Thoughts on "Originality" of old boats

I would love to run out and buy an 2007 SN 196. I chose my boat because I need a tournament quality tow but could not afford the new boats. This spring I'll be sporting Perfect Pa$$ Digital Pro and an ACME 540 prop. Two things that are essential to a solid pa$$ through the bouys. I have replaced the dash pod with that of a 2003 model and installed Faria guages. The throttle lever is the new style as well. I have gone to great lenghts to ensure that these modifications don't look like modifications.

There may be some more changes coming when the floor is finished. Don't want to put my head out on the chopping block.

Bottom line, I don't follow the purist view of keeping it origional when I can make improvements whether performance or ergomomic that don't make the boat look like Frankenstien.

Brian, I'm one of the purest's you refered to but you have brought up some excelent points. The older the boat is, the more to "factory original" I like to see them. Internal mods to the newer V8's aren't a problem with me as long as they aren't so drastic that it alters the say idling as a example. The turning point for me would be about 1985 when the latest styles of hulls came out. Of coarse this brings up the problem of what is the purest going to think about these not original boats 20 years from now?   

I have been going through the same discussion (with myself) over how to redo my skier. I started from not much (BKH's wreck) and am redoing it completely. I have decided to go back as close to original as I can since most of the original hardware, etc was there. I think if you are going to use the boat a lot, it is hard not to add some modern conviences to it. Mine is one of four for me & will not be an everyday user, so if I want the extras I can take out one of the other ones. Some of those modernized look cool though!

We've had some discussion recently regarding how original to keep these old boats. We've got some purists who have done an amazing job of restoring to original. Others keep the cosmetics stock but have no problem tweaking the engines, or changing the color of the interior. Still others want it original, but have no problem adding some modern conveniences like cupholders, or a powerful stereo.

I think I take a middle of the road approach. The analogy I use is cars. It drives me nuts to see someone take a perfectly restored Model A and cut it up for a Hot Rod. However, I have no problem with an old wreck whether it is turned into a hot rod or restored to its original glory.

With the boats, I hate to see a tower added to something like a 63 Cla$$ic. It was one of the first fibergla$$ CCs, and there just aren't that many around. However, I don't have much problem with guys that tweak the 82-89 Nautiques. There's lots of them out there, some original, some not.

Just curious what view some of the rest of you take? BKH