I need some help

[wysongja]

My Dad and I are looking to buy an old 22' hull to refurb.  It will be used in Tampa Bay and the Gulf mostly.  How much of a difference is there between the flat back and the slight v hull.  Is the draft different? How much rougher of a ride is the flat back?  I was also told that you should always replace the transom on an old aquasport, is this always the case?  Appreciate your help

[JimCt]

Welcome aboard and hopefully a future new boat in the fleet!

The flatback, because it has less "V" (deadrise) at the stern does draw less water.  The sacrifice is a slightly harder ride at speed.  How much harder ride is a function of hull loading, degree of speed and how sensitive your backside  is.

As a general rule, an unrestored Aquasport several years old should have the transom evaluated for soundness but chances are the transom & floors will need to be rebuilt.  Lots of info. in the Rebuilds forum about how to go about the projects.

[scott_gunn]

I don't have any hard numbers, but based on what I've heard people say over the last few years, it seems the flatback draws an inch, maybe an inch and a half less than the 12 degree V.  A flatback draws maybe 9 inches, a 12 draws maybe 10 or 11.  There can be a lot of difference between individual boats based on their weight.  One 222 may weight a lot more than another 222 since they were hand-built back in the day.  One of them may also have waterlogged stringers.

I've also heard that the flatback is a little harder to control in tight turns because the back end can slide out.  But honestly, the ocean is pretty big.  I've never had a need to make a sharp, high speed turn and I've been boating inshore for 5 years now.  There may be a slightly better ride in the 12 degree V, but by no means in the 12 degree a "smooth ride" in a chop.  Both hulls pound.

[RickK]

I don't own a FB but have piloted one (AND I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night   ).  Hopefully you'll get a owner to pipe in here and give you the real lowdown.
A couple things I noticed when Bob & Joel let me take their flatback/diver for a spin at the get together last year were that the flatback really handles differently than a conventional V hull boat: (Captflatback, Bob and Joel agreed on this as we were discussing it)
1) can "bow" steer whenever "it" wants to - can freak you out they say.
2) never really jumps out of the water to plane, just keeps going faster and faster to max - almost like a displacement hull but different. Kinda separating the water as it goes by but up on top.
3) as Scott said, the back can slide out on a turn and I didn't think I turned that sharp but obviously I did.
4) can get in pretty skinny water
5) the windows are a neat addition - great to keep kids busy while on the boat. I guess it's supposed to be a baitwell.  Maybe the windows let the bait feel at home?

[John Jones]

Both hulls pound.

You will be amazed at what a set of 9 X 18 Bennett tabs will do with the v-hull.