KONA DAYCRUISER

[mgmike69]

I recently purchased a 78 Kona 23ft daycruiser.Very nice vintage jet boat.I would really like to get some information on Kona boats.My HIN number starts with MBK best as I can tell that refers to Mobrick or Makaira can't find any info there either.There is a Kona emblem on the boat and that is what it appears to have been for 40 years.Beautiful condition for any year of boat.Any help on the Kona,Mobrick,Makaira mystery would be greatly appreciated

 

[DrunkenSailor]

Kona's were built by JRS Fiberglass in Westminster CA. Most were jet's or outboards.

MBK is currently registered to Makaira Boats which are some stout offshore cape style fishing machines out of Dana Point, Makai boats may be the model but I think Makai was the smaller hulls not the 23 but I could be wrong. @old rigger Did you have anything to do with these?

Here's an old ad:

 

[DrunkenSailor]

I recently purchased a 78 Kona 23ft daycruiser.Very nice vintage jet boat.I would really like to get some information on Kona boats.My HIN number starts with MBK best as I can tell that refers to Mobrick or Makaira can't find any info there either.There is a Kona emblem on the boat and that is what it appears to have been for 40 years.Beautiful condition for any year of boat.Any help on the Kona,Mobrick,Makaira mystery would be greatly appreciated

Welcome to the boards by the way.

 

[old rigger]

On the manufacturers list MBK looks like its a builder called MOBRIK LLC in Grand Rapids, Mi.

I don't know if those HIN's can be re-used?

At any rate Kona was owned by Jerry Baker and another guy I can't remember and never met. Baker went on to build his bad ass Baker tunnels after Kona. The guy behind the wheel in that ad is/was one of the best gel coaters in the boat biz. I worked with him at Advantage in the 80s but he came from Kona back in the day. He and another guy, both named Jim, were the ones that invented doing blends and fades in the molds which may not seem like a big deal now but back then it was pretty god damned amazing.

I believe the HIN for Kona was JRS but that's just going from my bad memory. The parent company was JRS Fiberglass or JRS unlimited or something like that. I shouldn't even put that out there because I'm not even close about being sure.

That's always been one of my favorite ads and it has nothing to do with the boat or Jim.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

On the manufacturers list MBK looks like its a builder called MOBRIK LLC in Grand Rapids, Mi.

I don't know if those HIN's can be re-used?

At any rate Kona was owned by Jerry Baker and another guy I can't remember and never met. Baker went on to build his bad ass Baker tunnels after Kona. The guy behind the wheel in that ad is/was one of the best gel coaters in the boat biz. I worked with him at Advantage in the 80s but he came from Kona back in the day. He and another guy, both named Jim, were the ones that invented doing blends and fades in the molds which may not seem like a big deal now but back then it was pretty god damned amazing.

I believe the HIN for Kona was JRS but that's just going from my bad memory. The parent company was JRS Fiberglass or JRS unlimited or something like that. I shouldn't even put that out there because I'm not even close about being sure.

That's always been one of my favorite ads and it has nothing to do with the boat or Jim.

Lol I know what you mean! Thanks for chiming in.

 

[mgmike69]

Didn't have anything at all to do with them just trying to get a little info on my boat. I can't figure out the KONA MBK thing just would like to know what I have here

 

[DrunkenSailor]

Didn't have anything at all to do with them just trying to get a little info on my boat. I can't figure out the KONA MBK thing just would like to know what I have here

I was asking Old Rigger. When you put the @ sign in front of a screen name on here it will give them a notification.

I know that MBK has been used by a few companies and finding data online from the 70's is tough. Your best bet will be for some guys from the industry around that time to chime in. Got any pictures? Guys can identify a hull pretty quick around these parts.

 

[mgmike69]

I was asking Old Rigger. When you put the @ sign in front of a screen name on here it will give them a notification.

I know that MBK has been used by a few companies and finding data online from the 70's is tough. Your best bet will be for some guys from the industry around that time to chime in. Got any pictures? Guys can identify a hull pretty quick around these parts.

 

[mgmike69]

I will try to post some pics tomorrow Thanks for the help in

 

[mgmike69]

I'm fairly lame about uploading pictures.I could email pictures to an email address if that would work.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

Mgmike69 needed some help uploading the pics.

Looks like its pretty clean outside of the interior. The wood inlays are pretty cool. The bottom lines are classic Kona Daycruiser.

Here's a Kona 22 and the bottom looks identical outside of the length. The lines of the gunwale are similar as well at the stern.

The rounded step up in the deck is unique. I haven't seen anything like that before. Looks Kona in origin just haven't seen another one like it. Not sure if its a splash with a different deck of a stretched version of the 22 that JRS Fiberglass did. Whatever it is it is unique and a nice find! What are your plans for it?

 

[DrunkenSailor]

Nice Panther 454 I wonder if the MBK in the hin is for Meritec who built the motor? That's a total shot in the dark.

 

[mgmike69]

Mgmike69 needed some help uploading the pics.
View attachment 685359
View attachment 685360
View attachment 685361
View attachment 685362
View attachment 685363
View attachment 685364

Looks like its pretty clean outside of the interior. The wood inlays are pretty cool. The bottom lines are classic Kona Daycruiser.

Here's a Kona 22 and the bottom looks identical outside of the length. The lines of the gunwale are similar as well at the stern.

The rounded step up in the deck is unique. I haven't seen anything like that before. Looks Kona in origin just haven't seen another one like it. Not sure if its a splash with a different deck of a stretched version of the 22 that JRS Fiberglass did. Whatever it is it is unique and a nice find! What are your plans for it?

I like the boat alot.Runs extremly well.I plan on keeping it and using it on the lakes up here.

 

[Gelcoater]

The guy behind the wheel in that ad is/was one of the best gel coaters in the boat biz. I worked with him at Advantage in the 80s

Jim Pringle.
Dude is a character.

 

[mgmike69]

Jim Pringle.
Dude is a character.

Have you ever seen a rounded step up deck like this boat has.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Gelcoater]

Have you ever seen a rounded step up deck like this boat has.
Thanks
Mike

Sorry Mike, these boats were a little before my time in the industry.
All I know is that guy in the pic is Pringle. I was lucky to work with him for a short time (a year or so) and learned a ton from the guy.