92 Comp - Opinions Please

Discussion in 'Hydrodyne® Boats' started by MDB1056, Dec 27, 2017.

  1. MDB1056

    MDB1056 New Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2017
    Messages:
    5
    Boat Model and Year:
    92 Comp
    I'm new to the forum. I have a 92 Comp that I've had for 11 years now that I'm on the fence on keeping or not. I've done a ton to the boat as there have been a number of issues with the boat. Some would say now that it's all been done I should keep it, and some say now's the time to sell it. Looking for input from members here please. Boat ust turned 700 hours. I purchased the boat September 2006 from second owner in Michigan. I'm on a lake in central Arkansas. Boat is Mercruiser 350 5.7 Quadrajet carb'd. As background I've been around boats all my life and grew up skiing in Wisc in the 70's. Yes behind many a twin rig in tournaments and shows, and early CC's .

    First 3 months the boat was here it sat in the water as I didn't have a lift. It was under roof but in the water. Fiberglass developed osmosis below the waterline. WHAT???? I can't find another account of a ski boat anywhere developing osmosis, or ANY boat in that short a time. Pulled it out and kept in the garage for the winter, it dried, but the bumps were there like a rash and the entire bottom required sanding with 400 to start and working up to 1500. That worked but what a pain. The boat did NOT sit in the water after that. No residual damage I can see at all but it shouldn't have occurred, and to me would lend to speculation that the glass and gelcoat work was sub par.

    Have always had ongoing issues with the boat not starting when hot. Feels like vapor lock, starts cold fine, runs great, but if you turn it off between skiers, wont start. Lift the hatch and let it air for 15 minutes, crank and it stumbles back to life, and runs fine again. But it is NOT vapor lock as if I shoot starting fluid straight into the carb when it occurs it still doesn't light, which makes me think it's NOT a fuel issue as if it were it should still fire on starting fluid.

    July 2008 at approx 500 hours - engine hydrolocked. No overheating prior, but a head gasket leaked, .Pulled the engine out, stripped it, sent to NAPA machine shop - completely gone through, I put it all back together and reinstalled . All fresh.

    2012 noticing a couple soft spots in floors, so end of the season I started to rip out the carpet to assess the floor project. BIG job. The floor has to be CUT out completely as the screws are below the glass on the floor. While I thought it was just a floor issue it also turned out to be 2 stringers as well. The only good news is that it was the two outboard stringers and not the mains that hold the engine box, as those are still rock solid. This project has also revealed some additional poor quality build items though.

    1. On the underneath side of the flooring - there was NO glass or resin - just bare wood. I was shocked but saved some to show non believers. Even on topside the glass was minimal at best - VERY thin.

    2. Where the stringers end at the transom, the cloth overlays end about 5 inches short of the end, so the last 5 inches isn't protected. How ridiculous. Again I have pics for any non believers

    3. You can't remove the observers seat frame without removing the entire deck of the boat - yes that means the sides too, and all the rivets etc. The deck, seat frame, dash, etc are all ONE BIG PIECE. So that means to try and lay flooring or carpet that you have to somehow work around / under the observers seat frame which is a major pain. Not built with ever any repairs in mind

    4. The stringers had one thin layer of cloth and resin over them, and on the wood (stringer) itself inside, had NO resin or anything on the wood. It was raw.

    5. Reverse growls louder internally in the trans than anything else I've ever driven - but it seems to work fine, just growls really loud compared to MC's, CC's, etc.

    Jan 2013 - Oct 2017 it was in the garage in a 1/2 state of demolition for the stringer and flooring and carpeting project. The main reason for this long a time is I was traveling on work assignments 50-60% of the time gone 2-3 weeks a stretch each month. Would ski with others boats. Plus my daughter bought a 1990 Prostar 190 in 2015 and had that hanging in my boathouse.

    In July this year I jumped back on the project and finished it in about 2 months. Huge amount of work but it is FAR better than it came from the factory with all the glass work done to make it 100% bulletproof from any future wood issues, plus if it's not pulling a skier it's up in the air under roof. It's never in the water for more than an hour at a time tops. I also completely rebuilt the carb after it sitting for so many years. Also replaced original ignition module in the distributor. All new carpeting too, and completely buffed etc and the boat looks amazing.

    So after all the fiberglass (osmosis) issues, engine issues, flooring and stringer issues, etc I'm sort of mentally against this boat as it's been one thing after another. I'd always heard that Hydrodyne was a quality build but from my experience, on many things they were not high quality. Handling and performance of the boat are great. Drives and tracks better than anything else I've ever driven, and would challenge many of todays top boats. Some other items are cool features such as the H pipe exhaust, and counterbalance for vibration dampening.

    So bottom line the boat is now in the best shape it's been in since I owned it, and in many ways now is better than new with all the glass work. Only about 150 hours too on the fresh engine. But yes this boat just makes me nervous with all that's happened. Would appreciate insights from Dyners who know the brand far batter than I. Maybe others have been though similar.

    Thanks

    Mark
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Must-Ski Motors

    Must-Ski Motors Hydrodyne 20 Specialist

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2006
    Messages:
    515
    Location:
    Beaver Dam
    Boat Model and Year:
    87 20 single; 93 MC Barefoot 200; Nautique 196
    Ski Team:
    Beaverland Must-Skis
    I think I'd be tempted to send it down the road. Hydrodyne inboards were decent but you can buy alot of inboard now in a used MC or CC that is all fiberglass and more powerful. If it was an outboard my opinion would be different. Nice job on the restoration.
     
  3. MDB1056

    MDB1056 New Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2017
    Messages:
    5
    Boat Model and Year:
    92 Comp
    I'm leaning towards agreeing with you on "sending it down the road". Surprisingly , the same day I put my boat back in the water after 4 yrs, I stumbled into a deal I couldn't pass up - on an 83 MC Stars & Stripes, powerslot. Grey with Blue metalflake. I call it a rescue boat but for $2500 (when he started at $6K) I couldn't pass it up. It's a late 83 so all glass - no wood. Trust me I checked or never would have considered it. Runs, drives, trailer. I've already done a ton to it as it was mostly ignored for many years, but it's a blast to drive and the old SS comp boats are very cool and classic. I'm not skiing tournaments any more at age 61 so for a basic comp boat for the slalom course and free skiing the MC would be just fine. So yes, I'm leaning towards keeping the MC and selling the Dyne and putting some $$ back in the bank. Thanks for your comments. IMG_8279.JPG
     
    timsprandel likes this.

Share This Page