Early model mini day cruisers

[SHOTKALLIN]

There are tons of threads about who makes the best boat. Who made the best early model mini-daycruiser say pre 1985, 20-22 ft? Schiada? Dana? Howard? Lavey? Tahiti? Spectra? Eliminator? Who built the best quality boat back in the day? Maybe we could list quality in order? I don't know much about the old school.

[Not So Fast]

There are tons of threads about who makes the best boat. Who made the best early model mini-daycruiser say pre 1985, 20-22 ft? Schiada? Dana? Howard? Lavey? Tahiti? Spectra? Eliminator? Who built the best quality boat back in the day? Maybe we could list quality in order? I don't know much about the old school.
Add Rogers and Campbell to the list, good luck and I would be surprised if Schiada didnt win :D NSF

[Ziggy]

I was gonna say Campbell too..........such classic lines too

[Boa1277]

Schiada gets my vote!

[Mohave Vice]

I kinda like my 1983 19' Eliminator Sprint the best.

[MRS FLYIN VEE]

I like the new old one Badblown is doing..:D

[DeltaSigBoater]

My Choices are:
Campbell 20'
Hallett 21' 1972 - 1976
Hallett 20' 1977 - 1988
Hallett Vector 1987 - Present
Eliminator 21'
Schiada 21'
Schiada 22' (Early)
Spectra 20'
As far as Quality goes I think Hallett & Schiada are Tied at the top
followed by Campbell, Spectra (pre mid-70's) and Eliminator

[burtandnancy2]

Campbell invented Daycruisers and practically trademarked the name. They started business in Glendale near the Burbank border. Classic lines. Did you know they built two Forty footers? Use to go to Catalina on the first one. Flat bottomed boats, regardless of size, aren't good for the ocean, but we sure had fun...

[DeltaSigBoater]

Campbell invented Daycruisers and practically trademarked the name. They started business in Glendale near the Burbank border. Classic lines. Did you know they built two Forty footers? Use to go to Catalina on the first one. Flat bottomed boats, regardless of size, aren't good for the ocean, but we sure had fun...
They Built 2?
I know of one "Lady In Cement" Dual Cabin Version that was owned by the late Dan Blocker - from Bonanza. Used to be docked in Huntington Harbour over at Sunset Aquatic until it paritally sank several years ago, don't know what happened after that.

[burtandnancy2]

Dan Blocker bought the boat from my friend Paul Briggs. It was first built with Chrylser Hemi's, but if you remember, Bonanza was sponsored by Chevy. So they immediately installed Chevy's which Blocker blew up all the time (he was a little heavy on the throttles). When Blocker died, the boat was somewhere in Europe but I hear its back in the states now, but unconfirmed. I have photos somewhere in boxes up in the attic...

[DeltaSigBoater]

Dan Blocker bought the boat from my friend Paul Briggs. It was first built with Chrylser Hemi's, but if you remember, Bonanza was sponsored by Chevy. So they immediately installed Chevy's which Blocker blew up all the time (he was a little heavy on the throttles). When Blocker died, the boat was somewhere in Europe but I hear its back in the states now, but unconfirmed. I have photos somewhere in boxes up in the attic...
Bonanza had been off the air a good 8 years by the time I was born, so Chevy being a sponsor is news to me. :D
There's a derelict boat anchored in Newport Harbor, About 40' Campbell style bottom, but the deck, superstructer, & flybridge dont look anything like a Campbell.

[acatitude]

my old 1977 spectra 21 daycruiser... still runs great . that ol spectra always looked a lot like a schiada of the same vintage. this boat was also used by the coast gaurd back in the day( not this one but this model)

[79centurion]

Another vote for hallett.
Dan

[Wheeler]

I like my boat, maybe some day, I might even get it running!

[burtandnancy2]

Delta Sig, I guess I date myself a little here, right? If you've ever heard the name Bud Bailey, he worked on the 40 footer for Campbell, then worked for Spectra, Silver Wings and retired from Hallett. Not only a great boat designer but built the wooden plugs from which the molds are made. I'll be seeing Bud at this years Hallett Regatta in Boulder City. A lot of old timers on here will remember the name...

