 with a 23P SST and the engine at stock height flat on the transom. Prety nasty chine walk with single steering.
A Voodoo with a 70 or 75 would walk away from a Sidewindwer with V4 power.

[Snowman]

Thanks guys, all input is appreciated!

Just looking for something fun to get around door to door and really cheap on fuel. Just finding the River Rocket a pain to go five minutes across the lake to pick something up and always concerned where I park it...no lights and too loud for nite as well. Always loved the winder (could be the metal flake) but at the same time Voo-Doo's catch my eye too.

P.S. my weekend place is on an island.

[AnthonySS]

THANKS CHRIS...

I thought they had a pad...

Here is a 16 'WINDER...NO PAD!!!!

[Raceman]

All this Sidewinder talk's got me foamin' to get my old one back. If it happens I'm gonna pad it and stick a pair of 1500XS's on it. As far as I know it's still got an old early 80's 2.4/225 Merc on it, and would of course be faster that way, but I think the twin inlines would be too cool.

[Raceman]

Were all the 14' Sidewinders the "no windshield" style deck? I'd like to see a picture of the padded bottom also.

[Snowman]

Every one that I've ever seen has been the no windshield type. I actually bought one years ago but never got it in the water. Wish I could find it again because it was black with some silver metal flake in it.

[Airboater]

I cant really give you a comparison but I do have a 14' Sidewinder that I have owned for the last 18 years.It was metalic blue and was used in the sales broshure for the 65 hp Johnson back in 1971.This one does have a pad about 4'' wide and I had a 70 johnson then a 115 evenrude .With the 115 it was a rocket and could get a little spookey at WOT with nothing in the water at est 65 mph.:D

[Ilovespeed]

Dont know that much about the sidewinder, ive always heard/thought they are a lot heavier than the voodoo, it weighing in at around 250 for a regular hull with interior and everything, i guess its supposed to go horespower=speed as in 50 hp = 50 mph but ive gone 47 with a 40 hp , they can hold 3 people, the back seat is quick small, thats where my gas is, but anyways with a good motor the voodoo would be pretty quick too, im in teh process of getting a bigger motor for my voodoo, then hopefully i will be over 60, stock motor, nice prop, i think teh sidewinders are a little bit roomier, say one with a 115 on it, not a bad looking boat, but i love the look of the streams
Tyler

[Vicious]

Insane-o and I our putting a 150 stacker on our 14 sidewinder shop rigg ! Let you know how it runs!!

[jamoore]

I'm pretty sure they made windshield versions in 14'. I know there was one around here back then with the windshield. I remember it well. Had an inline 150 on it too. Don't think he ever got any kind of performance out of it. Just a beast with that much power back then. No one knew anything about set up. I would love to pick up that 16'over in the hulls section. I remember when the king of the local river here was a 16' no windshield version with a 150 on it. Think he claimed 63mph on it. Of course that was speedo speeds.

Joey:D

[David]

The 14' Sidewinders built in Ontario had the pad and no windshield. 14'6", 68" beam, 450 lb per the brochure.

Canadian Edition listed the Voo Doo at 13'4", 66", 260 lb. The 66" beam isn't 'real' as there is a lot of flare at the deck.

The Sidewinder is a lot bigger boat. Note that the 14' Sidewinders were also sold as Capricorns and as Fibertrons (sp?). Some Capricorns had a windshield on top of what you see in Airride's photo.

Either would probably be a lot of fun. I know the Voo Doo is.

David

[chris_lacey]

Weren't the Capricorns stretched out to 15.5'? I thought I remembered something about that.

[Vicious]

My 14 sidewinder does not have a windsheild never seen one with one just the 16' models which have a totally different hull design.

[Snowman]

So The Fibretron is the same boat as the Sidewinder?

[Raceman]

Vicious, they made the 18's also, that looked just like big 16's.

I've only seen three designs: 14 no windshield, 16 & 18 with windshields.

[chris_lacey]

Since we're talkin' Sidewinder, How many manufaturers made them? I know there was California Glass marine in Canada, they made the 14,and 16 O/B and the 18 as an O/B and an I/O, and Thompson made the 16 in an I/O. How many others?

[AnthonySS]

Don't forget that the Canadian Sidewinder Company also made the 20 Seebold Eagle (neat heavy boat too)

[chris_lacey]

I forgot about those. I sold my ModVP to a guy to use on one of those. Never heard back from him, must have worked out okay.

[AnthonySS]

One of our pals at Rice Lake showed up with a Black Seebold this year...it actually could be your old motor....Its sounds pretty snarly

[Georgia Boy]

I have never seen another one like mine before, but it was made by sleekcraft and the hull was the same as the 16ft sidewinders, just had a slightly different deck, (had a windsheild) looks alot like the one posted ealier, I will post a few pics as quick as my new scanner gets here.

