Aquasport Model Rebuilds, Mods, Updates and Refreshes > 165/170/175 Rebuilds

170 (1974) Rebuild - B0528

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Gmack52:
Instagram Thread on this boat: @Aquasport170

TL/DR:  Boat needs a new Transom, soft spots in the floor replaced. I haven't done anything stupid yet, what would be the best approach to this project. Thanks



Hey, Y'all!  Long time reader, first time posting.

I am the proud custodian of a 1974 Aquasport 170.  My grandfather bought the boat brand new in 1974 from "Apopka Marine Services" in Inverness, FL.  The boat spent the first two to three decades of its life fishing out of Homosassa, FL.  Unfortunately, from about 2001-2019 the boat saw little use and was left to the elements.  In 2019, I cleaned it up and got it running and enjoyed it for about a month but every time we used it we found excessive water collecting in the bilge. We ultimately sourced the water to a rotten transom resulting from a failing garboard drain and various screw holes, past and present.  Im sure you all know what comes next... The whole boat has been de-rigged and gutted.

Forgive me for not documenting anything here up to this point, but feel free to check the instagram page @aquasport170 for the majority of the process.

Now, where Im hoping y'all will come in. I am turning to y'all for help in making the decision that will guide the next steps of the process.

Transom: The transom is shot. I have decided against the 'poured' approach.  I have seen several other threads here with success at replacing the transom from both the inside and the outside.  I am not opposed to either, but I feel as if the approach from the inside yields the strongest finished product.  I plan to use Coosa as its readily available in my local area and Ive been saving up for it.

Q1: I haven't decided on the new transom shape. Im not opposed to raising it, changing it or even closing it in completely and looking at setback plates, brackets etc.  Knowing what y'all know now what approach would you take? The motor will be new/new to me, feel free to send suggestions. It came with a 75 johnson that burned up, and was replaced with a Evinrude 115. I have it, it runs, but it ain't goin back on this boat.

Floor: The floor is soft in two places. Port side just behind the front step approx 3 square feet. Port side along the edge just behind the center console approx 2 square feet.

Q2: What should I do about this. Take the whole floor up? If so, should I remove the whole floor and cap as one piece and fix it all as one. Should I leave the Cap in and cut away the floor?

Stringers: No idea.

Basically what Im looking for here is, If you had a blank hull Aquasport 170 and could do anything to it. What would you do? How would you tackle the rebuild process?

Thank you guys so much! Standby for photo dump.

Gmack52:
Photo Dump p01.

First time in the water after sitting:

Gmack52:
So here's the transom as it sits today. Also, Im curious to see if anyones boat has this added mounting pad for the motor. The family story goes that the boat originally had a terrible porpoising problem as delivered from the factory and had to be returned to be worked on several times. The end result was adding the pad (picture 2).

dbiscayne:
Agree w you on replacing the transom from the inside, lots of posts on doing this. Just keep in mind you'll need to cut the strings back at least 9 inches away from the transom to get the new transom core in, then replace that section of stringer and bond to the transom & hull. Replacing for a 20" or 25" tall engine is up to you since you're replacing the engine anyway.

When I ripped my deck out the core was almost completely gone. My boat had sat under a tree, ants or mold got into the deck core and rotted the wood completely. You could always try and patch up whats soft now and use the boat a lot sooner.

The stringers on these old boats are foam filled boxed fiberglass, if the boat hasn't been kept in the water or sunk theres a pretty good chance there still dry inside.

I'd replace any thru hulls and drain hoses while you're at it.

Fishhead:
I would have thought some trim tabs would have taken care of porpoise problem easier that adding more rake to the engine. Nice project to keep in the family.

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