1980 Sleekcraft 26' ?

[Bad Meds]

Anyone have any info on one of these ? 1980 Sleekcraft 26' with a 350 chev and an I/O. It's a closed bow. Just wondering if they are a decent boat and how much $ they go for . This one is an original owner boat in really nice shape . That is all the info I have on it . I only saw a small pic of it . I like the looks of the boat .
Thanks for any input .

[Her454]

Just what you need, another boat!
Something I should know? ;)

[Bad Meds]

Uhhhh ........ Did I mention I found a boat:rolleyes:
It's pretty nice :D

[TheLurker]

My father-in-law has an 84-86 not sure which year 26'sleek day cruiser think the model was called either Ambassador or Diplomat. Every time he takes it out he gets several compliments on it. It has the 350Chv. and Volvo penta outdrive. This boat is bullet proof. Other than change the oil regularly the only other thing he did was put in new plugs, points and rotor and he only did that once.
Short story : Went to put the boat in the water at Park Moabi 2 years ago and it would not start. Took off the rotor cap and the rotor had a hole fried all the way through it and the points were gone. After a quick trip to the auto parts store in Needles it fired right up and we were on the water. He talks about getting a new boat but when the one he has is so reliable and looks pretty good to boot why spend the money?

[Keith E. Sayre]

I know where there is one here in Havasu that looks almost new,
white with blues. It has a 454 Chevrolet in front of a Volvo Penta
drive. Immaculate condition. Good 60 mph boat with no bad habits. He is asking about $18,000 and he should get that. I
believe that it is a 1986 model. Yes, the 26' model is called the
Ambassador. I've seen the older worn out ones go for $5,000
and a super clean later model one for up to $25,000. Nice boats
for the family.
Keith Sayre
Conquest Boats
Lake Havasu City
928-680-1400

[TheLurker]

Keith,
A little off topic but Thank You for input on this and many other threads. As a sales person (goddam am I politically correct or what) you don’t push your product. Your posts always straight forward, right on the mark and you don’t demean your competers’ products. I wish there were more people in sales like you maybe there are but I don’t seem to come across them.

[H2OT PURSUIT]

Bad Meds,
I own a 79 Sleekcraft 26 Ft. Ambassador. It had a 350 in it with a Merc I/O. I took that out and put a Berkley in and I'm about to drop the 454 in. I spoke to the guy that owns Sleekcraft now, don't remember his name, but he said he didn't own the company in 79, but he knows they were very well built. He said take it off shore and run the hell out of it and don't worry about it they are built to take it. I tend to believe him because when we cut the hole to put the Berkley in the piece that came out of the bottom was a tiny bit short of being an inch thick and it wasn't any chopper gun crap. You will certainly believe it the first time you tow it. It is no light weight. Please do me a favor. If you don't buy it let me know where it is. I know a guy that wants one desperately.

[roostwear]

Is it an Enforcer or Ambassador? I have both listed......
http://www.roostwear.com/brochure.htm

[Bad Meds]

Well , according to Roostwear's pic's it is an Ambassador.
H20T Pursuit , Will do .
Keith , how can I get a hold of that SleekCraft you mensioned?
Thanks everyone.

[Her454]

Originally posted by TheLurker
Keith,
A little off topic but Thank You for input on this and many other threads. As a sales person (goddam am I politically correct or what) you don’t push your product. Your posts always straight forward, right on the mark and you don’t demean your competers’ products. I wish there were more people in sales like you maybe there are but I don’t seem to come across them.
I would have to agree with this post and more......I purchased a boat from Conquest in the early 90's while living in Calif and they handled everything top notch for me! Fantastic service, great people. :D

[jbtrailerjim]

My dad has a 1988 26' Ambassador. He bought it used in 1990 and he has used the hell out of it and has had no problems with the hull. The boat originaly came with a 454 Mag and Merc Alpha One drive. He has since changed the motor to a built 496 and went with a Bravo one drive. He also made it into a open bow with a mid cabin. He loves the boat and said he will probaly will never sell it. I love the looks of the Ambassador. I think it is kind of a classic among the older style daycruisers.

