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Fresno day cruiser

BIGRED9158

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Anyone ever heard of these boats I just saw one pop up for sale it’s a jet boat
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TrollerDave

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I think they are supposed to be pretty solid boats. They definitely have a distinct look. That is a clean looking boat.
 

BlowMe

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I remember seeing 1 or maybe 2 of them on socaljetboats I believe there was a white and blue one and maybe one other. I remember it grabbing my attention and loving it. It was a beautiful day cruiser as well
 

guest hs

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I have two friends that own Fresno’s. One is a 21 jet mini day cruiser jet and the other an 18 foot flatbottom. Fresno boats started in the mid 60’s in Fresno, California. Marty sharp was the business part of it. Dale Wagnon was the hands on glass guy. They built 18 foot flat bottoms 18 foot semi vee jets and 21 mini daycruisers both in Jet and Vdrive configurations. The boats were all built on the heavy side and they had some really nice metal flake with a touch of alpha jewels. I recall the 18 Jet was very similar to the Hondo 18 Jet built in the 70’s. The mini daycruiser was definitely unique in its own way has a pop out dash in front of the driver. I don’t think anyone splashed the deck of this boat the bottom is probably a modified Spectra. Hope this helps. No relation to Sanger as far as I recall.
 
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BIGRED9158

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This boat is for sale in California if you guys are interested I can post the link I just saw it was for sale and looks really bad ass
 

BIGRED9158

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fmo24

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The upholstery is what caught my eye. Sangers have a definite look to them.
 

franger

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Just stumbled on this thread, here's what I know about Fresno Boats ...
I had a 1974 Fresno 17'-10" true flat from 1977 to 1986. In about 79/80 some guy at a lake said, "nice Franger" then told me the 74's were nicknamed that, and why. I called Fresno Boats a week or so later and one of the owners kind of chuckled and told me (think his name was Dale?) the guy was correct. He said they bought a bottom mold of a 73 Sanger flat and splashed a top from a 71 Hondo flat, did some modifications to each mold and the 74 Fresno was born. He went on to say they all came out right around 620lbs, about 100lbs heavier than my buddy's 72 Sanger Gull bottom.
The Fresno flats were known for never having any of the typical stress cracks Sanger flats all got. They were a very stable boat up to 104mph (that I can attest to) according to the owner, they were all gel and used the big Mylar flakes which made them sparkle so much.
The red flat was mine, the green one (I copied) was one that was bought at the same time by two buddies from Salinas CA both are1974 Fresno flats. Both engines were initially built by Tom Sgheiza in Salinas. Haven't been on RDP in years, hope I still remember how to load pics ... the closest boat is a Schiada (sp?) middle is my Fresno and far boat is a Sanger bubble deck. Yes, I wish I still had mine!
 

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BassLakeCruiser

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Fresno jet cruiser from the Bass Lake Cruiser roundup a couple weeks ago.
 

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SamMaxco

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Anyone ever heard of these boats I just saw one pop up for sale it’s a jet boat View attachment 901199
Absolutely. I live in Visalia, 25 minutes south of Fresno. Locally, Like the Sangers, albeit not as prolific as Sanger. You see the Fresno Mini Day in Jet form somewhat frequent between lake Kaweah and Pine Flat. Aside from the style of the upholstery they look nothing like a Sanger mini day. The Fresno in my opinion is the best looking and best finished mini day made. Southwind Eliminator, Spectra Tahiti, Sanger, none of the come
Close to beautiful long nosed sleek style of the Fresno. The gel and finish is second to none. That’s why many are still around in farmer garages heavy but nice riding. When u see it in the water you know it’s a Fresno. By far the nicest fastest looking at least and best styling of all the mini days with eliminator coming in behind.
You almost never see a faded out or oxidized Fresno mini. Well appointed beautiful mini day cruisers
 

Shrub Lurker

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The family that owns VM trailers has one they had built for and outboard. The son just picked up a 300 merc that’s gonna be going on it
 

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Gone_Flat

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There was a blue jet that popped up last week just tried to find it again a d it sold . Someone is getting a super clean squirt ,put some more power to it and you have a fun boat
 

rrrr

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That's a lot of fun for not a lot of money. Dial in the carb and put a good tuneup on it, and you can drop it in the water and run all summer long without turning a wrench.
 

boatpi

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VM trailers were good stuff. They’re sort of a knock off of competitive in the central Valley. I’m at the owners once very good people back in the day.
 
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