Reply With QuoteThanks for the info. I was trying to scrape up the cash to beat you to it. Well, you beat me and saved me a long drive.
Well the search for a v-drive continues...
After driving long hours to Medford Oregon with honest intentions of buying the boat mentioned in other threads in the V-Drive forums, I must say that I was disappointed.
The DiMarco has an impressive history and the hull is for the most part solid, but has received several impacts and substandard repairs since leaving Earmshar's hands 17 years ago.
Further, I speculate that the photos uploaded with the ad are not very recent. Additionally, what is not mentioned in the ad (but that the seller stated to me) is that the boat has been sitting idle for at least five years, and it shows in several places:
~~To begin with, the upholstry is brittle and ready to come apart, and this includes the uphostrly on the trailer--which, by the way, has dry-rotted wood and bunks that are duct taped to the trailer frame. I would not feel comforable heating up those old tires and having them fly apart halfway home. Etcetera.
~~The hull is generally in acceptable shape but also requires some attention. During a river-race, the current owner lost power somehow and drifted into a bridge pillar in the river and left some notable damage at the tip of the bow, the left side of the bow and the rear starboard. Modest repairs have been performed and only primered. The impact resulted in some stress cracking. The boat was rigged with good hardware.
In my opiniion, take away the nostalgic history of this boat and what's left is not worth what is being asked for it. I feel that the seller is banking on the history of the boat and not the actual value.
The ad states, "just add some power and go." Well....that's somewhat subjective...I feel it needs to be gone through before being run.
I spoke for some time with Mr. Don Earmsar before finally deciding to make the long trek up the west coast to inspect his former boat, so maybe I was expecting something better kept over the years. And he want's to know if I picked it up. Now I am left with the hard job bringing the news to Mr. Earmshar that his former hull was not worth what was being asked.
I WALKED.
LO
p.s. This may make somebody a great boat...I just wanted to state my observations and findings in case someone else is thinking of making the trip up there.
Thanks for the info. I was trying to scrape up the cash to beat you to it. Well, you beat me and saved me a long drive.
Yep thanks for the info.
I have no intention of buying it but that is one benefit of these discussion forums. Sharing info.
The Di Marco that I bought in Sacremento was one of the nicest boats I have seen. V-drive Tom knows the boat.
I sold it to a guy in Chicago which was unfortunate for the boat. he was amazed it did not have reverse when I took him for the test ride.
I'm wondering what, if anything, Marc (Boatguy222) knows about that hull.
BTW, last time I was at his place which was june he had a sanger in there painted by BillyB (paint job #2 IIRC) that was available for 3K.
Be shrewed when you buy, I didn't and got the short end of the deal. I knew nothing about what I was looking at so it's turned into a labor of love for me. I'm not complaining but buying something thats turned into a total restoration wasn't my intention.
Just got home from my last leg of the trip and am in front of my own computer.
Thanks sanger-mike for putting me up overnight on the way there.
Another note: The boat could use a paint job...
Don Earmshar expressed to me that this boat is one of his favorite boats of all he's ever owned. He ran if for four years straight, three of which he was on top all the time. He drove it to 152 mph (no capsule). He won the Texas Shootout in 1982 in it during its very first time out. Maybe I was expecting to see this boat in all its glory...not the case...
I'll be speaking to him again probably tomorrow.
LO
Originally posted by Infomaniac
Yep thanks for the info....that is one benefit of these discussion forums. Sharing info.
Thanks Info, this is indeed an open discussion forum and that is why I am posting. I have received a tremendous amount of help and insight from these forums; just giving back...
LO
Thanks Lakes,
It's great when someone provides detailed info as you did in your post.
I wasn't really thinking about that boat, but I was definately admiring it from afar.
I'd like to think this is an open discussion forum, but you should have seen the nasty PM's I ended up getting when I opined on the rainbow-coloured Cole that keeps showing up all over the place. Between blustering about how much money he made and his threat to sue me over the whole thing, I ended up deleting my posts just to get rid of the guy.
That being said, thanks for your efforts to inform the group.
Jim
Note to SD - two boat projects will take you four times as long to finish as one project will. It's exponential, don't ya know?
Originally posted by cdnguitarsnboats
Note to SD - two boat projects will take you four times as long to finish as one project will. It's exponential, don't ya know?
lol, oh I know. The ad said drop in power and go. I just happen to have a complete blown injected BBC just sitting and ready to go. I would have put that in for now.
Then I would have started looking for the hemi stuff to get back like was.
I only wanted it if I could get it back pretty close to how Don had it.
Had no plans to race it. Just take it out to the v drive events 3 or 4 times a year.
I've been a fan of the Don and Jim longer then I've lived in CA.
But yes, if it's even close to needing restore. I'll have to pass.
I just happen to have a complete blown injected BBC just sitting and ready to go. I would have put that in for now.
I like that - the blown and injected BBC is your "make do" motor. Cry me a river.
I hear you, though. I don't know a great deal about drag racing, but it's a real shame when people let choice pieces of history like that slide.
J
that sucks about this old terd,,,
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