1989 Aquasport 175 Osprey-Striper Fish Package Rebuild/Upgrade

[ShawnsIronman]

I decided that I could not pass up this little 175 for $1,000 especially since the transom and deck were rock solid, new gas tank was installed, and hull barely had any scratches and holes in it at all. I plan on doing a lot fun restoration things to this boat, and I am sure I will depend on all of you "salty dawgs" for information. I will post all of the pictures as I progress. Here are some of the restoration/upgrades I plan on doing:

•   Remove all of the teak wood and restore/repair it. I will also rebuild the bow hatch and replace the louver spindles. He had them, but they were taken out for some reason. I like the classic look of the teak, so that is why I plan to keep it.
•   Replace the engine temporarly with an 1989 Johnson that is running since it currently matches up to the controls and the Evinrude that is currently on it has a bad cylinder. Eventually, I want to repower it with a 4-stroke Yamaha 90 or 110.
•   Replace the windshield.
•   Remove the railing and look for a lower replacement or have a new one fabricated since I want to keep a trolling motor on it.
•   Replace the current trolling motor with new Minn Kota Riptide iPilot
•   Install T-Top
•   Considering closing up transom and putting stern floating bracket to get the motor further away from boat like this 170 http://boatsalesmiami.com/bay-boats/1985-aquasport-170-cc-boat-with-bracket-used-boat-sales-miami-fl
•   Rewire the whole boat and ad interior LED lights under the teak.
•   Replace all the gauges and install my Lowrance Elite-4 HDI
•   Replace seat with lean post.
•   Repair all the holes and repaint hull blue like swflcracker's boat http://s101.photobucket.com/user/vettert/media/BOAT-TRAILER2007.jpg.html
•   Much more...


Please provide your input. If there is any pictures that you would like for me to take so you can review for your own rebuild, please let me know. I would be happy to do so.

[RickK]

Nice boat 
The one in Miami looks good but I don't think I would want to be on it after the engine is on it - the CoG is way off now, even if it is a bracket with a little flotation in it.  Scuppers will be under water for sure.  The console would have to be moved all the way to the casting deck to offset the setback of the weight of the engine.

[ShawnsIronman]

I agree with that the COG would be off, but I thought about contacting the seller to find out if they every got any data from it. The manufacture swears by it.

Of course that would be the last thing I would do to it and not until I would repower the vessel. There a lot of upgrade and replacing that I need to do between now and next spring.

[fitz73222]

You did real well, picking her up for a grand with a solid floor and transom. I'd be leery of a bracket on that boat. With a heavier 4 stroke that far back, I'm thinking she may want to porpoise pretty bad without trim tabs plus the scupper issue. Keep in mind the average engine weight back in '89 and compare it to today when shopping for repower options.

[ShawnsIronman]

Well, it is settled, I will not be moving the motor after all. I reached out to the manufacture and got a great response back for Russ:

"Although we have done less than a handful of 17’ boats successfully (and these had major modifications) we always dissuade anyone doing a bracket for a boat under 20’, and these are subject to a lot of filtering. I don’t think you would win any friends by airing this one because a boat less than 20’ is generally very sensitive to the battle between CG and CB. As a result they tend to porpoise. I hate to throw cold water on your idea but in this case I think we’ll all be better off."

However, he did recommend considering a jack plate. I am doing whatever I can to get the boat running more fuel efficient and in shallower water. Has anyone else done this on their 17 footer?

[RickK]

We have several members that have a jackplate on their 17s (including me although I have not got it wet yet).
A little story about a guy here in Sarasota that put a bracket on his 170 and a 150 on it.  It looked bad azzed and you knew it was gonna fly. On his maiden voyage he launched and idled out and nailed it and it sure did fly, probably surpassed 50, which is scary in these little boats.  Then he came off plane quickly and the backwash sank him on the spot.  Moral of the story is these little 170s are very sensitive to the CoG.  I added a jackplate to push all the steering and stuff out of the boat, freeing up some room in the aft of the boat.  I have about a 7 1/2" set back which is enough for the hydraulic steering to clear the transom and also allow clearance when I tilt the motor up.  To compensate for this set back I moved the fuel tank forward and added 3 batteries in the console.

[Capt. Bob]

I think you may be pleasantly surprised at just how much water a 170 doesn't draw, especially with a lighter motor.

[ShawnsIronman]

I am not necessarily worried about the boat on plane. I am worried getting in and out of the shallow areas that I normally fish with my Hydra Sport 1750DC. I can't get to all the places that I want because there are shallow entries to certain lakes, and I could with a jack plate. When the tilt is up, then your steering and speed is compromised. I also don't like how the aft goes deeper as I am trying to plane and bottoms out in 2' or less of water. These boats are very nearly identical in size and LOA are the pretty much the same, so I would expect them to do the same, but if I am about to re-power, I might as well put on a jack plate as long as it does not interfere with the CG that much.

[RickK]

Trim tabs will help you get on plane in shallow water, as will a hydrofoil, which lifts the aft end of the boat.

[ShawnsIronman]

I am messing around with color options for my topside and wanted to get some input. Please let me know which you like the best:

Black


Blue


Sea Foam

[CTsalt12]

Nice rig.  I have an '89 175 as well, in similar shape just with a little newer motor and it was  little more dinged up when I got it.  They are great seaworthy vessels and I've caught a lot of fish on mine and put a lot of hours on it.   

My advice would be to skip the t top personally.  Wind resistance and just too much for an 18 foot boat.  It's hard enough to shimmy around the console and with the t top rails that's going to take up more space. 

I also like my cooler seat instead of the leaning post personally.  I like the ability to turn the seat around when I'm bottom fishing with lines behind the boat.  I also like the comfort for when I'm not fishing.  You can buy a bracket to raise them but it's about 200 bucks on ebay. I opted to just stand when I need to.

[wingtime]

I have the 1987 170 with a 1997 90hp Ocean Pro mounted on a 8" Bob's Machine manual jack plate.  I would not anything heavier or further aft than what I have now.  The 90hp 60 degree motor has tons of torque and is a perfect power match for the boat.  She has a impressive hole shot and tops out at about 40mph.  I have to run her with some down trim otherwise she will porpoise.  Your transom is much more closer to an enclosed transom than mine is.

I also agree on skipping the T-top.  I think the boat is just too small and it will get in the way of casting, will slow you down, and will limit places you can go and store the boat. 

[ShawnsIronman]

Well, I have had this boat for nearly 4 months now, and I have to admit one thing: It is too small for my type of fishing. I generally fish with two other grown men and my 6 year old son, and the boat is just not big enough for all of us. I have decided to just restore the boat and sell it once I am done.

Don't get me wrong, I love this boat. It rides amazing and dry, it has plenty of speed with the 110VRO I put on it (42mph top speed at 4900RPM), it goes in very skinny water (8 inches), and everything seems to be in the perfect place when it comes to storage and accessibility.

My style of fishing and boating is going to make me look for a bigger boat, but I am sold on Aquasport. I will be in the market for a 22-2, 200, or 220.

This is what I will do to get this boat ready for sale:

* Repower with a restored 1983 Evinrude 140 which is 9lbs ligher than the 110VRO. Less weight in the back is better I have learned
* Restore all the wood accents.
* Replace all of the weather seals and bad latches
* Add Bow Casting Seat.
* Replace Cooler Seat and Pad
* Wet Sand Entire Boat and restore Aquasport Logos/Decals
* Finish Rewiring on boat and trailer
* Add additional battery and trolling motor (Any suggest on how much thrust would be appreciated)
* Add marine stereo and speakers
* Add VHF radio (Needed for our area)

I will keep everyone up to date with plenty of pics along the way this summer because   

[ShawnsIronman]

Updated Pictures.

I have also added a trolling motor, and installed a 90hp loaner engine until my Yamaha 90 is finished. Installed Lowrance Elite 4 HDI. Took off all of the wood pieces and currently restoring them.

[RickK]

Got her all stripped - now you can get after her.