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Author Topic: A-Sport history  (Read 10012 times)

February 02, 2005, 02:29:46 PM
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oystercatcher

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A-Sport history
« on: February 02, 2005, 02:29:46 PM »
Curious about the history of the brand.  I have heard different versions of the origins, sale of the company, etc.

My understanding was that it was sold for the first time to a big boat factory/conglomerate (AMF?) in hte late 70's, and that it was subsequently sold again to Genmar.

Do I have the story straight?

Any other details out there?
\'75 22-2

February 02, 2005, 05:16:23 PM
Reply #1

Wilson

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« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2005, 05:16:23 PM »
That was my understanding of the way it went.  

Anyone have any old literature, advertisements, owners' manuals, pix?  It would be great to post them on here.  I would really love to have something that would show all the slightly different models of the 222 throughout the 70's.
Wilson Ayala
Tampa, FL

February 03, 2005, 12:33:19 PM
Reply #2

Radioshop

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« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2005, 12:33:19 PM »
I had never heard about the conglomerate before Genmar.  I know in the late 80's when thing were going south, they were paying debts with hulls.  I don't think AMF would have done something like that.  I know for a fact Robalo was part of AMF, they used to have the goofy AMF decal on them.  I never saw that on an Aquasport.
1973 22.2 Osprey - Sand Bar II
Miamuh, Florida

February 03, 2005, 01:30:30 PM
Reply #3

Wilson

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« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2005, 01:30:30 PM »
Yeah, I'm not positive about the AMF thing, but it some how sounds farmiliar.  Maybe I'm thinking of Jeep.  

I know that they were originally made in Hialeah, some used to say that on the hull right under the AS logo.
Wilson Ayala
Tampa, FL

February 04, 2005, 08:59:29 AM
Reply #4

Radioshop

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« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2005, 08:59:29 AM »
In the interest of keeping a running tab of what we know to be true, my boat, a 1973, was built in Hialeah and, it says so on the nameplate.  So now we know Aquasport was in Hialeah at least until 1973 (and I think longer still).
1973 22.2 Osprey - Sand Bar II
Miamuh, Florida

February 04, 2005, 09:44:29 AM
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oystercatcher

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« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2005, 09:44:29 AM »
Same is true for my '75
\'75 22-2

February 05, 2005, 11:22:17 PM
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Anonymous

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« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2005, 11:22:17 PM »
I worked for AquaSport in Hialeah for a brief time in 1974.  My job was building molds and prototypes.  My managers name was Sam (glass lamination expert from NY) but I can't remember the last name. Seems there were approx 300 workers at that time. About 295 were Cuban and the other 5 (myself included) were Anglo.

If memory serves right they were trucking out 10-12 boats a day. Resin was brought in by a tanker truck and pumped into large tanks next to the building. I remember the large single glassing room had approx 10 boats being laid up. The air sparkled with glass fibers and the floor sticky with resin. It was very busy and no slackers around.  We couldn't make boats fast enough and management didn't want quality cut to get them out the door faster either.
R&D made all the plugs (original boats/decks/etc) out of wood. They had a motor and set of controls from different mfgs and mounted them all to make sure they would fit all properly. Human mannequins were used to check for ergonomics. AquaSport took extra care in this part of designing.
It is the only boat factory I've ever seen do this.

They had a huge fenced area stocked with teak trim, swim platforms, etc. AquaSport did not make any of those pieces. Happle Marine in Cocoa, Fl built most of it. Happle made quality parts for many of the big name production boats in Florida and the eastern USA...Boston Whaler and Regal come to memory at the moment but there were dozens of other boat companies that used Happel.

Memories are a bit faded now but I can still remember working there. As the yrs have passed I've toured many boat factories. Most high end boat buyers (such as Pursuit) would be shocked to see how close their boats are constructed to production boats like AquaSport.

It's nice to see a web site for AquaSports.

Regards,
Bill in Florida

February 05, 2005, 11:26:15 PM
Reply #7

Captain

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« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2005, 11:26:15 PM »
Thanks Bill and welcome to classicaquasport.com!

Wow, you're a fantastic resource. Please register with us by clicking on the link above. We'd be honored to have someone with your inside knowledge as a participant on classicaquasport.com!
Tampa - 1976 Aquasport 222

ClassicAquasport.com Co-Founder

Attorney-at-Law

February 06, 2005, 07:22:50 AM
Reply #8

Wilson

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« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2005, 07:22:50 AM »
Yeah, come back, Bill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is fantastic info.
Wilson Ayala
Tampa, FL

February 06, 2005, 08:13:42 AM
Reply #9

Radioshop

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« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2005, 08:13:42 AM »
Welcome aboard Bill.  I always knew there was something great about Aquasport construction, I just never knew there was that much to it.  

I did some research on Happle Marine and, found the guys over at Continuous Wave (Whaler) did the legwork for us.  They're now Spartech Marine.  Apparently they don't like dealing with end users.  Here's their URL http://www.spartechmarine.com/home.htm.
1973 22.2 Osprey - Sand Bar II
Miamuh, Florida

February 06, 2005, 02:43:42 PM
Reply #10

Seadog

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« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2005, 02:43:42 PM »
Bill - good to have a guy with your experience around.  Hope you will hang around and maybe answer a question or two some of us may have about your days at Aquasport.
Welcome aboard!
1970 Aquasport 222
Spring Hill, Fl.
Should spash her in the summer.
Just don\'t know which summer.

February 06, 2005, 07:23:39 PM
Reply #11

Barnacle Bill

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« Reply #11 on: February 06, 2005, 07:23:39 PM »
Hi Guys,
Unfortunately I worked there only a few months and don't have a lot of recall on specific construction details. However, a friend of mine was working at the company who bought out Happel Marine last time I talked to him. He started in the late 60s with Happel when it was a grass roots company operating out of Henry Happel's garage. He stayed with Happel all those years and went with the new owners. He designed, drafted and set up production for many boat parts. I will give him a call soon and see if he has info that can help you.

Bill

February 06, 2005, 08:06:23 PM
Reply #12

Captain

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« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2005, 08:06:23 PM »
That would be great Bill. You and your buddy would be great participants on this board.

As you can probably tell, there are some voracious appetites here for anything and everything Aquasport! Again, welcome aboard.
Tampa - 1976 Aquasport 222

ClassicAquasport.com Co-Founder

Attorney-at-Law

February 07, 2005, 12:34:17 PM
Reply #13

Pinchin' Crab

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« Reply #13 on: February 07, 2005, 12:34:17 PM »
Quote from: "Radioshop"
In the interest of keeping a running tab of what we know to be true, my boat, a 1973, was built in Hialeah and, it says so on the nameplate.  So now we know Aquasport was in Hialeah at least until 1973 (and I think longer still).

My 1979 was built in Hialeah.
1979 19\'6\"

February 07, 2005, 12:57:06 PM
Reply #14

captin.kid

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« Reply #14 on: February 07, 2005, 12:57:06 PM »
CRAB   Is your boat a 200 ccp? That is what I run and love it. Have any pic?

 

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