1991 21 WAC

[Capt. Bob]

I'm looking at a 1991 WAC 21 footer. Any info that someone may have would be welcomed.
It has an anchor pedestal, the older style sliding windows (for the 21'), possibly no in deck fish box (s)????? though maybe the owner didn't understand what I was describing.
I'm wondering if the transom is wood or had they switched to composite? The 92 brochure in our reference section looks "somewhat different" though this model appears to be an Aqua rather than a re badged Wellcraft. The owner says it has an aluminum tank.

So if anyone has experience with this model and doesn't mind sharing, thanks.

SeaBob, does this pre date your tenure at the Sarasota plant?

Thanks in advance.

[RickK]

My '92 has a wood transom.
Edit: The transom is a poured version and above the pour on both sides they have wood.

[Capt. Bob]

Thanks Rick.
I'm thinking that my transom platform would work on this model.

It appears in the 92 brochure that there are not "fish box(s)" on this model. Also,it's hard to tell if there is access to the tank via a removal deck cover. I'm assuming that the area between the cockpt and splashwell is not enclosed and doesn't have removal piece that closes this area as in the later model 215.
I'm wondering if the 21' lenght includes the anchor pedestal
A small but functional WAC.

[RickK]

I guess the first thing to ask is what model is it?  Explorer? Family Fisherman? Express Fisherman?  Not sure what models were made in that year but can assume the Explorer was since mine is a 92.
My fuel tank is under 2 big hatches that take up the room between the two cooler/baitwells under the helm seats.
I have a bolt on anchor pulpit, which was common on them and don't think it is part of the LOA.


Mine does have a removable hatch in front of the engine that is covering what looks like where an I/O engine would mount, you can step 2ft down into this, and they have a removable fish box in there.  I pulled this out and dropped a 40gal freshwater tank in there.

As for the back being open, here is a shot of the cockpit


My boat didn't come with anything that closes it in but Fishhead in Calif has a 93 Osprey that is the same hull and similiar liner in the back and he did have something that would enclose the engine area about 12 inches high.  You can also see the fuel tank covers, the 2 cooler/baitwells under the helm seats and the hatch in the rear for the fishbox.
IMHO, if you want a bunch of room and a cabin to boot, get the 230.  I even have more room in the back then a 250 and 275 Explorer because they are enclosed and the LOA changes then to include the bracket (if integrated).

Getting back to your questions, I guess the first thing to ask is what model is it?  

[Capt. Bob]

Thanks again Rick.

It has to be an Explorer. It's a walk-a-round cuddy so not an FF. It does have the short pedistal seats (with a section of the foot cut for clearance) mounted on the rasied sections that form the "storage/live well" on each side of the helm.

A bolted on anchor pulpit makes sense because it does not appear to be molded to the bow.

No cushions on top of the storage/live well,but has a cushion on the bow. I'm not sure how the anchor rode is stored.

There is an inspection plate in the cuddy. The owner says he put a bilge pump there but I though I read that you had one there from the factory (maybe on the 23 but not the 21). The plate looks factory installed. No padded coaming bolsters in the cockpit from what little I can tell.

I'm going to request a few more pics.

It's located in Seminole so until I can get there I'm trying to piece together a little data base on this model. In my search, I have not run across a 23 yet.

[slvrlng]

Hey Bob, that looks nice! What are you going to do with ROMIII?

[RickK]

Definitely an Explorer.

[Capt. Bob]

Hey Bob, that looks nice! What are you going to do with ROMIII?

It really does look nice Lewis, in a WAC kinda way.
It is an Aqua rather than a Wellcraft.
It's smaller than the CCP and moving closer to the front to pilot will more than likely lessen the ride quality in a chop but....
It's more open in the back for fishing and just hangin' around plus it has the small cuddy I've been looking for.

As for the ROM3, It was going to be a donor craft.
I had envisioned using various parts off her to fix up a wac and then sell the hull. My wife can't see having a "fleet" and in reality, if I could have two, I would be more inclined to have another 17 for the thin stuff.

