Aquasport 175 Osprey??

[JimCt]

I'll second what the others said.

170's are in a class by themselves.  Easy to launch/retrieve single handed.  Routine maintenance is simplified since you only have to deal with 17'.  Very nimble boat under way.  Spray coming over the bow is a problem heading into a stiff wind but can be controlled by matching your speed to the sea conditions.

Concerning the foredeck cushion, you'll have to have one made... thicker the better for comfort.  If you wife likes to sit up there (like RickK said, worst place to sit in any sort of chop), keep the speed down.  Comfort up there has more to do with the throttle than the cushion.

[beast819]

Great comments thanks again.

[MJB]

Beast,

That's a nice looking boat.  I'm anxious to get started on my project 17' AS in the next month or so as soon as it cools a bit.

[swflcracker]

I have had mine for about 3 years now.  My son and I love it.  We have added a t-top, leaning post and trim tabs and it is exactly what we need.

We can fish, fish some more, and then fish.  We can take the kids tubing.  We can take the family out to the beaches.  I cannot say enough good about it.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m72/vettert/BOAT-TRAILER2007.jpg

[beast819]

swflcracker where did you get your t-top enclosure? Awesome looking boat.  I really like the hull painted blue!

[swflcracker]

At Hot-tops in Fort Myers.  I will get you those pictures of the transom this evening showing you the tabs.  And thanks.  She isn't much...but she's mine.  Something I can pass on to my son.

[swflcracker]

Here is how I put them on...

[beast819]

That is a great shot from behind....    Did you install the tabs yourself?

The question that I have is how the heck do you run the lines all the way to the center console? I can see that on the right side if your looking down into the hatch located at the transom there is a tub that runs towards the bow of the boat but looks like it would be impossible to feed anything through there.  If this is a fairly straight forward install I might have to order a set of tabs here in the near future.

Thanks,

[swflcracker]

There should be a tube on the right side that has all of your wiring, steering cable, etc that starts in your console and ends up starboard/stern.  Some AS had removable plates.  Mine simply has a 3" tube.  Using an electrical fish, I ran nylon cord through to pull with, secured my cord to each of the cables and pulled them through to the console.  The installation is quite simple.  I went with the Lencos because I wanted something that would not take up a lot of room.  With the Bennetts, you have to mount the resevoir tank and then worry about filling it, etc.  Lencos just were a whole lot easier.  I actually went over to their factory in Stuart.  Clean, clean operation and they were quite nice to me.  I was quite impressed with their operation.  Depends on who you talk to but about 50% like the Lencos and 50% like the Bennetts.  All in preferences.  The tabs made such a hugh difference in the way my boat sits, handles and travels.  It would be well worth the addition.  Can't say enough about them.

[JimCt]

That is some beautiful rig!

[Miguel]

I second the opinion on tabs.
Beautiful boat!!!

[swflcracker]

Thank you very much.  It will be passed on to my son...after I fish as much as I can.

[CThomps]

Nice boat there cracker.  

HotTops has done 3 bimini tops and a leaning post for me.  

They do good work.

[Miguel]

Just curious, cracker:  What is your performence with the 90 and that T-top?

[RickK]

Nice rig SW.  I think that is a factory gel color, correct?