[SB]

I have 21' beismeyer jet. Nice boat, not too many of them though.

[76ANTHONY]

I like my boat, maybe some day, I might even get it running!
dam, nice lookin boat:D

[RiverDave]

There are tons of threads about who makes the best boat. Who made the best early model mini-daycruiser say pre 1985, 20-22 ft? Schiada? Dana? Howard? Lavey? Tahiti? Spectra? Eliminator? Who built the best quality boat back in the day? Maybe we could list quality in order? I don't know much about the old school.
Schiada made the best Day Cruiser Post or Pre 85.. Proof is in the pudding, they haven't changed one thing on their 21 since the old days and it's still the shiznit.
If you took Schiada out of the mix though, my favorites Post 1980 would be Howard, Pre 1980 would Be Spectra. ;) :D Same boat basically though..
There's alot of others though that aren't being mentioned Conley (sp?), Rayson? Daytona? etc..
RD

[wolfie]

I like my boat ('81 Eliminator) but my vote has to go with Campbell.
I fell in love with daycruisers at Havasu because of them when I was a kid. My dad had an old 17' Glasspar which sure as hell wasn't as cool as the Campbell when cruising through the channel back then (or even now). The Glasspar was like taking you moms stationwagon to Whittier Blvd on Friday night.

[DaddyMack]

1980 Hallett 20SS :)
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j231/daddymacklv/LakePics2007/IMG_3953.jpg
oh yea.. also
Campbell
Sleek
Howard
Spectra
Shiada

[edog_103]

I like my boat ('81 Eliminator) but my vote has to go with Campbell.
I fell in love with daycruisers at Havasu because of them when I was a kid. My dad had an old 17' Glasspar which sure as hell wasn't as cool as the Campbell when cruising through the channel back then (or even now). The Glasspar was like taking you moms stationwagon to Whittier Blvd on Friday night.
I grew up on the same boat. I think ours was a 1982. There is a 1984 for sale now at Eliminator in Mira Loma. I'm tempted to go look at it. I think they are asking $8,500 or something.

[SummerBreeze]

Something like this

[DeltaSigBoater]

I grew up on the same boat. I think ours was a 1982. There is a 1984 for sale now at Eliminator in Mira Loma. I'm tempted to go look at it. I think they are asking $8,500 or something.
That Eliminator was listed on Craigslist in '05, it had no motor and the interior was in shot, guy wanted like $800.

[edog_103]

Is this the one you saw?
http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/8/8/86298588.htm

[Sleek-Jet]

I gotta go with Delaminator because that's what I own... :D
Not extremely fast, but very comfy nice ridding boat.
Given an unlimited budget, I'd get one of those new Spectra's I hear are being laid up.

[dirty old man]

Who's laying up Spectra's and what size's? There's a guy up here in Boulder City who used to rig them. Great work, nice boats

[eliminatedsprinter]

I kinda like my 1983 19' Eliminator Sprint the best.
I lke mine too, but it's not a Daycruiser.:)

[Strippoker]

Still have my 78 CV23 all I can say is "james bond style" now if I can only find the hard top for it I can sell the darn thing and get my new boat started.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/534/bond.jpg

[RiverDave]

Who's laying up Spectra's and what size's? There's a guy up here in Boulder City who used to rig them. Great work, nice boats
BadBlown572 is laying up the Howard Custom Cruisers, basically the same boat as the Spectra with a slightly (better looking) deck. I think that's what the person was referencing when they said that. (could be wrong though?)
If you want pics or details let me know.
RD

[Sleek-Jet]

I think that's what the person was referencing when they said that.
RD
Pretty much.... :D

[lucky]

my howard rocks - other than at times the pig turns On a fify cent pieces instead of a dime :)

[TeamGreene]

I would say Spectra but I may be a little bias.:D :D

[seanv]

i do miss my ol' tahiti 21 dc. nice 50mph boat that you could ski behind all day on a tank of fuel. good lines, good handling, major issue was the floor n stringers were rotted out all the way. the previous owner had made some crappy repairs on the floor n never sealed the holes so.... 1 summer is all she lasted befor the teardown. then some genius stole her from my driveway with no engine or interior:eek: sucked big time with the engine 1/2 built and a garage full of super expensive lumber and fiberglass :mad:

[BLOWN88FRESNO MINI]

One of the best Mini Cruisers ever built was the Fresno MiniCruiser at 20'6" it has some of the best lines even still today, Funny not many people have heard of these. My brother and I each own mini cruisers, plus I owned a couple of other Fresno Daycruisers.

