AquaSport 29 Tournament 1987

[truman]

Hi,

I am a new member and wanted to know more about the 29 AquaSport Tournament 1987.  Just recently picked up one and wanted to know if any other members have one.  

I was curious to know how many of these were made.  Also looking for an owner's manual and any other related material.

Truman

[RickK]

Welcome aboard truman  :!:  :!:
The 290 is in the Express Fisherman line and the "Tournament edition" adds some fishability features and stuff.  That's a BIG fishing machine that has some creature comforts the rest of the brand lacks.
The 290 fraternity here is pretty small but thare are a few member/owners so you won't find yourself alone.

[tomcat]

Thank god! I thought I was the only one with a 290 Tournament Master. Mine is also a 1987. Got it a year ago. I haven't stopped working on it yet but I love it. We have fished on it in the Chesapeake Bay about a dozen times or so. I will get back to you shortly with more info and pics. Thanks,, Mark

[Dan Wade]

Hi

I see you posted your message in July so you might not still be around, But I also just purchased a 29’ AquaSport Tournament,  I am in California. Just getting to know the boat but it seems to be a nice fishing machine.

Dan

[takeoff29]

Truman and Dan i also have a 29 aquasport i have it since 1991 like the boat alot. Repowered it in 2001 with 320hp mpi Crusaders and Hurth down angle trans. Was at 1.1 mpg before they put the ethenol in the gas.I removed my passenger seat and replaced it with a cooler running front to back and removed the drivers seat and installed a pedestal seat in its place.Removed my frig.and added lots of storage in that space .Removed hot water heater and also the 2 burner stove and made a custom plastic sunk in compartment. I also have two small fishing chairs mounted in the back ,these are very comfortable to ride in while under way, most everybody usually fall a sleep in them. Very comfortable boat,its a 1982 with a pipewelders tower and epoxy bottom job was also done and no soft spots or blisters were found at all.Good luck with your 29 catch em up    

[tomcat]

Hey takeoff29,

You've got the right idea! I also removed the refrigerator in mine and made a matching cabinet door for lots of storage. I also got rid of the two helm seats; they were too big and heavy and made it impossible to get to the engines while undreway. I got rid of the bulky cabin steps and made a more open streamlined set from mahogany-looks great and cuts weight. I got rid of the water heater which free up even more space under the galley for storage and cuts even more weight! Tomorrow , I'm cutting out the live well which I never use and just keeps filling up with water. What a crappy design !! I am going to reinforce the rear deck with another layer of glass and awlgrip paint.


Keep choppin and cuttin weight!!

[takeoff29]

tomcat   ya i also made a matching door for where the frig. was to match the others out of teak and put a one piece floor in this space and of which was tough to get into place but got it in , also let me know how you make out with that live well i have been thinking about  that for a few years but not sure what i would do with the space

[gran398]

The 290 Tourney has always been a respected hull, and especially back then. Smart that you all agree on removing topside weight,  and keeping the weight belowdecks, and afore.  From my experience, is best to keep the forefoot/hull entry in the water when running. Tab it down, take advantage of the length. Particularly in a head-sea.

Had the bad luck of running a new 32, (2010) local production, as Captain/guide. Would be improper to state the brand. Would not get up, ran bow-high, all day. Twin turbocharged Volvo Diesels. Not a function of power, but of weight distribution.

You own a 290 Aquasport. Enjoy!

[RickK]

If I haven't already said so, Welcome aboard takeoff29  :!:  :!:

[tomcat]

I used a 4" grinder with a cutoff wheel to cut out the livewell about 1" below the top lip. Nice clean job!  I had to cut the livewell into pieces to remove it after I dropped it into the bilge. Now there is plenty of access from the rear with the fish box out to get to the waste tank, transmissions etc. I am going to glass in the livewell hatch solid and then prep and paint the entire rear deck. Anybody have any suugestions as to whether I should get rid of the non skid and just use the sand additive? Could use some advice on this.

Thanks

[Capt. Bob]

Anybody have any suugestions as to whether I should get rid of the non skid and just use the sand additive? Could use some advice on this.

Thanks

Here's a start.
viewtopic.php?p=24171#p24171

[Dan Wade]

Hey, Mark and Takeoff29

Looks like you guys have some good ideas. I’ve had my 87 AquaSport 29 with twin 454s for about 2 months. It really uses up the gas, I assume 1 mile to the gal. I have only taken it out a few times for 15 to 20 mile trips. I need to figure out at what RPMs the secondary’s kick in, and I guessing that would be my cruising speed. At 2800 RPM’s my speed is 18 MPH and 3200 RPM’s 22 MPH. I want to say the live bait well sucks, but in reality it doesn’t, as you guys noticed they don’t drain correctly and always have 2 or 3” of water in the bottom.

Out here on the west coast we use sardines, anchovies and squid primarily for bait. The fin bait can’t be mixed together with the squid or they will beat each other to death. So I am installing an additional bait tank on the back swim step. For the existing live bait well what I inherited was a drain hole in the bottom and a drain hole a few inches from the top. There was a ½” fill tube about 10” long running across the top with a series of holes. This shot the water down the side wall across the bottom and up the opposite side. Seeing anchovies and sardines swim against the current they were just confused and swimming together at the bottom corner beating there heads silly. So I installed on a 90% bend on the pipe now it runs from top to bottom and distributes the water in a manor that circulates horizontally around the tank.

