Seeking 1960’s 233 sportsman

[Bowline Will]

Hi All,

Genuine buyer seeking 1960’s 233s (long deck) for full restoration.

boat can be in any condition. Will also consider boats previously restored (in good condition)

if you, or someone you know has a 60’s 233s they would consider selling please put me in touch!

thanks,

Will Manning

[Mack]

I have on give me a call 410-404-3238 mac

[William MANNING]

Hi Mac! Thanks for your reply. Would you be able to send a few photos of your 233? 

My email address is [e-mail]

looking forward to seeing her!

Regards?

Will

[Tim Rust]

I have a 1965 long deck that has been restored and converted to twin outboards on a stainless marine bracket. 

[William MANNING]

Thanks Tim! 
we have purchased a F233 and imported it to Australia and are doing the restoration currently.

i would love to see some pictures of your boat. Sounds great!

[Dalby Nicolas]

Hello William, congratulations on your purchase (give us some news about your project).

I'm also looking for a 233 with long bridge to import to France (Arcachon bay).
I mainly seek a boat to restore (project boat) but remain open to any proposal.
Thank you all, Nicolas

[William MANNING]

Hi Nicolas, we have a 60’s Fisherman undergoing hull restoration and a Sportsman on its way over from US. The project is to re-create a replica of Bob De Nisco’s original 233’ the Cigarette (though ours will have a modern engine & electrics). As for the short deck Fisherman, the current plan is to build an outboard powered centre console! 

[Dalby Nicolas]

William, Thanks for your reply.

I also rebuilt a 1980 short deck Thunderbird Formula 233. I use it as a daily cruiser with my family.

I've changed all the stringers, repainted the hull, cockpit and deck....I mount twin Mercruiser 3L TKS into (That's enough because Arcachon Bay is speed limited at 20ktn during the summer!)

But my dream is like yours : building an "evocation" of the mythical "The Cigarette".

In France, Formula 233 Sportsman (long deck) are very rare, the only boats for sale I saw are short deck...I' ve never seen a long deck here (since I started my research in 2013) for sale.

So, I'm a little bit desperate and now I plan to look in Florida (or East Coast), I know there are some "Frenchies" settled in which take care about the import.

Did you find yours easily?

Perhaps you have advice for me? Or contact to share for these research?

Thanks for your help, and hope to follow your rebuild project soon.

Nicolas

[William MANNING]

Hi Nicolas, we were thinking to extend the deck of a short deck 2 feet. It doesn’t seem too hard as so much needs to be done to most of the 60’s hulls anyway. Since the long deck was the original shape, the cockpit was lengthened for the short deck (fisherman) model. There is a diagonal line moulding in the side decks, this should match up to the aft-most point of the windscreen on a long deck. So this gives a guide as to what part of the side decks to remove. 
it does mean re-modelling the cabin and moving the cabin bulkhead too. 
I put this post up a few years ago and 2months ago James wrote back. My advice would be to put up a post saying you’re after a long deck and wait. Someone may respond as they did to ours!

we have replaced transom & stringers, ground back hull skin on the inside and overlaid 2 additional coats of glass to the short deck model. All structure has been done in thermo-lite so it can’t rot again. The deck structure (ply) is rotten so the deck will come off and be re-cored. Though we are now thinking this will be a centre console, so we will only re-use the side decks and centre deck will disappear.

[Mack]

have a 64 moppie and 74 233 fisherman

 

[Mack]

send pic on the long deck

[John Pasko]

I have a 1966 formula 233 sportfish.It has twin merc 470's that were recently rebuilt only 1 hour on them.Both engines have electronic distributors as well as brand new external alternators.Both outdrives were rebuilt by a mercruiser tech.All new seats and upholstery.Cabin cushions were made for it as well as the stern engine deck cushion.100 gallon stainless steel fuel tank.it has the original options installed autopilot and forward looking sonar and washdown pump from the 60's.The whole inside of the boat was painted with sherwilliam industrial submarine epoxy.All that's left to do is put the wires back on the engines and install the carpet and driver and passenger seats and put the outdrives back on.Comes with a trailer and a bimini top and frame and a anchor winch and anchor.Id take 40k cash for it.