Magnum-Donzi

[Switzer It]

a friend's Donzi on East Niagara River.

[Lee]

WoW, That is a rare Donzi 6ft beam "Banana" boat, only a handful made.

[Bodyshot1]

looks like one..

[Perlmudder]

I saw that boat and spoke to the owner at the antique boat show at the buffalo launch club a couple months back, my brother has a bunch of pics of it from that day. It was definitly one nice looking boat

[olli]

WoW, That is a rare Donzi 6ft beam "Banana" boat, only a handful made.

I understand there were only a few (6-7?) made because Aronow thought it was a bit tricky to drive. What makes it so dangerous at speed?

[Perlmudder]

here ya go!

[Top Banana]

I understand there were only a few (6-7?) made because Aronow thought it was a bit tricky to drive. What makes it so dangerous at speed?

The original banana boat......


The beam was a bit over 6 feet and at speed had a BIG HABIT of wanting to plane on the freeboard rather than the bottom. Can you say Chine walk??

Don was known to push through some of the bad habits of the early designs..... but even he had his limit and used common sense when it came to this design.

[OneBadInjun]

The original Banana Boat, indeed. Who came up with the name originally?

[DONZI]

Thanks for posting the pics. !
A great piece of Aronow history preserved.

[Top Banana]

The original Banana Boat, indeed. Who came up with the name originally?

Back then it only took a New York minute for the racers to hang a nick name on either you or your equipment.

These boats were all built in yellow gel coat and as mentioned, were very skinny, so it was a natural ....Banana Boat.

[Offshore Ginger]

WOW , it sure reminds me of an old Coyote with an up swept deck and just curious why was everything a natural Banana boat because they were all skinny at that time or was a Banana boat actually a Bert or a Coyote because it was skinny also or could it have been a Cig as far as that goes and not to mention a Mag that i owned that was yellow and a 79 to boot and once again just curious .

[FASTERDAD]

I understand there were only a few (6-7?) made because Aronow thought it was a bit tricky to drive. What makes it so dangerous at speed?

according to Michael Aronow only 5 were originaly built,2 for himself,2for Kiekhaefer, and one for Ed Kendall. Performance was incredible for the era but the boat suffered from a couple of phisics problems,1st torque steer due to bad X-dimensions for available drives at the time. trim on the port plans was always on positive to keep the boat on plane and going straight, no port trim and boat would fall on it's side and veer to the starboard. 2nd, boat had no free board for stand up driving, so big guys like Don would have a top heavy affect on the boat. Cool ,fast, but you had to pay attention.

[FASTERDAD]

WoW, That is a rare Donzi 6ft beam "Banana" boat, only a handful made.

Actually they were experimental 27' Magnums built in '67-68 with 6 1/2' beam and cut down free board.Five were built originally.

[FASTERDAD]

WOW , it sure reminds me of an old Coyote with an up swept deck and just curious why was everything a natural Banana boat because they were all skinny at that time or was a Banana boat actually a Bert or a Coyote because it was skinny also or could it have been a Cig as far as that goes and not to mention a Mag that i owned that was yellow and a 79 to boot and once again just curious .

IN 1967/68 Five 27 experimental magnums were built,not to be confused with the other 27' mags.they had extremely narrow beams 6'6" , All 5 were built in yellow gel coat and DON coined them the bananas - so all offshore boats have slang names like Cigarette , Cigar, Banana, Scarab,regardless if they are or not.

[Brownie]

Those boats were built in 65/66 at Donzi. 1st one had a 427 turbo daytona on a vee drive. Went 75mph when the next fastest boat was in the middle 60's. Unfortunately, it was just before dependable trimtabs were made, and it would jump over the average bridge in mid-porpoise.

[Chris]

.... and it would jump over the average bridge in mid-porpoise.

Another great Brownie post. Not as good as the "building boats with a specific gravity of +1 " but a goodie nonetheless.

[Switzer It]

Great information guys! thank you! This boat does have the vee drive.

I did get a ride on it so now I can say I rode in a piece of history.

[Offshore Ginger]

FASTERDAD , where in west mich is your location ?

[FASTERDAD]

FASTERDAD , where in west mich is your location ?

The part on Lake Michigan.

[FASTERDAD]

FASTERDAD , where in west mich is your location ?

Sorry had to say that.West Michigan home is on Lake Macatawa.