What year did Aquasport quit using wood?

[riflemann]

I am shopping for a used 20' Osprey.  I really love the sheer lines, reputation, and
longevity of these boats.

What year did they stop using wood core and go to composite wood free hull?

What year did Genmar buy out Aquasport?

I want to buy the late model/year and repower with new outboard.  Is there anything I should look for or avoid for this hull?

Thanks!

[RickK]

Welcome aboard riflemann  :!:  :!:
Aquasport has always been minimally wood - usually only the transom and the underside of the sole. Storage lids were backed with glass covered wood for stiffness as well as the inside of the consoles (at least my 170 is). In the early 90's AS started pouring the transom (my 230 is).
With the exception of the transom in the early years, the hull and stringers were always wood-free.

[flounderpounder225]

Interestingly enough, my 1997 245 Osprey has plywood in the transom.  During my project to repower and dress the boat up a little after buying it with a blown johnson, one of the things that needed to be fixed was the cap for the transom.  It was cracked and looked like hell, when we removed it, to my surprise was laminated plywood in the transom?  The wood was fine, and it doesn't bother me, as plywood is perfectly fine as long as it is sealed correctly, but I was told also when I joined the CA forum that I had a "poured" transom.... not exactly.  Great boat anyway.  Regards
Marc

[seabob4]

Marc,
If there was ply entirely across your transom cap, had you removed it, you would have seen a gray, very hard substance.  That was the "pour-foam".  Now, if you saw the end-grain of the ply, than that would tell me that WC/AS was out of pour-foam at the time (probably cause they didn't pay there bills!), and your transom got built the old-fashioned way...with wood!

AS used to core the decks with end-grain balsa.  Every once in a while they would run out and core with ply.  You talk about a heavy SOB!  That can explain a lot of performance differences between models that are virtually identical in options and power...but nobody knows about this.

Back in '94, I came to work one morning and there was 10 Semis lined up in the parking lot...all rented by Yamaha.  Unbeknownst to us, Genmar hadn't been paying the bills.  Yam came in and picked up every motor we had, every harness, control box, gauge, you name it.  We didn't go back to Yammy until 4 years later...

Just a little Genmar "PR" for ya there... :x

[flounderpounder225]

WOW!! yeah, that's some insight.... so I guess I can't remember if it was an end grain or other?? why would they put plywood on top, and pour the rest?? Oh well, it is all wrapped and sealed back up now, we built the cap piece in fiberglass and gel coated it.  Thanks Bob.. have a good weekend
Marc

[seabob4]

You too, bud...catch some fish!

Bob

[seabob4]

I could tell you guys lots of neat stories about AS, WC, HS, Stamas, PL, even Intrepid, that would make you wonder about your next boat purchase...    

[John Jones]

I'm sure.  The few things I have run across myself really make me go HUH?

My little Back Country flats boat was made by Mr. Wiley Nagler of Yellowfin Yachts which have one of the finest reputations around.  Guess what, no flotation foam.  Not just mine.  There was a USCG recall on them.

[seabob4]

I'm sure.  The few things I have run across myself really make me go HUH?

My little Back Country flats boat was made by Mr. Wiley Nagler of Yellowfin Yachts which have one of the finest reputations around.  Guess what, no flotation foam.  Not just mine.  There was a USCG recall on them.

JJ,
You mind if I post this on yellowfin.com?  Brett and 24/7 would have a hissyfit!!!  

[John Jones]

Go for it!

If you want to wait a few I'll find the link to the USCG recall.  BTW, no action was taken because the were out of business by the time of the recall.

[RickK]

WOW!! yeah, that's some insight.... why would they put plywood on top, and pour the rest?? Marc

I'm guessing, besides to save money, they poured to the level that they needed for the top of the motor mount to hook over and then filled the rest with wood from that level to the top of the sides of the transom.  My 230 rotted out up top by the lifting eye.  I guess on a twin engine order they may have poured them a little differently and still filled above the poured area with wood.

[John Jones]

I hope I did not put my foot in my mouth.  I looked this stuff up when I first got the boat and at the time did not know they were sold to Champion.

This says 1998 Back Country by Champion.
Mine is a '97 151 pro guide made before Champion took over but it has no foam to speak of, just a dusting under the gunwale caps.  None anywhere else.

http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/reca ... id=991626S

The USCG also had issues with incorrect HIN format but that specifies Champion as well.

[seabob4]

JJ,
You're cool.  Actually, 24/7, with his 36 YF, triple Vrod 300s, is alright.  Tends to speak his mind, lives in Tarpon, and sorta sees things the way I do...and you ALL know my political direction...

[John Jones]

Yeah, I have read a lot of 24/7's posts.

When I hit the lotto, Yellowfin will be my first stop  ;)

[seabob4]

Actually, JJ, when I hit the lotto, I'll get a 250 Osprey, beef up the transom, throw a pair of 200 HO Etecs on her, an upper station, and I'll be happy as a pig in !