New 170 owner, new member

[nax]

Hi all,

Next weekend I will be picking up my first classic AquaSport (pending my exams when I get there). It is a 1971 17' (my research says this would be a 170, correct?). It has a 1978 Evinrude 115hp outboard on it. The old man I'm buying it from is the only owner of the boat. He says the floor has absolutely no soft spots, the motor runs like a champ, and the transom is solid. I'm wondering how possible it is for this to be true on a 40 year old boat. How well does the wood hold up in these old boats? For the price he's selling it for ($1000), I will probably buy it anyway and SeaCast the transom if I have to. If the transom needs to be worked on, would I also need to check out the knees/stringers or did AquaSport use foam for them (I vaguely remember reading something that they used foam back in the 70's)? I'm looking forward to the boat and I'm really hoping everything is as solid as the old feller says it is, but I'm still going in to the sale with the intent that this would be a "project boat".

Thanks!

[Glock Diver]

Welcome, Nax!

I'm sure the boat will need work, but for $1000 and one owner, it's worth it, like you said!  The question is, will the work needed be structural, electrical, cosmetic, etc...  I don't know too much about those years, but there are a lot of members here who have hulls from that era, and they can speak to the likelihood of structural work better than I.

[fitz73222]

Hi Nax, welcome...

We've seen a couple of them that were still pretty solid. Alot depends on how they were kept. If they were kept under cover, garaged, poll barn, etc can add many years to their life. My 73' 22-2 had that advantage for the last 27 years and is still 80%. Floor solid, transom a little weaker but no major cracks or delamination. If she has bottom paint as an example it would suggest she spent some time in the water and could be more suspect. Tilt the engine up and press a good amount of your body weight on the engine gearcase and see how much the transom breathes. An 1/8 of an inch would be considered excellent for a 40 year old boat. 1/4-3/8 fair. More than that you are going to need a transom at some point but still usable if no severe cracks or delamination. The floor may be solid but the hatches may not be. Since you have a 71' I believe there is no fuel tank hatch since the fuel tank was above deck. The forward storage hatch covers should be checked by walking on them. See how much they breathe, creak or deflect. That is a fairly easy repair to recore if there is a problem. Look for floor soft spots around the rear corners of the console migrating outward. The screws the hold the console to the floor are a good entry point for water into the wood core. The price is really right if the boat is what the owner says it is. Plus you are buying from the original owner which is way cool and very rare. The 78' 115 was a very good engine. Get a water test if you can and run it to see whats up. Check the gearcase for water, compression should be around 125 psi if memory serves. Maintenance records go a long way towards piece of mind and can tell you something about the owner. Get some pictures when you are looking at her and we will be on it like a chicken on a cheeto! Good luck, hope it works out!

[akbridge]

Buy it!!!  I have the same basic boat and love it.  It is a '71 and is original except for the paint.  It has a solid transom and deck.  Those old engines are thirsty, but they run.  Make sure the compression is within 10% plus or minus of each other.  Good luck with it.  Let see some pictures!

[RickK]

My transom is still original and solid. Go for it  

[gran398]

Welcome nax!

I'm with the rest of the group: Buy it, its only 1K.

1K is a forgettable weekend somewhere.

[feeling2damgood]

nax i have a 74' 170 and i paid 750 for mine. the transom is solid, the hull is straight, and the floor is just slightly soft.
the motor is a 76' johnson the runs like a champ but has a very bad drinking problem .
all i can say is buy it and take it out you will fall in love with her and if there is a problem you wont think twice about putting money in to her.