New member, new old Aquasport

[jeff23]

Hi All--

I'm not new to boats, but I am new to this board and to Aquasport.  I am just about to finalize the purchase of a 1979 Aquasport 170 with with a 2001 3-cylinder Mercury 75 hp motor.

My current boat is a 1989 McKee Craft 16' skiff, which I love and have had for three years.  However, I've finally had to accept the fact that the McKee is too flat-bottomed for Long Island Sound--a bit too much chop, a rip current (we have some very strong ones), or even a big boat wake, and it will ship water over the bow if anyone is sitting up there.

I'm trying a link to some pics of the Aquasport.  Yesterday I went out for a ride on it with the owner--everything seemed fine, it started and ran great, and he's obviously taken good care of it. I drove it, checked all the usual stuff--transom, hull, wiring, etc.  The 75hp Merc really pushes it fine--plenty of power and top end for an old duffer like me--I'll be using it to run three or four miles up the Sound to fish--speed's not much of a factor.

I'm a tad concerned about going to a 10-year older hull, but it looked true when I squinted down it, it's as solid as a rock, and the owner, who was very credible and straightforward in his answers to my other questions, says it doesn't make alot of water when sitting in the slip.

Any comments on the 1979 170's? Anything I should look out for after I buy it?  Any experience with the '01 Merc motors? Perhaps a bit of re-assurance about the hulls on these older models holding up well? All advice and comments appreciated!

Here's the photo link to thumbnails--I read the instructions, hope it works:

http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery ... puser=2306

Thanks!

Jeff

[bamafaninfl]

Wow nice looking 170 looks like it has been taken good care of. I have a 1977 170 had it about 5 years had to repower last year went with a 2006 90 yammie I use her alot to go out to crooked ilsand it`s about a 3,4 mile run could not ask for a better boat.

[GoneFission]

Welcome - I hope your deal works out!  You will find many 170 folks here who can answer about any question you've got!  Aquasport 170s are great boats - not too small, not too big, and built to fish and last.  

[RickK]

Welcome aboard Jeff  :!:  :!:
You'll like the boat - for inshore/near shore , they're great.

[jeff23]

Thanks for the great welcome, guys. I should own the boat by the end of this week.  I'm pretty excited about it.  Did alot of boating and fishing when I was a kid, but moved inland to go to school and whatnot.  About nine years ago moved here to the Connecticut side of Long Island Sound--the eastern end of Long Island and Montauk are a straight shot across the Sound.  So with the right boat, I'm about 20 minutes away from some world-class inshore saltwater fishing.

When we moved here I bought a 16-ft aluminum skiff, which was fine for nice days.  I had the skiff for three years then got the 16' McKee, and now the Aquasport.  I have a three-year old kid who accompanies me and my wife on family trips, and I have a couple of buddies who come down to go fishing other times.  And when the tide's just right and I have a chance, I sometimes go out alone.  A couple of years ago, a guy took a 64-lb striper off the reef that I usually fish!  My record is 31 lbs, which seemed huge when I landed it.

I've been reading the 170 threads here on the site and am happy to see that a '79 isn't all that ancient when compared to some of the other 170's that are doing just fine at 30 yrs old and up.  Amazing!

I'm interested in anything I can learn about AS manufacturing history--a '79 has glass stringers, correct? Were the boat hulls laid up by hand? What's the transom construction like?  

Thanks again!  The internet is great--you buy an older boat and there's a whole crew of experience people around to give you a hand. :)

Tight Lines,

Jeff

[GoneFission]

Check out the ads and articles in the photo gallery section for more info.  There's some good stuff there!