72 22-2

[clementsea]

I posted earlier this week under the 19-6 for sale on Cape Cod CL... now looking at a 1972 22-2 CC.  Power is mid 1995 Johnson 90hp.  I have access to the mech who has worked on this boat/engine since the re-built 90hp was installed, but haven't gotten that far yet.  Deck is "spongy" in one spot to the right of the CC, transom has gel coat cracks, but seller states that it seems pretty sturdy... new poly fuel tank, but no guage on CC, bow rail is pitted and loose, The seller is the second owner and has had the boat in family for 25 yrs...

Here's the question: is the 72 22-2 a flat back or a mid-vee 12 deg deadrise?  Also, will the 90hp get this boat "out of the hole" with any authority?  If the transom is OK and we do want to ski behind it, will the 90hp work, or will it be useless for skiing?  I will use the boat mainly for day tripping and fishing, but I know my kids are gonna ask to tube or ski... it'd be a shame if it wouldn't serve this function.  Thanks in advance for your help!

[Skoot]

More than likely it has a 12 degree deadrise (semi-v), we would need some pics.
1. will the 90hp get this boat "out of the hole" with any authority?  NO way!
2. will the 90hp work, or will it be useless for skiing? It would be useless for skiing

Id say minimum HP for this boat would be 125-135hp.

Did you ever get better pics of that 19-1 you were looking at?  If so post some pics.

[Dhadley]

Which mid 90s V4 is it? If it's a crossflow then it'll probably struggle even without a skiier. If it's a 60* looper you'll be much happier but may still be a bit of a stretch skiing even with a prop change. But much better than a crossflow.

[clementsea]

Scott,

Still waiting on pics of the 19-1 from my brother... I'm gonna pass on it... too many Q's unanswered.  My problem with this boat search is that I'm out in Colorado till May (each year), so I'm not able to go out and look for myself.  Frustrating... no one looks at things like the one spending the $$$!  I'll make the trip if I find something that looks really good.

I like the history on this particular 22-2 as a "one family" boat & would feel pretty comfortable buying it knowing that my plan would be to use it as is for a few seasons.  I could accomplish the goal of getting me & my kids out to some of the places my work skiff wouldn't go without any additional investment for now (my kids start college in 2 yrs)... I can probably sell my skiff for what I'll pay for the 22-2... I've thought about other CC's but they don't give me the sense of classic lines & history that these Aquasports exude.  I am definitely an old school guy... after 6 yrs in a plywood skiff, it won't seem right launching a non-classic... I'm sure that this is typical, but it seems that something's always just a bit "off" with each deal out there... the 19-1's engine was too big, this one's too small... I think I'd welcome a project 3-5 yrs down the road, but for now, I just need a boat that will get me out there without draining the college fund... I can look at improving the boat down the road (or not...)

[clementsea]

Dhadley,

No info on which engine it is yet... I'm waiting for the seller to send me the mech's info so I can ask...

One of the biggest reasons I'm on this boat hunt is cause of the cost estimate I got to convert my 18' skiff 30hp Tohatsu from a tiller steer to a CC... I got an estimate from the guy who built the boat for me ($1700 for parts!) and I was shocked.  Knowing that I want to get into a CC started the search.  Now I wonder how easy it might be to find a reliable engine to put on this 22-2 sometime down the road.  The skiff was my first power boat... Im much better making sawdust than I am at turning wrenches, so I don't have the confidence to repower the boat on my own... which means $$$$!

Do you think it would be tough to repower the 22-2 down the road?  Not sure how available engines are these days...

[love2fish]

".. I'm sure that this is typical, but it seems that something's always just a bit "off" with each deal out there... "

-The joys of searching for and owning a 30-40 year old boat.  Classic Aquasports are wonderful boats, but they are a lot of work. (Well worth it, but expect that going into it). Expect soft floors and less than rock solid transoms, some are useable with a future rebuild needed. Just have a reliable mechanic check the engine before you buy.

"Im much better making sawdust than I am at turning wrenches, so I don't have the confidence to repower the boat on my own... which means $$$$!
Do you think it would be tough to repower the 22-2 down the road? Not sure how available engines are these days..."

-Use this website- there is a TON of info on here and by far the most helpful and friendly group of members on any forum I have ever read.  There are multiple examples  of rebuilds of pretty much all of the classic aquas's.. and with each one, a pretty solid formula for what to do and what to avoid.

Good examples of: electronics, power, layout, and cosmetic repairs and refits are on here.

Good luck with the search and keep looking- you'll find one! (and probably within a day or 2 of finding your's you'll see another great option! HAHA!)