 For the drain in the bottom I installed a ¾” threaded piece PVC. It seems to wedge into the lower drain hole just fine. The ¾” PVC extends up the level that I want the water to stay at. The fin bait have scales so at the top I attached PVC fittings and the last 2” is 1-1/2” diameter PVC with ¼” diameter holes drilled all a around. The outlet at the top through the side wall is used as an overflow. It seems like it will work OK, but I don’t understand the hole concept. Rocking and rolling on the open seas trying to lift the top off with one hand scoping out a piece of bait with the other hand just seems like an accident waiting to happen. Besides you have no hands left to hold a beer.

The generator was previously removed so I installed a large deep cell gel auxiliary battery and an inverter to power up the 110 system at sea. I also installed a small micro-wave under the counter at the right hand side of the galley and a under the counter coffee maker on the left. It was a hassle getting the micro-wave to fit up tight in the angled corner but it looks good, it’s up out of the way and works well. For me a micro-wave is a must on over night trips. I still need to move all the auxiliary items off the engine batteries and isolate them onto the new battery.

I think you guy’s have a good idea about the refrigerator it’s probably better to just use coolers as the damn thing is so small it hardly holds a six pack but takes up a lot of room. Have either one of you ever lifted off the rear deck? I’m wondering how much it weighs and what is involved. It seems like it might be easier to just get it off and perform all the work (replacing hoses Etc.) at one time. I’m not sure what is or is not under there and what shape it is in as I can’t even see under there. As far as I can tell there is not an owner’s manual on plant earth. I’m removing the fluorescent tubes from the light fixtures in the bathroom and installing 10” strip LED lights in to the existing fixtures.

Over all I really like the design and the layout of the boat they got a lot into a little space.

[Dan Wade]

I used a 4" grinder with a cutoff wheel to cut out the livewell about 1" below the top lip. Nice clean job!  I had to cut the livewell into pieces to remove it after I dropped it into the bilge. Now there is plenty of access from the rear with the fish box out to get to the waste tank, transmissions etc. I am going to glass in the livewell hatch solid and then prep and paint the entire rear deck. Anybody have any suugestions as to whether I should get rid of the non skid and just use the sand additive? Could use some advice on this.

Thanks

Just curious what advantage is there to glassing in the livewell hatch? Seems it gives you additional access and the space should be good for something.

[tomcat]

Dan,

Great thought about the access through the livewell. I thought about keeping the livewell hatch as an access but decided that I have enough access to the transmissions, engines, waste tank etc. through the rear fishbox. Also, the livewell would constantly fill with rain water because there is no runoff drain like there is on the fishbox. Therefore now that the livewell is gone, if I leave the access the bilge will get all the rain water. Not necessarily a bad thing but I prefer to keep the bilge as dry as possible. Also, I am thinking about buying or building a bait station to sit on the rear deck where the hatch was(is).

I also have twin 454's. When I bought the boat, it had 2- 4 bladed props on it. I bought the boat from the Marina owner.It was his personal boat. I suspect that just prior to him turning the boat over to me he removed the props and replaced them with the 2 - 4 blades on there now. They are too large and heavy and the boat barely gets out of its own way. Top rpm = 2700. Top speed loaded is 17 kts. I am going to have them cut down this winter. I'd like to get new 3 bladed but new props are probably out of my budget. Does anyone have any idea what size props this boat came through with? (454's)

Anyway, as you can see from my posts, I am trying to streamline the boat and cut weight where practical to make it more fuel efficient and faster. I love the boat. It is a fishing machine!  never had outriggers before and now I would'nt fish without them! Some of the stuff the prior owner had on the boat was better served in a condo, not a boat. I don't need a refrigerator ; a/c; cable tv;microwave;hot water;DVD player;etc. I just want to fish damnit!

Glad you guys are out there- keep the input coming!

Mark  (the boat name is Tomcat)

[TAILHOOK]

Hey  guys,
the refig. is useless, plan on removing mine soon. I use two coolers behind the step up to the helm, it keeps the fish, drinks and bait cool all weekend long.The livewell needs a macerator to pump out the water and it would work ok!
As for 2700 RPM you need to run your setup thru a computer and see what the correct prop would be it should be around 4400 to 4800 RPM depening on the motors. 1.1 NMPG is not to shabby at all, quite good in fact . I have a 29 with less power and incorrectly proped and i dont even get that (not for long, just started a repower)
I have talked to alot of locals who have these boats and 1.0 to 1.1 is average. (they can burn fuel, as can any other boat of this size) the secondaries should kick in around 2900 to 3100 depending on the boat. As for the ride i have been 60 miles from home in 3' to 5's and as long as you keep the bow down and the speed below 20KTS you will be fine.
I looked and rode on alot of boats before this one and i have not met one that has the room down below and the cockpit space. the modified vee is a trade off you will sit like a duck while drifting but you need to slow down in the slop. my blackfin friends cant drift fish without getting sick or thrown out of the boat. lets see some pics!
P.S. i love the hot water heater nothing better tan a hot shower after a long day on the water!