Opinions on a 1981 20ft Aquasport WAC

[Mr. Osprey]

Hey everyone,

I am in negotiations regarding a trade for a 1981 20ft Aquasport WAC, 2001 aluminum double axle trailer, and 1997 175hp Johnson Ocean Runner in trade for my 17 mako.

Any opinions on this boat regarding draft, ride, concerns, things to look out for, and anything else of this nature.

Also if anyone has performance numbers with this engine setup on the boat again please all input is much appreciated.

[wingtime]

Mr. Osprey,

I have a 1981 20' WAC and I love it.  It think a 175 would push it along very well however I have a 125 on mine so I can't give you numbers on a 175.  I can tell you these boats are built for speed.  My boat draws about 20" or less not including the engine. I think it rides great and handles rough seas pretty well.   A few areas you should check are the decks for soft spots.  The fuel tank "coffin" cover for soft spots and for a good seal between it and the deck.  You want to make sure water isn't getting down in around the fuel tank.  Try to find out if the fuel tank has been replaced or not.  If not odds are it will need one in time especially if water has been getting in around the cover.  Check the sidewall "wings" that extend back from aft wall of the cabin (the starboard one has the engine control) are loose.  Mine were loose due to loose fasteners and a wood furring strip that inside covers attach to was rotted.  Open up the round access plate on the very forward wall of the cabin to look at the backing plate and hardware for the bow eye and lifting eye.  Mine was rusted out and was tricky to reach to replace.   These boats have foam stringers however there is wood in the decks, fuel tank cover and transom.

[RickK]

Hey everyone, I am in negotiations regarding a trade for a 1981 20ft Aquasport WAC, 2001 ....

Coming back, eh?  Didn't take too long.

[Mr. Osprey]

"Coming back, eh? Didn't take too long." - RickK

Hahaha I have been back and forth between for sometime now. I got to say, I like both and both have a few pros and cons to eachother, but I do love both makes very much. My most recent boats -

1984 170 AS Osprey
1972 Mako 19
1977 Mako 17
1971 Mako Angler 17
1981 AS WAC? Hopefully

[Anonymous]

Mr. Osprey,
        I've owned my 20 WA since 1993, I have no complaints .It is a very solid hull ,I've replaced the wood and  hardware on the inside of the  walls next to the seats due to rot. I also run a 1992 175HP looper Johnson 25"(2nd motor) ,which I had to  drill new transom holes due to original factory motor set up(150HP) was to low . My boat can almost top out at 45mph @5200rpms with a 14 1/4 x 21 pitch ss prop. I will be replacing the fuel tank this winter. For a 1981 hull there are no stress cracks on the outer hull anywhere .I've taken her 10miles out of F.I. inlet on a fair day with no complaints .I think you will be happy . Now is a good time to buy , there are some great deals out there now. Good luck!
                                              Gman

[Mr. Osprey]

Thanks for the reply Gman, unfortunately I have not heard from the owner so I do not know if it is going to happen.... just gonna have to wait and see. In the mean time I have a 17' mako up for sale if anyone is interested...

[Mr. Osprey]

Good news I got back from my sea term at school only to find that I had an email from the gentlemen interested in the trade and he is still looking to swap. Hopefully coming by this week to look at the mako and I hope to make it out to the Aquasport to take some pics and look over.

[reeldrag]

Hello Mr. O,
One thing you may want to do some homework on is the engine. J/E had some problems with their FICT injection system which had a problem of blowing the power head. They did finally get it right but I think the 97's had some problems (not 100% sure). You may want to google FICT injection and find out as much as you can. The biggest $$$ with boats are what hangs off the stern.
Reeldrag

[Capt. Bob]

97 Johnson/Evinrudes also came with carburetors.
Ocean Runner/Pros were the carb model. I think the direct injected motors were labeled as Fichts (or Ram Fichts)

You need to find out which motor it is. The D.I. 150s and 175s had problems related to soot buildup under low load conditions and appeared to fail rather quickly. The old saying was that if it makes 100hrs. of use, it probably won't fail.

You can usually fix the carb models a little cheaper if it doesn't involve major rebuilding.
The D.I. stuff isn't so cheap.

[Mr. Osprey]

It is a 1997 Johnson 175 Ocean Runner. So it is the carb model. Owner said he just had a compression test done to it which came out fine and it has been babied its whole life.