[Curious]

During my college years in the early to mid 90's my buddy had a 70's Aquasport 22-2 flatback center console.  He bought it with twin 50 Evinrudes and promptly blew one of them up, replacing the twins with a new (leftover, can't remember the year), Johnson 112 Special.  With two or three of us in the boat we did a lot of kneeboarding and waterskiing behind that boat.  It did struggle a little bit to get a full size guy up on skis and get on plane at the same time.  I remember there was a lag time of 3 or 4 seconds when starting out, but it really wasn't too bad.  The 112 was basically a 90/115, maybe someone who knows them better can chime in.  We did everything from skiing to catching a 300 pound blue shark in that boat about 15 miles south of Nantucket.

I currently have an 1985 18' Wellcraft center console with a 1986 90hp Johnson on it and it moves right along fine, for comparison.  

If you can afford it, what about buying both boats, switching the motor out and selling the 19 with the 90 on it?  You could probably make your money back pretty quick.

[clementsea]

Curious,

Hmmmmm, didn't think of that one... that's a great idea.  Both engines are Johnsons.  I wonder if the brackets, etc. would be interchangeable.  Should work.  I'll let you know what happens!

[fitz73222]

Curious,

Hmmmmm, didn't think of that one... that's a great idea.  Both engines are Johnsons.  I wonder if the brackets, etc. would be interchangeable.  Should work.  I'll let you know what happens!

Hey Clementsea,
Here's some history-
The original OMC (Johnson/Evinrude) bolt pattern actually dates back to 1959 with the introduction of the V4 50 HP. Engines produced between 1959-1972, 50hp and up, utilized a set of slide in brackets that stayed permanently mounted to the boat and two cross pins held the engine in place. Come winter or for what ever reason the engine needed to be removed; you removed the cross pins and hoisted the engine off. slide brackets remain. Come 1973, OMC redesigned the mounting brackets and kept the bolt pattern. So hence, the slide in brackets were gone and the current form of mounting system became standard including V6's in 1976. Mercury and Chrysler had their own unique bolt patterns that made it difficult to change from OMC to their brand without re-drilling and filling the OMC holes. Someone at Mercury figured out that the way to sell more outboards was to match OMC's bolt pattern and beginning on or about 1979 Mercury matched OMC's pattern, then Chrysler/ Force and Yamaha in 83'. So every outboard today and models produced in the last 25+/- years has the original OMC bolt pattern dating back to '59. (Not sure about the new giant 300 hp+ engines, but for this discussion it doesn't matter) The point is; if you want to switch to another engine that was produced since the early 80's; the holes will line up. Of course; controls, harnesses, shift and throttle cables are different between brands with the exception of Johnson or Evinrude which are identical engines except for paint color and trim. So there is the history of the bolt holes and why they are that pattern.

[clementsea]

Fitz,

Thanks!  That's great info...

1 motor is a 1985 Johnson Seahorse 175hp.  The other is a 1995 Johnson 90hp (I don't know the model, will find out)... If they are the same make, just different horse power, I'm wondering if I can just switch the engines out.  Of course, I can swap out the controls, cables, wires if I need to, but obviously, it'd be easier if I could just swap engines.

Follow up:  The compression results for the 175hp show "90" on each cylinder... is there a place to find out what the compression should be for that engine?  Thanks!

[fitz73222]

Fitz,

Thanks!  That's great info...

1 motor is a 1985 Johnson Seahorse 175hp.  The other is a 1995 Johnson 90hp (I don't know the model, will find out)... If they are the same make, just different horse power, I'm wondering if I can just switch the engines out.  Of course, I can swap out the controls, cables, wires if I need to, but obviously, it'd be easier if I could just swap engines.

Follow up:  The compression results for the 175hp show "90" on each cylinder... is there a place to find out what the compression should be for that engine?  Thanks!

You should be able to the swap without issue with respect to harnesses and control cables and mounting bolt pattern. They were both VRO (variable ratio oiling) but the remote oil tanks and lines may be different so they may need to swapped assuming the VRO is still hooked up and working. There must have been 4-5 revisions to that system between 85'-95' because of issues. The 85' 175 was a Looper engine and had lower compression than its predecessor cross flow design. The compression is correct for the model. Loopers and Cross Flow refers to combustion chamber design.

[clementsea]

Sorry, want to make sure I understand...

You're saying that 90 psi is a solid reading for the 175hp Johnson?  Thanks!  

Without everyone's guidance there's no way I'd tackle this double purchase and swap... can't thank you folks enough!

[fitz73222]

Yep, 90 psi is OK for the 175. The best news is that they were all the same reading; no real high or low numbers. I will just add this note: The compression reading is done with 4-5 compression strokes, not just cranking the engine until the gauge stops climbing. This should also be done with the throttle butterflies held wide open.

[clementsea]

Fitz,

Thanks for the clarity... just spoke with the seller and we reached a deal... thanks again for your help!!