By Andrew Kancachian Interview with Clint Bevan
Clint and Michelle Bevan, hailing from Ningi, Queensland, have recently undertaken the restoration of a Donzi Sweet 16, originally built in Australia under license by Admiral Marine circa 1973. They live on the doorstep of the beautiful Pumicestone Passage, Bribie Island, and while Clint works in telecommunications and Michelle works in primary school education, boating plays a major part in their leisure time.
Clint was literally born on a boat; for the first 51 years of his life, his family lived on a Nichols Cavalier Trimaran, cruising the Queensland coast. They later built an Adams 40, spending a few years sailing through Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Over the years, Clint has been fortunate enough to own various boats, including trailer sailers, sailing cats, dinghies, glass, alloy half cabs, runabouts, and race boats – a mix of new and second-hand, some requiring a bit of tender loving care.
L to R: Sexy sixties styling with 67’ Bolwell, Michelle and Clint at Sommerset Dam
Considering Moreton Bay as his ‘Home Ground,’ Clint values its diversity, offering sheltered coves, bay islands, surf beaches, and direct ocean access. The couple don’t own a single fishing rod, preferring to pick up fish and chips on the way to the ramp and enjoy taking leisurely cruises, exploring places like Tangalooma and sandy beaches around Bribie.
CLASSIC BOAT DREAM – Owning a 16 Donzi had been one of Clint’s childhood dreams, along with owning a Lamborghini Countach, which still hasn’t happened. He searched for years for an untouched example to restore as close to the original as possible. During a road trip his wife and daughter undertook to Sydney, they visited various locations offering Donzis for sale. Eventually, they found one just out of Sydney, and after a thorough inspection on the hottest day of the year, Clint was excited, guiding Michelle on what to look for. They bought it on the spot, hooked it up, and brought it home. Beyond its classic ’60s look, the Donzi brand has a compelling story and history. The outboard versions are rare, even in the USA. Designed in the ’60s and built in the ’70s, Clint still rates its ride and performance against any similarly sized contemporary boat.
The Donzi boasts a very fine entry and a rounded deep V deadrise. A slight hook in the hull near the transom, a result of early models having V8 Ford engines and stern drives, aids in planing. Like any deep V hull, it is tender at rest but smooth in Moreton Bay’s short, sharp chop. The boat’s ride height increases with speed, requiring a balance for the smoothest experience.
L to R: Original windscreen and alloy surround remain, Deck being removed during restoration
Clint never thought he could buy an older fibreglass boat without expecting to replace the transom and other timber components. The Donzi was no exception, built using four molds for the hull, deck, cockpit, driver’s floor, and ski rack. Clint separated the hull and deck, allowing him to replace waterlogged foam, upgrade the fuel tank, repair hull cracks, and replace various components. He opted for a comprehensive approach, re-gel/flow coating the entire boat while in two halves, replacing upholstery, installing SeaDek flooring with the Donzi logo, and preserving original features like the windscreen and alloy surround. The boat now proudly carries SWT16Q registration. (the boats were known as a Sweet 16) Upon completion, Clint initially fitted a 150hp v6 2-stroke XR2 Mercury, but aging electronics led him to upgrade to a new 115hp Mercury Pro XS. This decision offers the same performance on a fraction of the fuel consumption, providing confidence and reliability for bay runs, island trips, or cruising the ocean side of Bribie. He also rebuilt and upgraded the original Brooker C channel trailer, a testament to the enduring quality of materials used in the past.
Despite exceeding the budget and timeline that he promised Michelle, Clint values the style, comfort and reliability of his classic boat.
About Donzi Boats: Originally designed and built in the US in 1962 by offshore powerboat world champion Don Aronow, along with Walt Walters and Jim Winn, the 16-footer was the first boat out of the Donzi factory. Don Aronow’s previous creations include the Formula brand, and after Donzi, he went on to create Magnum, Cigarette, and Blue Thunder cats.
Classic wrap around Donzi cockpit
Published in print April-June 2024