Now, I'm not so sure I want to remove stuff off her (except the new electronics) in hopes someone would pick her up and enjoy her as is.
This 21 though would work well with the full platform, trim tabs and new electronics so the original idea isn't dead yet.
Lastly, I started a new job about 6 months ago and I need to be conscious of unnecessary capital outlay. So for now, the ROM3 is lookin' pretty good since she needs nothing she doesn't already have.

I'm always looking.

[Capt. Bob]

Definitely an Explorer.

And an Aquasport at that. I can see possibilities 8)

[RickK]

Mine did not (nor does this one probably) have a hatch in the cabin so I looked long and hard for a hatch that would fit in the area of the sitting bench up front - the area is too small for a standard 14" square.  I finally found a half circle hatch and cut it in.  Made all the difference - I unsnap all but the corner snaps on the front cushion and then raise the hatch.  The cushion acts as a wind scoop to channel air down into the hatch.  They don't give away those hatches though  :cry:
Then you need a windowshaker AC unit that'll fit in the cabin doorway, a filler for the rest of the doorway and a small Honda 2000i generator and you'll be set for camping  8)   Kind of a pain to carry the stuff around but well worth it at night.
Oh and don't forget the full bimini and complete vinyl/screen - worth every penny.

[Capt. Bob]

Don't know about the AC (sounds good though) but at the very least a bridge enclosure.
Rick, do you think the specs in the 92 brochure are close to this 91? The aerial shot must be of a 23 (or bigger) wac.
How is your anchor line stowed? Hatch or is there a hawse pipe that the rode goes through?

If it's still around, we are heading to Sand Key to see some friends on Labor Day. I'll get a close look, pics, tap the transom and see if I'm just living a fantasy.

Thanks again for all the input.

[slvrlng]

Hey Bob, have you seen this one?
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/boa/1299180150.html

[Capt. Bob]

Haven't seen that one yet Lewis but I'm looking for a little less work.
It appears that a lot of the work is cosmetic but......
Looking at that home made hardtop makes me wonder what other surprises await.

I'm thinking that the 21 would fit about right and as Rick mentioned, the 23 would be the ticket but...... finding one is the problem. I have yet to see one like his.

Thanks.

[RickK]

Don't know about the AC (sounds good though) but at the very least a bridge enclosure.
Rick, do you think the specs in the 92 brochure are close to this 91? The aerial shot must be of a 23 (or bigger) wac.
How is your anchor line stowed? Hatch or is there a hawse pipe that the rode goes through?

If it's still around, we are heading to Sand Key to see some friends on Labor Day. I'll get a close look, pics, tap the transom and see if I'm just living a fantasy.

Thanks again for all the input.

Usually an aftermarket AC unit fits over the hatch in the cabin and blows from above but these smaller explorers don't have a big seat up front for a big hatch (the 250 is laid out differently so it does have a big hatch and I'm not sure about the 275), so you gotta do what you gotta do.  I leave the AC unit in the garage during the fall, winter and spring - really only need it in the dead of summer.
The anchor line enters via a covered hawse pipe into a stowage spot just in front of the cabin front wall - fills in the area left by the wall and the prow of the hull.  One thing I found I that there was no drainage from that area - I had to drill a drain hole in the bottom to the bilge.  There is access to the rode storage from the front of the cabin - mine is a snap down peice of vinyl:


I think the first pic in the 92 phamplet is a 230.  If you look at the Explorer page you can see the difference between the 230 and the 250 hull - MAJOR - no strakes and a very sharp entry on the 250.

I would say the specs are probably close or the same.  Seems like the front halves of the 230 and 210 are the same, its the cockpit that is shorter on the 210.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Just my $0.02-

As far as a WAC placing you further forward and lessening the ride quality, in my experience, with all the weight of the cabin on the bow, handling the chop is about the same if not a little better in a WAC as opposed to a C/C.  

One thing I do notice about a WAC's ride quality-  all that weight on the bow tends to make the boat "plow" through the water.  It rides funny, especially when you're used to a C/C.  Not a rough ride, but definitey not the responsive ride you would expect out of a C/C.  Trim Tabs are absolutely necessary.