Baller VermontSkier Posted April 1, 2022 Baller Share Posted April 1, 2022 Found on Facebook market place and was posted today. Owner said via PM that he bought it last summer and previous owner said it was winterized but he found two freeze plugs popped out. Needs interior. I wish I had the mechanical skills and resources to make this a great ski boat again! https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/1321109255058505/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Ae55947e1-82d5-4a5d-a924-9ce2f7f254ca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Mastercrafter Posted April 1, 2022 Baller Share Posted April 1, 2022 Dang, great ZO reowper candidate. Wish it wasn't 10 hours away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpwhit Posted May 17, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 17, 2022 Thanks for the pointer to the boat for sale. It took a while for me to make it to NY to pick it up, but it's at it's new home now. If anyone recognizes the "The Guarino Bambino", I'd love to know more about the history of the boat. It was originally purchased in NJ, then spent a good part of it's life at a YMCA camp in NY. Now it's starting the next chapter of it's life in NC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GaryJanzig Posted May 17, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 17, 2022 Skiboatpartsonline.com has some nice replacement gauges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GaryJanzig Posted May 17, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 17, 2022 Anyone have any experience with Marine Power brand replacement engines? A PCM ZZ5 would be great in this boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted May 17, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted May 17, 2022 After seeing the name on the stern and the history, I keep envisioning the original owner saying: "Nice jet ski you got there. Be a shame if something were to happen to it." The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller VermontSkier Posted May 17, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted May 17, 2022 @jpwhit So cool! Glad this went to a baller. What are your plans with it? Does it run or are you going to re-power? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpwhit Posted May 17, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 17, 2022 @MISkier yeah, your reaction is similar to mine after seeing the name on the back. I was a little afraid to dig too deeply through the boat in fear of what may turn up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpwhit Posted May 17, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 17, 2022 @VermontSkier the plan is for a complete restoration and re-power. I've been keeping my eye out for a boat in this condition for a while. One without a good engine but good bones for a restoration. I'm not sure the restoration will start immediately since I have quite a few other projects in the works, but then again since this is my first week of retirement, it may get started sooner than I'm predicting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted May 17, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted May 17, 2022 @jpwhit, yeah, if that boat had a trunk, I would certainly have been leery of opening it. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ReallyGottaSki Posted May 17, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 17, 2022 They probably yelled 'ba da bing!' instead of 'hit it!' cool project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller VermontSkier Posted May 17, 2022 Author Baller Share Posted May 17, 2022 @jpwhit that is awesome, I hope you will keep us posted. It certainly deserves a thread on BoS! When I saw it I had dreams of restoring and repowering but as a 30 year old working full time and trying to ski as much as I can in my free time, I didn’t think it was feasible. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller gcam4 Posted May 18, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 18, 2022 @jpwhit be sure to check out planetnautique and look at Jeff's restoration of his 98 from a few years back. He is based out of NC as well as myself. I'm pretty jealous of that find! Same colors as our 95 in the exact condition I would want in as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpwhit Posted May 18, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 18, 2022 The interior is in really rough shape. But I guess I could follow the previous repair attempt of white duct tape. Thanks @gcam4, I'll check that out. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to restore it to originality or do a restomod. I'm leaning towards modernizing everything. Glass cockpit for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Andre Posted May 18, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 18, 2022 Repower for ZO or just new 5.7 ? I vote for restomod! Have a good and fun retirement! My ski finish in 16.95 but my ass is out of tolerance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted May 18, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 18, 2022 Glass panel…pilot? I don’t think u can get a set of Garmin flat screens in there! With upholstery n carpet u will have a good start. New steering cable and do the rudder packing that is key to butter steering. Never liked all those fuses on the dash in my buddies ‘97. My 2000 had keypads which were nice but the digital speedos and hour meters were fails. I’d go a circa 2000 dash with touch pads and drop in some faria gauges and then have @thager show u a pic of his ZO install on his ‘03 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpwhit Posted May 18, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 18, 2022 No question that it'll have zero off. In terms of engine, I'm leaning toward something rather unconventional. By glass panel, I mean I may put in an HV700 display similar to used in most current boats such as my 2019 ProStar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Mastercrafter Posted May 18, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 18, 2022 If you happen to want an Ilmor 5.7 I have one available. However, glass panel would best be paired with 6.2 or 7.4, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted May 18, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted May 18, 2022 @Mastercrafter how would that all work in a 98 SN?? Seems like that’d be square peg in a round hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skimtb Posted May 18, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 18, 2022 Assuming the restoration includes the exterior, if there were to be a vote, my vote would be to tape over a rectangle area with “the guarino bambino” and leave that as is. Nice clean shiny gel everywhere else and leave that in the back. Just because…. You could always remove it later, but it’s almost too good to get rid of, in a weird way. Agree we need a Resto thread. Especially if you go restomod on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ESPNSkier Posted May 19, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 19, 2022 Looks like a great project boat for sure! @Mastercrafter can you PM me with info about that Ilmor 5.7 you have available? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted May 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 21, 2022 @6balls Finally found this pic of my ZO/Faria Chesapeake install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpwhit Posted May 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 21, 2022 @6balls and @thager thanks for the input on the dash options. Mine does have the fuse panel there on the dash and I agree that's a terrible use of valuable real estate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted May 22, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 22, 2022 Cup holder ZO that rocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller gcam4 Posted May 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 24, 2022 @jpwhit Jeff did a very nice restomod on his 98 with seadeck, etc. Nothing fancy with the engine, but he has a lot of good info. If it becomes to big of a headache, let me know and I'll come take it off your hands! Quick 2.5hr drive for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jaypro Posted May 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 24, 2022 @gcam4 , I was thinking the same thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpwhit Posted May 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 24, 2022 @gcam4 yeah I read Jeff's thread a couple of days ago. He did an impressive restoration and lots of good info in that thread. If I get fed up with the restoration I'll let you guys know :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted May 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 24, 2022 If all u did for starters was buff the exterior, redo upholstery n replace carpet with sea-deck—how serviceable wud she be at that point? Trailer looks ok. Anything further on motor does she run? Might be good first steps, then get into dash, re-power. U know this the wake is going to be stellar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jaypro Posted May 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 24, 2022 @jpwhit , I did a similar restoration about 10 years ago on a 1991 Prostar. I didn't have to repower it, but did just about everything else to it. Fun project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpwhit Posted May 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 24, 2022 Nice looking boat @Jaypro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpwhit Posted May 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted May 24, 2022 @6balls the motor is damaged from improper winterization. I'm not planning to invest any time or money into the existing motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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