Stop Lurking and Start Posting!! Introduce Yourself Here!

[Jack Hart]

Hello all.  After hunting for quite a while I finally pulled the trigger on a 1971 22.2.  A real flatback!  I'm in Yankeetown Florida, the right area to run this boat.  It appears that at one point in the past the deck and stringers have been redone and and on first inspection the transom looks solid.  It has the original console mounted fuel tank and in general is rough but solid.  I've restored a lot of boats, but never have been as excited as I am about this one.  I'm sure I'll have a lot of Aquasport related questions and I'm hoping this is the place to find good answers.  https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/1398965_931142676896651_2025705903747888447_o.jpg

[dburr]

Jack that is a fine looking ride! Welcome aboard!!  

[Capt. Bob]

Hello all. I'm sure I'll have a lot of Aquasport related questions and I'm hoping this is the place to find good answers.

Welcome aboard JH 

Indeed, this is Flatback Heaven.

Ask away and start a new thread in the "FlatBack forum" when you begin your rebuild.
http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?board=39.0

Pics are required! 

Good luck. 

[RickK]

Hi Jack - welcome aboard  
As Dave said, she's a looker already - must be those nav lights.
There is at least one knowledgeable member in your town - Capt. Rick - he's a guide that did a bang up job on rebuilding his Aquasport.  You might know him.  Do a search and find his rebuild.
We have a bunch of FB rebuilds going on right now here - some active, some apparently on hold as life takes over their time.  You've done rebuilds, as you said, so you understand.

[CLM65]

Welcome, JH!  That is a nice looking boat!  I'm rebuilding a '67 FB just down the road from you if you have any questions

[stormtracker]

Hi all.
Another newbee here.
I found this forum while researching info on my newly aquired Aquasport 176 Family Fisherman.
I just picked up a 79 FF 176 boat and trailer for free.  No motor.
It needed some TLC but it cleaned up real nice.
Previous owner had started the transom replacement but never finished it.
Other than that it seems like an awesome boat.
I have a Johnson 88SPL that I plan to put in it for now.
I will be back here looking for advice on fiberglassing the transom in.
Very happy with it for free.

km

[RickK]

Welcome aboard KM - post some pics of her all cleaned up.

[Capt. Bob]

Welcome aboard KM.

By all means, post a few pics.

Good luck.

[stormtracker]

Thank you for the welcome aboard.
I posted a few pics in the gallery.
http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery ... 76&cat=560

[amazongreenie]

I discovered this site several days ago while seeking a supplier for new "canvas" for my 1971 Aquasport 19 1, which I acquired in 1974 or 1975 while living in New Orleans.

I used it to run offshore to the rigs for Red fish, kingfish and snapper. In 1979 I brought it to CT and moored it in Long Island Sound and used it for Bluefishing, stripers and flounder. I ran it to Block Island several times as well. The original power, a 120 Chrysler froze in 1982 when I loaned it out to a neophyte who didn't know the hot temp alarm was an alarm. So I bought a 90 HP Merc which is on it still today. In 1997 I moved to Bowling Green, KY where I am today, and use the boat in local lakes for bass and crappy fishing.

My first Aquasport experience was in the early 60's where I worked as a sport fishing guide as a teenager at Rybovich Boatworks and had an early 19 1 powered by 2 Johnson 3 cylinder 35HP engines each with a separate fuel and battery system to "safely" cross the Gulf Stream for snapper fishing, crawfish catching and bonefish poling. It was a preferred boat for bonefish with the casting platform we used for poling clients on the flats.

My recollection was the boats were hot sellers but the business partnership broke up when one factor wanted to expand the product line and the other side didn't. As a result the competitor Mako was born as a clone and a cuddy cabin was introduced in that industry segment. I eventually had to decide to keep being a fish guide/boat captain like my father (Capt. Sammy Collins) or go to college and become a desk jockey. Instead I went to the Merchant Marine Academy and around the age of 26 became a USCG Unlimited (Tonnage, HP, and Ocean) Master. But I never forgot my great experiences with the Aquasport. When I gave up the merchant Ships and came ashore for a job in Nedw Orleans, I ran into a classmate who had this Aquasport he bought new but seldom used it. It had just the pedestal helm stair and a 60 gallon Monel tank under the console and a trailer.

Other than some current instruments (VHF, Fishfinder, compass, portable GPS nav system, etc.) the boat remains basically stock. The railings have been replaced with stainless and the canvas needs to be replaced but it ran last week at 34 MPH at 5000RPM on the Mercury OB at a lake here near Bowling Green, KY where I am mostly retired. Few folks around here know what it is except to describe it as an ocean going boat among the low freeboard bassboatsI keep it on the trailer at my home in the garage.
 I will attempt to attach a recent picture.

Richard Collins
Bowling Green, KY
aka amazongreenie

[RickK]

Welcome aboard Richard - interesting story.   We've sure been getting a lot of 191 lately.

[Aquasport Commodore]

Hi Richard from one 19-1 owner to another

[Capt. Bob]

Welcome aboard Rich.

Nice intro and as such, I've moved it to the "Intro" topic in the Discussion forum.

By all means, please post up a few pics of your craft.

[bac0701]

Introducing myself, been meaning to for a few months but was really busy. I'm brandon I'm in NJ by the "shore". Im 26. Finally got my first boat at the end of the season in August. Been fishing in kayaks for years, sold my hobie and took some money out from my savings and bought an 84 osprey 22-2. didn't use it a TON but I've had some great days on it i can't wait ti get in in the spring again. have to get a few pics for you guys. Its pretty clean. has a bunch of drill holes in the console and generally all over the place for whatever reason. I will be patching it all up in the spring with some help from a friend. It had a fairly new T-top on chair on it that i Love. looks good.. engine wise its powered by a 96 suzuki 140, two stroke. Not a speed demon. does about 25mph @ 4200 rpm. I think i need to change the prop size. but will see. did some work and put two batteries in it and installed a fish finder. Pics to follow shortly.

[RickK]

Hi Brandon, welcome aboard.  Tons of members here with the same model.
One question -

It had a fairly new T-top on chair on it that i Love.