1979 19' Howard Bubbledeck?

[63stevens]

Looking for some insight on this boat for a friend of my Son's. It is a 1979 19' bubbledeck jet. Berkeley w/ 2 wedges, Hyd. Place Diverter, fairly stock 454. I know Howard makes very good boats and still does. He is wondering about the Hull Characteristics: are these heavy boats? Slow speed Hull? Not looking for 100mph racer just 70-80mph lake/river toy in the future with some upgrades of course. Is this boat capable of the 70-80 mph range. Any insight positive or negative would be greatly appreciated.

[63stevens]

Anyone?

['75 Miller]

While I'm no expert, I have heard that the Howards are among the heavier 19' boats. My buddy has a Howard 19' semi-vee vdrive (beautiful boat) and he's heard the same...extremely well made, solid, but somewhat heavy.

[63stevens]

Thanks for the help '75 MIller, really appreciate it.
Can anybody else have anything good or bad to say about these boats.

['75 Miller]

Anytime. I'm surprised none of the more knowledgable members have chimed in yet. Perhaps this BUMP will help!

[firstjetinMN]

Sometimes a picture stirs up some responses......especially of the transom so people can get a good idea of the bottom of the boat and visualize it or mentally compare it to another splash or similar boat

[63stevens]

Thanks I will see what I can do.

[koyota93]

I have one, not sure if its bubbledeck. It is a heavier boat for sures. Mine has a 12JE so there is a little more interior room than most boats. Its seats 4-6 comfortably and up to 8 if they're hot chicks. It has a fairly stock 454. Don't know any exact specs but mild cam, MSD distributor, log exhaust, and 990 heads. It shows 55 MPH on the speedo with 6 people or with 1 person. I think the speedo is off a little. I haven't GPS'd it yet but I would guess in maybe high 50s to low 60s because it is a little slower than my buddy's Challenger that runs mid to high 60s. It has a deeper cut V hull than most jets I've seen and sits kinda high in the water, but it takes the chop pretty well too. The guy I bought it off used it strictly at Havasu.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g310/koyota93/IMG_0055.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g310/koyota93/IMG_0054.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g310/koyota93/IMG_0057.jpg

[63stevens]

a few pictures of the boat
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/howard2.JPG

[63stevens]

another picturehttp://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/howard1.jpg

[BrendellaJet]

id be concerned with the dings in the bottom of the boat. Looks like is been bounced up on the rocks a time or two.

[Hotfish]

My cousin has a 73. Good boat. Runs through chop really well. He runs a mild 454 with 150 shot of juice. Speed was low 80s. Droop,shoe, and ride plate also.

[63stevens]

Thanks for the help.

[old rigger]

Hey Rick,
That ol Howard you're looking at is based on the Southwind bottom, everyone and their brother offered that hull for sale back then. The 19 semi vee 75Miller is talking about might be the one later one that we were building that originally came from Schiada, two totally different boats. He's right, it's a great hull, v-drive or jet, but the later owner of the shop built them VERY heavy, which isn't at all a bad thing, but it's not like the blue one you posted.
Howard Brown was no different that anyone and when the jet boat thing hit back in the day and he sold his fair share of them along with building his drag and circle race stuff. :)

[MADDOG355]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd84/maddog355/IMGP2699.jpg
74 Howard 19' bubbledeck.
They are HEAVY but ride and handle great. I was suprised to get 55-60 (GPS) from mine with a stock 455 Olds. It is a little slow getting up on plane but I have been really happy with mine. It has always felt stable and safe even in some pretty harry turns. The deck is strong enough you can walk on it, dance on it and not have to worry about it. It won't be the fastest thing on the water but for a good looking cruser It can't be beat IMO.
:D Mine also has a small set of manual trim tabs. :D
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=5560394
It is slow as crap in the vid becouse the trim tabs are down to keep it smooth.

[63stevens]

Hey Rick,
That ol Howard you're looking at is based on the Southwind bottom, everyone and their brother offered that hull for sale back then. The 19 semi vee 75Miller is talking about might be the one later one that we were building that originally came from Schiada, two totally different boats. He's right, it's a great hull, v-drive or jet, but the later owner of the shop built them VERY heavy, which isn't at all a bad thing, but it's not like the blue one you posted.
Howard Brown was no different that anyone and when the jet boat thing hit back in the day and he sold his fair share of them along with building his drag and circle race stuff. :)
Thanks for the info. Im not looking at this boat, my Son's FRiend is. He is a lurker on here and asked if I would post this for him. I and him really appreciate the help. Take Care

[old rigger]

Thanks for the info. Im not looking at this boat, my Son's FRiend is. He is a lurker on here and asked if I would post this for him. I and him really appreciate the help. Take Care
I mis-read your first post, I was wondering why you'd be looking at a jet. :)
Either way, he's lucky you're helping him out.