[pw_Tony]

Big Proppa's Spectra is just bad asssss.....
http://i19.tinypic.com/4uo82zc.jpg
and I don't know who's this one is but it's bad too...
http://i15.tinypic.com/5y2cmmg.jpg

[SandbarScot]

My 1978 21' Eliminator is so damn solid, she's practically bullet proof....and as of today for sale in the spam section :D
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/all_pics_036.jpg

[squirt'nmyload]

i never get tired of looking at these boats....keep the pics coming!!!!:)

[boatsnblondes]

I have a vector, runs great, turns great, I have no probs with it, but sometimes I look at a schiada and still wish....some day maybe...

[sleekcraft80]

I like my boat ('81 Eliminator) but my vote has to go with Campbell.
I fell in love with daycruisers at Havasu because of them when I was a kid. My dad had an old 17' Glasspar which sure as hell wasn't as cool as the Campbell when cruising through the channel back then (or even now). The Glasspar was like taking you moms stationwagon to Whittier Blvd on Friday night.
I worked on my friend's 71 Campbell 24ft Daycruiser this week. As I understand he might be selling it around the end of the summer. It has a real good history to go with it.

[Wicked_Tahiti]

Tahiti, why of course....

[Riverbass]

Dana 19'
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e316/srferjo/River/100_0999.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e316/srferjo/boats/IMG_0077.jpg

[BajaMike]

I like my boat ('81 Eliminator) but my vote has to go with Campbell.
I fell in love with daycruisers at Havasu because of them when I was a kid. My dad had an old 17' Glasspar which sure as hell wasn't as cool as the Campbell when cruising through the channel back then (or even now). The Glasspar was like taking you moms stationwagon to Whittier Blvd on Friday night.
My dad used to have one of these "Glasspar Seafarer", 17 1/2 footer, with a 100 horse Merc.
http://www.classicglasspars.com/menalto2/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2950&g2_serialNumber=2
We used to take it to Catalina and to Black Meadow Landing when I was in high school....my brother and I used to sleep on it at the dock at Black Meadows. Not that cool like a daycruiser....but it sure was fun!!

[XtrmWakeborder]

I love my Daytona Mini daycruiser. 53mph with a 20+ year old 350 and a jet isn't too bad. I've only seen one other daytona and it was an outboard so i'm guessing there weren't too many others made.

[HM]

Although this pic may not be a "mini" cruiser, I've always liked the lines of the classic Sleeks
http://www.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=31974&stc=1&d=1180579114
Back in the day...that was an off shore boat!!!!

[dragboat]

Although this pic may not be a "mini" cruiser, I've always liked the lines of the classic Sleeks
http://www.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=31974&stc=1&d=1180579114
Oh Hell Yea !!!!

[HOOTER SLED-]

and I don't know who's this one is but it's bad too...
http://i15.tinypic.com/5y2cmmg.jpg
That is Hustler's on the boards. I love that boat. Bitchen lines. Haven't seen it since before the blower motor. It's a HUstler I believe, thus his board name. That thing has one helluva roost. :)

[shueman]

My dad used to have one of these "Glasspar Seafarer", 17 1/2 footer, with a 100 horse Merc.
http://www.classicglasspars.com/menalto2/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2950&g2_serialNumber=2
We used to take it to Catalina and to Black Meadow Landing when I was in high school....my brother and I used to sleep on it at the dock at Black Meadows. Not that cool like a daycruiser....but it sure was fun!!
Love old Glasspar's.... :cool: