1997 Aquasport 245 Tournament Master Boat Review & Specs

[pete]

cool find,here you go Bob....


 

[seabob4]

Way cool, Pete!  That was the first one that engineering built, other than a couple of photo shoots, never really saw the light of day.  Hull #2, the first one I built, had the newer aluminum rubrail like your boat, and twin 150 Fichts, a couple of the first Fichts out there.

Interesting side note on that boat in the write up.  It was sold to some guy over on your coast, he ended up ramming into a dock, the boat was bought back to the plant to be repaired.  About a 2' long by 10" hole in the hullside, starboard forward...took a look in the hole upwards, as the hull-to-deck joint was exposed.  Not a speck of caulking or sealant to be seen anywhere!  Built by the engineers...    

[Aswaff400]

i got a bunch of florida sportsman magazines from the mid 90's, from 94 to about 99... wonder if theres any cool aqua ads in them... ugh i dont feel like diggin today...

[seabob4]

i got a bunch of florida sportsman magazines from the mid 90's, from 94 to about 99... wonder if theres any cool aqua ads in them... ugh i dont feel like diggin today...

Guaranty you there are, Aaron.  Curt Jarson, our ad guru, was heavily into that stuff at the time.  Even took the 1st dual station I built and one of the 1st 275 Explorers built over to the Fort Jefferson on the Dry Tortugas one weekend for a photo/Magazine shoot...think it may have been an FS article...

[Bobber]

Yes, it was an 3 page article, Bob - and a very effective one at that since I still remember it well.  Great photos of the boats running and anchored at Ft Jefferson.
Exactly the sort of destination fishing cruise thats stayed in my mind and influenced me to want a boat with a basic cabin and a big fuel tank.

[seabob4]

Yes, it was an 3 page article, Bob - and a very effective one at that since I still remember it well.  Great photos of the boats running and anchored at Ft Jefferson.
Exactly the sort of destination fishing cruise thats stayed in my mind and influenced me to want a boat with a basic cabin and a big fuel tank.

That is so cool, Bob!  I was sitting at the break table outside and my boss tossed the issue down in front of me, said, "Hey, your boats in there!"

Had a lot of fun back then, worked our arses off, built a chitload of boats...

[Bobber]

Had a lot of fun back then, worked our arses off, built a chitload of boats...

Damn good boats too, thank you Sir!

The more I familiarize myself with my Aquasport, the more impressed I am with what ya'll accomplished on a mid-tier production boat.

[seabob4]

Had a lot of fun back then, worked our arses off, built a chitload of boats...

Damn good boats too, thank you Sir!

The more I familiarize myself with my Aquasport, the more impressed I am with what ya'll accomplished on a mid-tier production boat.

Bob,
One of the best values one could buy in a boat, whether they were built in Hialeah or Sarasota (actually Bradenton, but whose counting?).  You have a 215 Explorer, '98.  I'm sure I saw her being built, she was built on the line next to mine...about 10 feet away...

[Pri123]

Great info guys.  I am looking at a used 1997 Aquasport 245 Explorer next week.  Looks in good shape and has twin 150s on it.

Any suggestions and recommendations?