Aquasport, the first ten years – an initial history

[MarshMarlowe196]

Here's the first Aquasport ad I know of - pretty cool, huh?  Note it has the diver platform...  From the June, 1965 Yachting magazine:



See ya on the water!

Very Cool  8)

One thing I'm confused about-  Wasn't the 22-2 unavailable until the early 70's?  Or is this a drawing of the Flatback?

[RickK]

The "Diver" model  
http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2056/sort/1/cat/500/page/9

[GoneFission]

One thing I'm confused about-  Wasn't the 22-2 unavailable until the early 70's?  Or is this a drawing of the Flatback?

The 22-2 name was used from the beginning and denotes the overall length of the boat at 22 feet 2 inches.  "Flatback" is the term commonly used for the original, almost-zero deadrise models produced until around 1972.  The 12 degree deadrise hull came out around 1973 and replaced the old 22-2 (flatback).  The 22-2 became the 222 Osprey in 1981.  All the Aquasport models dropped the dashes for the 1981 model year - the 22-2CCP became the 222CCP, etc.  

Hope this helps - see ya on the water!

[MarshMarlowe196]

Yeah... I think I knew that.  :)   I think it was the profile of the boat in that drawing that was throwing me off- looks to me more like the 22-2 with deadrise  :pl:   But, I can see now the interior setup is a little different than the later 22-2

[gran398]

Very Cool  8)

One thing I'm confused about-  Wasn't the 22-2 unavailable until the early 70's?  Or is this a drawing of the Flatback?

Note that this first review reads "Power, twin".

As specified, twin Homelite 55's....but certainly not "lite" then.

Forgetting HP, shows that C & S's  industry-entry 22-2's were designed for substantial weight on the transom (twins), yet remained self-bailing at rest.

Although in recent years have been "modernized" with closed transoms, "mini" brackets, and high HP singles........the open transom Aquasport 22-2 remains per design "Classic Aquasport".


GF, thanks for digging this out...good stuff.

[gran398]

What follows is a first pass at the history of Aquasport boats over the first ten years of production. It probably leaves more questions open than it answers, but this is what I can document so far.  It’s a start in any case. Anyone who can put in additional pieces of the puzzle, please help us out! I am particularly interested in obtaining information about original prices (I have a few and will post them soon) and numbers of units produced for each model/ year.  And of course, we still have the period from 1976 through 1989 to cover. I think the best way to proceed is probably for me to ask Captain to also post the working history as a downloadable file, which I will update periodically. We will put a note in the blog when a new version is available.

Working History part One

In 1964, Fred Coburn and Lennox Sargent, a naval architect, form C & S and produce the first Aquasports, a 22’2” open, modified-vee hull, center console, outboard-powered fishing boat. The boat is an immediate success. Shortly afterwards (date unknown), Coburn buys out Sargent.

In 1967, the company changes it’s name to Aquasport, Inc.

In 1968, a 19’6” smaller sister to the 22-2 is brought out.

In 1969, Coburn sells Aquasport (still looking for the name of the new owners).

In 1970, Walt Walters (identified by Boating as “well-known for his offshore racing boats” (if anyone has any leads on that let me know) is commissioned to design a 17-footer for Aquasport.

In 1971, Walters designs a 24-foot model, an open like the other three, and also outboard-powered. All of the models are still with modified-vee hulls.

In 1973, Aquasport also offers the 19-, 22- and 24 –foot models with inboard/outboard power.

In 1974, the 22- and 24-footers are also offerd with inboard engines.

In 1975, the 22-2 is re-issued in a new version with a Walters design, still with a modified-vee. All of the boats are called “Open Fisherman”.

NOTE: at about this time, Aquasport also starts bringing out models with enclosed space or berths and even separate heads. I do not yet have precise information about the year in which each length “Family Fisherman” (erroneously called Cuddly Cabins) was first produced.

In early 1976, the 19’6” open is re-issued with a Walters design, so at this point all of the models are his. The 19’6” and the 22-2 are also out as Family Fishermen, the 19-footer with either an outboard or an inboard/outboard, and the 22-2 with an inboard/ outboard. As of March 1976, there are 15 different Aquaqsport models available (and 4 models are re-issues, so there have been 19 produced all-together to this point).

Current Aquasport models as of March 1976:
170 Open Fisherman, OB
19-6 Open, OB
19-6 Open, I/O
22-2 Open, OB
22-2 Open, I/O
22-2 Open, IB
240 Open, OB
240 Open, I/O
240 Open IB
19-6 Family Fisherman, OB
19-6 Family Fisherman, I/O
22-2 Family Fisherman, I/O
22-2 Family Fisherman, IB
240 Family Fisherman, I/O
240 Family Fisherman, IB

Take a close look....a clue to model/rubrail change, 74-75?

[Jon]

In my recent fiberglass shop endevours I dropped by J Ryan's fiberglass shop in Tampa. The owner was out and had a discussion with one of the guys there. He showed off their work on a boat he referred to as the original flatback called a Sargeant, which was a 22 footer and was for sale, all redone. Not sure if it is still there and i obviuosly cant back up the story, but there you go.

[GoneFission]

Jon - as you can see from the Yachting article above, the very first 22-2s were sold as Coburn and Sargent (C&S) boats.  Then Coburn took over (see Scott's notes above), and the Aquasport name was born.  So if the boat you are talking about is a '65 or '66, it would be a C&S, and could be called a Sargent if someone wanted to call it that, but technically is a Coburn & Sargent.

[ericfebs]

What is the history of the manufacturing locations?  I live just outside Bradenton, FL and I think they were built, at least for awhile, in this area.  Did they move to FL, out of FL, etc?

[seabob4]

What is the history of the manufacturing locations?  I live just outside Bradenton, FL and I think they were built, at least for awhile, in this area.  Did they move to FL, out of FL, etc?

After Genmar bought AS, it was moved to the Wellcraft plant at Old 301 (15th st E) and Whitfield Ave.  I worked there from '94 until May '00.  Might have built and wired that 225 Osprey you looked at at O'Neil's...

[slvrlng]

They were in Hialeah until 1989 I think.  

[rodman]

hello
i just joined
i bought my 1980 22-2 in miami at there plant in hialeah florida. 31 years ago

a tech that worked there still works on them at his wear house.
he has done all the work on mine .
i will ask him if he would like to talk to you.

[pete]

Rodman,
We would love to have him on here,bet he has some great aqua-knowledge and some great stories!
 

[Tx49]

I just purchased a an AS 240. It has the transom shown on the brochure pictures the 'funky a$$" one. From product brochures I have seen I thought 1971 was the first year of the 240 O/B CC. but mine is titled as a 1970. Now some of the younger folks might not remember when all cars came out in September of one year and were labeled as the following year. Could this be what happened to mine? does anyone remember when AS rolled out their new models? Was it fall of each year. I gues it doesn't matter, because I am going to title it as a homemade boat when I'm finished, but I'm just curious.

[gran398]

The "official" year of 240 Seahunter introduction was 1971. It is certainly possible your hull was built in late 1970, and titled as such.

The following article appeared in August of 1971. To have the full lineup of 240's available to the buying public at this time... tooling without a doubt occurred many months before.

Your Seahunter appears to be the earliest documented on Classic Aquasport