[spectras only]

Roostwear , I'll try to rescan the Nordic pics in high resolution for you to resize, to improve the viewing quality. You have to wait till christmas time when I'll have a little more time:p

[roostwear]

Spectras Only,
I appreciate it...... I have that time problem too!
Have any Southwind hiding in your archives? :D

[spectras only]

Thought I sent you the pics on the southwind:confused: .I have the southwind info for you also:)

[Keith E. Sayre]

OK--it's a 1986 Sleekcraft Ambassador 26' with 150 hours on the
rebuilt 454 and drive. Newer bimini top, custom cover, interior,
depth finder, cd system, new bunks and new tires on the trailer.
Clean boat! This boat will run about 58 to 60 mph on pump gas,
it'll pull the kids on skiis, tubes and wakeboards, it'll eat up the
afternoon chop and give mom lots of cabin and storage space!
He's asking $18,000 and he's firm there. Any interested parties
can call me or email me at 928-680-1400 or keithsayre@hotmail.com and I''ll give you the owners name, phone number etc.
"Her 454" and "the Lurker" Thanks for the kind words! Your
thoughts are also appreciated!
Keith Sayre
Conquest Boats
Lake Havasu City
928-680-1400www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106side-med.jpghttp://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106side-med.jpghttp://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106cabin-med.jpg

[Keith E. Sayre]

http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106dash-med.jpghttp://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106engine-med.jpghttp://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106engine-med.jpg

[H2OT PURSUIT]

Originally posted by jbtrailerjim
My dad has a 1988 26' Ambassador. He bought it used in 1990 and he has used the hell out of it and has had no problems with the hull. The boat originaly came with a 454 Mag and Merc Alpha One drive. He has since changed the motor to a built 496 and went with a Bravo one drive. He also made it into a open bow with a mid cabin. He loves the boat and said he will probaly will never sell it. I love the looks of the Ambassador. I think it is kind of a classic among the older style daycruisers.
Hey JB,
Any chance you have pic's of your dads boat? I've been thinking about making mine into an open bow and would love to see one that's already done.

[jbtrailerjim]

Originally posted by H2OT PURSUIT
Hey JB,
Any chance you have pic's of your dads boat? I've been thinking about making mine into an open bow and would love to see one that's already done.
I don't have any pictures handy. He stores it at his place in Havasu. I'm going up there in a few weeks. I'll try to remember to take some pictures of it for you.

[Mopar426]

I own 2 of these fine boats. Bruce Nesher owned the company until 1979 then went on to start Conquest. My first one is a 1975 Sleek 23 Executive. My second most recent is a 1984 Ambassador 26'. The early models came with all drive options: outboard, I/O, Jet, and v-drive. Mine has a 454 Chevy with a Berk JG. I'm converting it to a blown 426 Hemi. The 23' is powered by a 426 Max wegde/ Berk JC.

[Mopar426]

Here is the 26' Bad picture.

[Sleek-Jet]

How much dead-rise do those hulls have??? I've got a 73 Rebel, is it about the same, or is it deeper on the bigger boats??

[Mopar426]

I'm not marine savvy, but my 26' hull has the same draft as the 23', the beam is wider and 34'' longer. From keel to cabin top is 4'6''. From the water line to the top of the hull is 32''.

[Sleek-Jet]

Thanks for the info.
Do you have a rough idea how many degrees of "V" there is at the transom. 15, 18, 20????
I'm looking for a little bigger boat to buy sometime in the next year. I'd like a sleek so I can have a matching set. :D

[Mopar426]

I would be guessing, so i'd pick the middle number 18 deg. It was classed as a deep vee hull anything less than 18 would be a modified vee. Tomorrow i'll get my protractor and get and exact number at the transom. My 26' was mid priced $12,500 but was in very good to excellent cond. My 23' was a different story. The guy wanted $4,500 for it in rough shape. I said if it starts i'll give you $3,800. He couldn't get it to start, so I handed him $3,000. Now $7,000 later I have a sweet cruzer. You have to keep looking and they pop up. Steve

[Mopar426]

My 1975 23 executive.
file:///C:/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/sleekcft23.jpg.

