2014 Aquasports?

[gran398]

Am all about the reintroduction of the brand. Every Hydrasport have ever been on rides like a dream. Including the old splatter finish hulls.

Certainly won't hurt our cause as owners. New models mean brand recognition, which in general should favorably impact existing Aquasport value

[seabob4]

Indeedy, Scotty.  Using the H-S hullform, we all pretty much don't have any surprises there.  But would really love to see what they do with the cockpits...

[gran398]

Agree. In in 2014 terms, the cockpits are outdated. The gunnel appearance too, especially with the spring line cleats imbedded in the gunnel cap.

The good news is the basic liner mold is in place in terms of fit. It's the last 15% that could use an update.

They should be able to retool the existing molds, per model, pretty reasonably...if they have their demand/sales projection figures correct or close.

[seabob4]

The great thing about re-tooling deck molds is pretty much the sky's the limit in regards to what you want to do...it won't affect the performance and handling of the boat 1 bit...unless, of course, they tool in some sort of 500 lb. hunk of glass whatever all the way to port!

For some reason, I think the most interested bunch of boaters interested in how this is all going to play out is...us.  Sorta wish I was back in the business, see what all the "players" think...

[gran398]

Bruce called last night, and in terms of cockpit input....may well be that Aquasport owners could be enlisted

Bruce, heckuva job bro!! :rendeer:

[dburr]

My vote would be a 222 and 245 CC with the CCP hull and a Flatback/early Osprey cap.  The lack of extra glass above the rub rail really emphasizes the sweep of the sheer and makes the hull look fine and sweet.

Miss D style..

Also how Chris faired the cockpit carlin (that is actually what that vertical piece on the washboard is called) in the stern is a real keeper too on a closed stern..

[seabob4]

Dave, keep in mind, with the use of H-S tooling, the hull is pretty much set in stone.  Also keep in mind the "visual" that the sheer creates, part of that being the deck.  The vector hulls need some glass height over the sheer to create the visual.

To the knowledgeable boater, the "new" Aquasports will be Hydra-Sports until they see the graphics...then probably a little head scratching will occur.  I re-wired an H-S 2390 a couple years ago, still have some pics.  It will be interesting to see how the Aquasports version differs...

[gran398]

Dave, thanks sir

Agree. The hull design,  deep vees included, maintained pretty lines.

Where they went jiggety was adding twelve to eighteen inches or so to the gunnel cap on some models  to increase freeboard. Rather than heighten the hull mold to increase freeboard, they did it with the liner/cap. Certainly understandable from a monetary standpoint, but on some, aesthetics got lost in the shuffle.

Wouldn't it be cool to see these hulls reintroduced with a very distinctive and recognizable 70's Aquasport sheer? Maybe by retooling the liner/cap to give similar lines and appeal. Edit after post: exactly as SB just suggested.

Wish Skoot would return and visit. He is an excellent graphics engineer.

We had a good chat a few days back....will bring this thread to his attention.

This should be fun, the new AS

[seabob4]

Here's an excellent example of the H-S 22 Vector...



Has similar looks to the 205 Osprey...

[seabob4]

Now here is the 20 Seahorse, obviously, a completely different hull than the Vector series...



Last but not least, the 23 Bay Bolt...

[dburr]

Dave, keep in mind, with the use of H-S tooling, the hull is pretty much set in stone.  Also keep in mind the "visual" that the sheer creates, part of that being the deck.  The vector hulls need some glass height over the sheer to create the visual.

To the knowledgeable boater, the "new" Aquasports will be Hydra-Sports until they see the graphics...then probably a little head scratching will occur.  I re-wired an H-S 2390 a couple years ago, still have some pics.  It will be interesting to see how the Aquasports version differs...

Understood... It's just me dreaming.. The whaleback sheer looks good on BIG fish boats and Rybovich's and the like.. I just am a little too biased by old style Downeast sheer that C&S used in the early boats.  Every thing I have ever work out of had carlin/washboard heights just above the knee, all that much easier to haul gear over.  Hence my bias to low sheer.  That and I LIKE the BW step side banana hull.  

Doesn't say much for my taste I guess..  

[wingtime]

I'll bet they had fun polishing that dang "Z" out of the hull molds!  

[seabob4]

Bruce, no need to.  The lightning bolt is flush to the rest of the mold.  When they laid up the hull, they taped off the bolt, shot it with black gel, waited until it reached a certain Barcol reading for hardness, pulled the tape, then shot the hull gel.  Didn't want the bolt?  Shoot the whole hull, it won't be there...

[Capt. Bob]

Well looks like they picked someone with Aqua experience (I may have missed this earlier )
Seems this was in the making for a while. Maybe helped facilitate the sale.

http://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/10/1 ... _president

[seabob4]

Excellent!  Well Bruce, you spoke to the head weenie the other day!  Doesn't get any better than that!