Added another rare sport boat to the collection

I already had one of these that I've been restoring and modifying but, yesterday, another fell in to my hands. The Champ XVII boats were very limited production craft built from about '68 to '72 by Champion Boat in Miami Florida. The old garage shop still stands. They produced only a handful every year and nearly all were delivered with Volvo outdrives and Holman-Moody V8s.

 

She's in good hands Bill

 

Thanks for that comment, John. I needed another project like I need a hole in my head....but this one sorta found me. ;-)

 

They didn't like freeboard much, did they, sort of restricts the use you can put it to, and I say that thinking the freeboard largely vanishes with the heavy V8 in there.

 

Not terribly bad....in this picture of the the second Champ I own, the white bottom paint indicates her still water line. Got rid of that during repaint but it serves to illustrate. Ignore the "Donzi" emblem..previous owner was under the mistaken impression that it was a Donzi.

But as far as "use", they are good for the one thing they were built for: Going fast in mostly calm water. I have a Donzi 16 for the rougher stuff...

 

Did that owner ever learn it wasn't a Donzi ? That is funny ! I guess there are quite a few ski boats around with similar low freeboard.

 

My Donzi 16..

 

The wrap-around lounge seating was original ? Nice boat to have.

 

All original for both the Donzi and the Champ. Must have been a "thing" in the late 60s when those were designed. The Champion boats incorporated a number of design features the Donzis had..and used same power train.

 

That was so the Mrs. could put her feet on the Captain's lap!

 

Although the original engine was a Holman Moody 351W, only the bell housing is in place in the boat. I've got a complete Ford 400 sitting here that needs a home...and all the parts necessary to put together an engine making about 400 HP reliably. That should do it....and it will bolt right in where the 351W was.

 

Hmmmpp....I'm not jealous!!!

 

got any engine bay pics or has the engine been removed. great looking boat.

 

Came with no engine, just the bell housing. I'm going to build up a 400 for it that I have already all the components for.