[manuel]

I have a Sleekcraft Ambassador, the title says 1979 26' the marine survey says the same, but when we measure it we get 24'8"? sometimes 24'10" depending on who's holding the other end, I call it a 25' even though they never made one, I got 16 degrees bottom at the transom, the transom has been worked on and I can't confirm the hull #, but I think it's actually a 1977, I have a 468"chevy with a sick Jacuzzi Y, I really like the design of these boats, here's a picture, (I've never gotten my pix to show up in the reply yet) but in rough water we get pounded hard, I was supposed to be at the APBA offshore championships in Orange beach as one of the medic/transport boats but my van blew an engine 60 miles from the beach, maybe next year,
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/showphoto.php?photo=31858&password=&sort=7&thecat=521

[manuel]

They also made a few with twin smallblock Chevy's, there was one on ebay last month from Marina Del Rey and Sleekcraft has one for sale,
http://www.sleekcraft.com/currentinv/22to27/0803/1979_26_Sleekcraft.htm

[Pointerman]

Or you can buy my sweet little 20' with a modv with tunnels. Just purchased a new Baja 20' Outlaw so I need the garage space.
http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/0/61264490.htm

[1Bahnerjet]

Both the '23 & '26 came Standard with "Playrooms" :D ;) :cool:
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/431s-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43SC_PG_3-med.jpg

[manuel]

WOW ! where did you find those pictures ? we always get a laugh at the clothes and hair in the pictures in the brochures from the '70's, they all look like they are ready to hit the DISCO, weird boating outfits, mine still has what I call the "disco pimp bunny fur" headliner like the pictures, I have never seen any mention of a 25' ambassador, I guess that's what I have, it's not in Roostwear's pix or the NADA guides, I enjoyed seeing those.
Manuel

[1Bahnerjet]

manuel barje,
From this:
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/43SC_PG_1-med.jpg

[reed]

It is interesting to see all the nice remarks about the 26 foot sleek craft. I am in the process of installing a 400 hp big block and a bravo 1 out drive in one. Was wondering if any body had any suggustions on what to set the "x" dimension or how high to set the cavation plate above the prop above the bottom of the boat. Any help or suggestions would be apreciated

[manuel]

Reed, Welcome aboard, mine is a jet so I can't help you any, what drive was in it originally ? have you contacted Sleekcraft ?,
Wouldn't Mercury have a formula for figuring this out ?
Let's see the boat ! Manuel

[reed]

Thanks for the kind words Manuel:
I have contacted the Sleekcraft factory and they have tried to be helpful. They thought the "x" dimension should be at 13 1/2", but because the boat was so old they couldnt be sure. I thought maybe there are people out there that might have move the outdrive around a bit.
I will work on pictures as some progress is made
Thanks again

[mbrown2]

Back in the mid 80's, my dad had bought a used 23 executive with a jet (don't remember the engine) and got rid of it a couple of years later and had Ness build him a new 26 Ambassador with the 350 Volvo Penta...we used to go down to Santa Fe Springs once a week and view it getting layed up and rigged....
He ran the heck out of those boats, and they were great boats...we never had issues with them...they handled Havasu water great....In 90, he got rid of the 26 and got the a 28 Sleek Craft Enforcer (2ft itus)...and that as well was a great boat...we used it for 9+ years...

[manuel]

This is REALLY an odd one, '76 Sleekcraft daycruiser with a Boeing
T-50 turbine !
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31271&item=2452107725

[steve paull]

have a 1976 26' ambassador with a 454 and v-drive. great river boat. pictures will come a bit later.