Restoring Hydrodyne Ski Boat

[TwinRig]

Hey guys, I know Hydrodynes are not exactly high perf boats, but the knowledge here seems to be the best around. I have a Hydrodyne with balsa core. You cannot like many other great boats buy these boats any more. Is it feasible to essentially rebuild one of these boats to preserve it for many more years of use? There are not many outboard true ski boats out there any more, and I would like to get this one back to like new condition.
Thanks,
Erich

BTW, it is a 1971 18' dyne outboard

[Reese]

Is it feasible to essentially rebuild one of these boats to preserve it for many more years of use?

Absolutely...the only question is how much time and effort you're willing to give up. You're right...outboard ski boats are pretty much dead these days...too bad.

Restoring these older boats is very cool...especially since ski boat makers decided that outboards were way too expensive compared to a converted car motor...:rolleyes:

How about some pics of the boat...:)

[TwinRig]

I have pics of a similar boat I will post soon. Mine is a 1971 bought out of a field that has the tracking fin missing/knocked off - so that worries me that it was used this way with holes in the bottom of the boat, which guarantees that the core in that area is probably gone. I have read some other posts about recoring, and assume I will need to do that. So the boat will basically be just the very skin of fiberglass, and be rebuilt completely from there - core, stringers, floor, transom and so on. I got the boat for just about nothing, and am willing to stick some money into it. With a good solid 200 V6, it will still be under 10k and should last me a long time I believe.

[Laker]

Those are VERY cool rigs and one of the few Non highperf boats I would like to own. I found an 18 dyne with twin 150, V6 mercs last year but like yours it needed everything.
Yes you can build it to be bullet proof. I would not do it any other way. Those with twins of about any kind are WAY Cool
Post some pics when you can!
Chris

[TwinRig]

Our club is actually going to be putting triple 150's on ours next season, some teams have triple 250's on them.
The boats have an enduring style about them, and have very unique handling characteristics, which can be scary to the novice dyne driver/rider:D
I have a couple of young daughters, and do not want or need a 30k inboard that is slower on top end than a dyne would be even with a 150. Thus, i would like to do this project and do it right.

I'll get pics soon, the boat is basically a shell and is in tough shape. But, no reason not to go the complete resto route because of this.

[bulldogdaddy]

used to ski behind an old i/o dyne. loved how it used to turn on a dime! the one thing you have to remember is how much of your time your willing to spend on the rebuild. with the cost of materials and your time you could probably get a decent inboard skiboat. BUT they shure wont look as classy as that hydro-dyne. post some pics asap!!!!