first Aquasport up north?

[hedgemere225]

I think my father bought the first Aquasport in the Northeast part of the U.S.  He had seen one in Florida, and this goes back to late 60's or early 70's.  There was no dealer up here (N.J.), so he went to a Boyer's Marina in Ocean City whom he knew from buying a Whaler.  Boyer's took on the franchise, and the first Aquqasport came north- a 222.  I remember talking with my dad about it- there was an option of a glass (plexiglass?) viewing port up towards the bow.  This probably made some sense in Florida, but obviously not in NJ.  The engines were twin Homelite 4 strokes if you can believe it- 55 hp each.  The boat moved ok, not real fast, but we loved that boat.  He then bought 3 more , one after another, as they wore out or just needed replacing.  One of those was given to us by Aquqasport because a stringer had punched the hull and cracked it on a relatively new hull.  We wound up with 85 hp Evinrudes on all the subsequent boats, and I have never run a boat since that was as maneuverable and easy to handle as those boats.  Light, fast, and we felt safe.  Not real comfortable in a large head sea, but great in inlets, following seas, and trolling.

I am unclear on the exact date of our first one, and someone outside of NJ might have had one up north, but I will never forget those great boats.  I am 53, and my dad is long gone, but when people think of him (and he was a GREAT guy) they picture him in the 22' Aquasport. No bimini, no outriggers, no radar, no GPS- huge above deck cooler, a radio and a compass- fished out to the 28 mile wreck and everywhere in between.

[hedgemere225]

I have thought it through, and I think he bought the first one in 1969.  I am pretty sure because he bought a house on the water in 1968 and kept his old Luhrs skiff for one season before the Aquqsport.

[Wilson]

Apparently there was a "glass bottom" option at some point.  I think it was forward in the hull.  I have never seen one, I've only heard talk of them.  They must be pretty cool.  

Thanks for posting, and welcome aboard.

[hedgemere225]

I could be wrong (35 years ago), but I think the glass section was where the deck rose up to the forward cast platform.

[Wilson]

sounds right.  Sounds sort of scary.  I would be worried about breaking the thing

[Captain]

Sounds like your Dad was a great guy. All of my boating memories revolve around my father's 1976 22'2 that we still own today. Your Dad sounds like a real "salt of the earth" kind of guy. Don't see that admirable trait much anymore.

You might be interested in this article. I bet your Dad and this fellow could have had some good times together!

[hedgemere225]

Thanks for that , Captain.  You've got it right.  My dad was the greatest.  I fished with him steadily for many years.  Simple approach with a simple boat.  Allot of his friends were going for the big boats, lots of equipment, etc..  Just this past summer I had his two favorite trolling rods rebuilt along with the original Penn reels.  These rigs are about 35 years old.  First trip out in my fancy Edgewater 26' with my fancy Shimano rigs, the old rigs caught 3 tuna and countless bluefish.  The Shimanos caught a few blues.  I used a plain cedar plug on one old rig, and a purple pony tail on the other.  Now if I could just find the old 222.

[Anonymous]

if you are looking for 1969 222 aquasport glass bottom i have one for sale live in bayville nj