[Kavalk]

I had a 19ft Sleekcraft that looked liked a Sidewinder. The full model name was Monterey Sleekcraft by Nescher. Same look and hull as a 19 Sidewinder, with a windshield but the deck was not quite as tall. Huge interior with back to back barrel type seating and seating for 3 or 4 across the back.

Also had a 16 ft Cobra (Sidewinder copy) built by Calglass in Vancouver, BC. Bought it new in 1975 and put a new 150 Merc inline on it. Got a 2 blade bronze Merc prop. Very chine walk!!

Cougar boats also made a copy of the 19 Sidewinder. Early to mid 80's???

[Georgia Boy]

That is my boat! Mine is a Sleekcraft Monterey. only was 16' 11" long and had a 7ft beam 1972 model, and had a 1400 inline merc on in. was originally red metal flake, Do you have a pic by chance of your old boat?I am regelcoating it back to original, and adding a pad and a strong 225 to mine this winter, only changing up the interior a bit. Your right had alot of interior room, which I really like. Just wish I could find a windshield for one, I have made one which is not too bad, but does not look as nice as the original molded ones.

[Kavalk]

Probably the same length as mine. I never measured it really. It was registered as 19 ft here inCanada. Never questioned it. Probably 'cause the interior was so roomy. I think the front deck on these was proportionally shorter than the Sidewinder so gave more room inside.

As far a photos go, I'm in the middle of a renovation and everything is in boxes. Could be a while. I'll try.

That Monterey was built STRONG!!!
Mine came with an inline 115 Merc.
Had a lot of hook in the hull. Did about 45 MPH with the inline.
Pulled it off and put on a new 1987 Merc 175. Better. Still had a hook.
Used to break windshields regularly. Tequila factor.
There was a place in Seattle that sold 'em cheap.
Long time ago now.

[Mr Wobbly]

We have Sidewinders over here as well and they look awfully similar to the boats shown on this thread.

They were about 16.5ft.

My father raced one in the 70's ( actually it was a Panther but essentally the same boat ) and my brother still has a mint one.

He bought it in 1983 with a 115 Merc and put a 150 merc on it a few years later. In the late 1980's he put a 235 Rude on it and then about five years ago he put a V8 Rude on it.

The Sidewinders built here were probably the most popular Sport/Ski boat throught the 70's and into the 80's. There are still alot around in good condition. They were well built and very strong.

If someone can tell me how to post pics I'll post a pic or two of dads raceboat circa 1974.

Cheers

Dayle

[Fibertron]

Right now I have a 1991 14.5 foot fibertron. I ve recently upgraded the motor to a 93 90hp Merc but havent run it enough to tell the top speed. Personly I think the windshield makes the boat look a lot better. The boat is much bigger inside but also alot hevier then the voodoo, but In my opinion can handle bigger motors. Ive seen people running them with 115s. At work we recently did a restoration on a 16' sidewinder which was set up as a center steer racer, I think he was putting a 200 merc on it. Right now I have a 14 foot Fiberline ski boat for sale. Please Email me if your interested. Ill Try to post some pics tommarow

[Georgia Boy]

Do you remember a the name of that place that sold windshields? My hull has no pad, but I am adding one, but has no hook, it is as straight as an arrow. just curious but what kind of speeds did you get with the 175? mine with my 1400 i can get just under 60. so I am hoping with my new motor to get it into the 90's am considering changing to center steer but will see how it handles first.

[Kavalk]

GB

That was a looong time ago. Brain fade has set in. I'll try to find out.
The boat ran about 65MPH with the 175.
I just drove it. No set up. Prop was nothing special.
Always felt stuck to the water. Great for skiing though!!
That's why I bought it.
Plus it was indestructible.
A friend of mine bought it and put on a 225 Merc after that. I never rode in it, but he said it went a few MPH faster.
We never did take the hook out of it.

Still looking for photos.

Found an old Charger brochure if anyone is interested.

[David]

The Capricorn brochure that I have (1988) lists the length at 14'6". They could have lengthened it in later years, but I suspect they just went broke like all the other Ontario boat builders.

I did a lot of looking at 14' boats back then as our cottage waterfront was set up for nothing bigger. My dad's 14' cedar strip was starting to rot out and we needed a boat. We wound up buying a 14' Grew. The Voo Doo was too small for our intended use and there were no used Sidewinder/
Fibertron/Capricorns around.

David

[Fibertron]

What ever happened to all the molds when the builders went bankrupt. Just wondering. And Kavalk would it be possible to post the charger brochere, I always liked those boats. Thanks

[chris_lacey]

Anthony, the guy that bought my ModVP did infact have a black Seebold/Sidewinder. Could it be??????
That was a great engine, but i just got so sick of carrying in the gas for it.

David, I could very well be wrong about Capricorn. I know someone was selling stretched 14's, and that was the name that seemed to click.

Anthony, are you guys going to be up on the long weekend? Lets try to hook up. I'm off to Calgary tomorrow, but I'll be back on the 31st.