Desirable old boats...

**Gorilla0178** · 06-11-2019, 02:09 PM

If I can start a poll just for the interest of it. Which old boats would people like to see brought back? If poss? Any boat, any reason. But keeping with boats that would be related to this site. Im just curious what people think. I know opinions vary and that's cool. What boats would still be marketable today?

**sonicss33** · 06-11-2019, 02:16 PM

Hydrostream 18’ V-King but built with top notch quality and rigging. I owned 3 way back when and IMO they are just badass looking boats.

**nitro_rat** · 06-11-2019, 02:22 PM

Gorilla, many guys have tried to keep the small performance boat torch burning over the past few years. The reality of the situation is that for the same money it takes to build a 15-20' sport boat you can build a 24' center console that will sell for way more money. Also due to emissions and 4 strokes etc you just can't buy a new engine with enough power to make a small boat run like it should. A new V-King with a 90 or 115 on it just won't be fun. For the same purchase price you can have a fast CC that's popular right now and honestly more practical for most people.

To answer your question, I would say that maybe a Hydrostream HST would be worth building. Maybe a XT Vegas/Voyager could be done with one hull mold and two decks. Really the STV style hulls are still available and that's where to look if you want a NEW small performance hull...

**Printpresswrench** · 06-11-2019, 02:23 PM

Skater 21 and 24. Aluminum tanks and all non rot materials.

**Robby321** · 06-11-2019, 02:32 PM

Switzercraft! But never be again the good old days Illinois Chain of lakes as Dave Switzer still with us, but Bob passed few years back. Knew Bobby pretty well. From the Baby Switzer (my older brother had one, Merc 20H when I was a kid) to the Super Sports (had a SS 17/1500 XS Merc), the GLs (Neighbor had a GL20, 200 Rude, and later one day Bobby comes up the channel the new GL21 with 235 Rude! And of course the Famous Switzer Wing..Miss the good old days!

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**XstreamVking** · 06-11-2019, 02:34 PM

Gorilla, just draw what you would like to see. I myself have dreams of a 30' V-King design inspired boat. It would be fn awesome. Nothing else like it...Just add some depth to the hull and it would be there. Rig 2 300's and it would do a buck easy.

**Dave S** · 06-11-2019, 05:02 PM

I have a 3.4 300.... just going to glue/d tape...some old hulls together.......TO GET HER...... I could allways spell that...........Don't worry about dreaming about what boat could be and with..... just Buy from the s/ f used boat adds.....lots of nice deal from our friends........

**Gorilla0178** · 06-11-2019, 08:01 PM

I really appreciate all the quick responses. My partner and I are always talking about building something of our own. We have a small skiff mold that was never marketed, so the molds just sit. We have various projects that are for the "business" if you will. Meaning the shop owns them and were gonna redo them for profit. But we're always busy with "customer" projects so they just sit. We're trying to get a long term project (29 Ocean Master O/B to inboard conversion) out the door to free up some space to pull one of ours in. I love the performance stuff and hes getting into it more too. He was asking me about the Hydrostream Vulture, there is one available near by. He was considering it for himself, as it is a bigger size boat compared to most. After looking more into it, I would like one to, I have the vector copy project still but its only 17 foot. I would really need the extra space in a speed boat as I have 3 boys. He mentioned pulling molds off it if we thought it would sell. I would build myself one for sure. I do see the point of the motors getting heavier, but didn't Merc just solve that with the 250 and 300R? I think it only weighs slightly more than my Looper, its only up to 100 lbs more I think. All that aside, We have 3 potter built 20 seacrafts to do, one is partially done and highly modified, weve talked about molds for that one for along time, but its not ours, its our other partner if you will. There is a 24 formula cuddy cabin I/O to bracket conversion just waiting to be finished too, bracket is getting built, So eventually something will come up, but you gotta start somewhere. We could build really nice composite boats. And I think affordable. Both of these guys I work with used to Build Merrit Sport fish boats in pompano. One worked for them so far back in the day Old Man Roy was just starting out, and the other ran a crew for years in the not to distant past. But Ya gotta do your own thing eventually, so now we work on 99% one off or custom pieces. Waiting for the time and money to redo what he have. But tick, tock, tick, tock....

**Gorilla0178** · 06-11-2019, 08:08 PM

And eventually My boys will be old enough to enjoy boating for themselves. I told my oldest whos 11 that come guys have fast/nice cars, some have big trucks, some have awesome boats, (I didn't tell him that some guys have them all,... yet) the only one I could help him with was boats. So I hope to get them into something small one day. That reminds me, TwzteD and I were talking about a mold off his 13 bullet, but he wants to just get it gone so he can Scream and Fly. But something like that for my kid someday would be great.

**Gorilla0178** · 06-11-2019, 08:09 PM

I agree, I love all of them.

Originally Posted by sonicss33

Hydrostream 18’ V-King but built with top notch quality and rigging. I owned 3 way back when and IMO they are just badass looking boats.

**Whaaaaat** · 06-11-2019, 08:10 PM

The viper with a windshield I always thought was the best looking boat ever made, until you see a person in the driver seat, then it looks out of proportion.

I always love any of the real old stuff, boats with fins like Cadillac's.

For cc type the Trinidad style panga hulls have a real clean line I like.

**Gorilla0178** · 06-11-2019, 08:11 PM

Agree again, but Skater has been copied over and over. Because it works. We talked about doing a skater too. But its all talk until its not. Oh and we could vacuum bag a sweet boat. Used to build Willys Classic flats boats when they were starting again. 20 foot flats boat that was 1000 lbs rigged with motor. All bagged in Kevlar and some in carbon.

Originally Posted by Printpresswrench

Skater 21 and 24. Aluminum tanks and all non rot materials.

**Gorilla0178** · 06-11-2019, 08:15 PM

Oh my, I really appreciate the old Fined boats that look like old cars. Id have one for sure too.

Originally Posted by Whaaaaat

The viper with a windshield I always thought was the best looking boat ever made, until you see a person in the driver seat, then it looks out of proportion.

I always love any of the real old stuff, boats with fins like Cadillac's.

For cc type the Trinidad style panga hulls have a real clean line I like.