New owner 1986 222 CCP (pics added)

[Hardwater]

Hello all –

I’m in the process of completing the purchase of a 1986 222 CCP with a 1988 2.4L 200hp Mercury Black Max.  You folks at this website provided a lot of very valuable research information prior to the pre-purchase inspection in terms of what to look for, what to inspect, etc.  The Aquasport rebuild section gave a very clear picture of construction practices and materials – and was a big factor in the decision to buy.

This particular hull/motor comes from the second owner in north central Minnesota, the Gull Lake area north of Brainerd/Nisswa, who stored the boat inside.  The original owner – so I’m told – was a doctor from Racine, Wisconsin, that dry stacked the boat at a marina in Sister Bay (WI) in Door County on Lake Michigan.

The hull and motor have 184 hours on the meter, and a first hand inspection sure seems reflect that.  For a 22-year-old hull there were a lot of positives inspecting the boat…and a few things that were not so positive – but things that can reasonably be addressed.

Anyway, thanks for the time and effort all of you have put into this site.  It has been incredibly valuable to me.  For someone who was not very familiar with the history and build quality of Aquasports, I'm convinced that this is going to be a great rig to work with.  While I’ll have some questions in the near future, I hope I can contribute back - at least somewhat - in the long run.

Thanks again.

[RickK]

Welcome Aboard HW  :!:  :!:
Seems we've been hearing a lot about CCPs lately.  Sure have a bunch of members dedicated to them 8)

Glad we could help you out - you never think about the lurkers that are invisibly gleaning all the data and experience from the family.  Glad you became visible and we appreciate the response (or at least I do ).

Good luck on the purchase, sounds like she's just getting broken in.  Oh, and be sure to post some "boat porn" for us.

[Hardwater]

Thanks for the welcome, Rick, and all of you here did help with the decision to buy.  Before committing to something like this, I want to have a good understanding of just what I’m getting into before taking the leap.  There is no other source of information on Aquasports out there that has the level of content found here – and man, did I look.

Not wanting to jinx the deal, I held off on any posts here until things became more certain.

I checked out this boat the first week in March.  There were clear blue skies, no wind and a daytime high around 8 above zero on the drive to north central Minnesota  –  actually a nice day.  That may sound like a twisted cry for help, but everything is relative (':roll:').  We were coming off a run of very cold weather and the temp inside the steel storage building had to be a good 10 degrees colder.  Bottom line is it was not the kind of day for firing up the outboard.

The owner is now retired.  He and his wife were at their retirement home on a small island off Puerto Rico, but with good cell phone service we were able to talk about the boat while I was looking it over. Then again, he could have been sitting at a bar in Nisswa for all I know (':lol:').

Right now, the deal is done pending a professional check on the outboard – the usual compression, leak down and lower unit pressure tests to start.  Everything may be fine but engines are built to run, not sit.  Extremely low hours can be harder on a motor than high hours, depending on maintenance.  The check out should be done in the next couple of weeks.

I’ll try to post some pics within in the next day or two that were taken during the pre-purchase inspection.  They’re not the greatest, but give some idea of the boat....and the information below is listed with fingers crossed.

[GoneFission]

Welcome to a new (at least prospective) 22-2CCP owner and good luck!  I hope your deal works out for you - sounds like this could be one of those "hidden jewels" you find once in a while.  Let us know when you get the boat back home; we'd be happy to provide some advice as you are prepping her for a early spring outing!  

We've all got our fingers crossed for ya!  Oh, and your motor is amost identical to the one on my boat...  
 

[Hardwater]

Thanks, Gone Fission.  I hope it works out, too.  Your forward tackle locker and rod holder installs are great ideas...but there I'm starting to get the cart before the horse.

The motor is the main concern and it may check out just fine.  The current owner has a fairly good set of maintenance receipts, a definite plus.  This will be my first Mercury in the 2.4L/2.5L series and I'm very interested in knowing more about maintenance, performance, fuel consumption, reliability, etc.  Hull maintenance and rigging are on the plate, too.

With two ‘kids’ at the University of Minnesota–Duluth, our summer plans include some lake trout (if we're lucky, salmon) fishing on Lake Superior – a beautiful body of water that has its ugly moods.  It’ll be fun to put that 19 (20?) degree deadrise hull and outboard to work only when they’re ready, and the offer of first hand advice to get there is really appreciated!

[jdupree]

Welcome :!:   If that CCP has been in dry storage some or most of it's life I bet it looks great :!:   Can't wait to see the pictures.  The CCP's have a great ride and you will enjoy it :!:

[Hardwater]

Thanks, John!  I'm taking a shot at posting photos...here goes....

The photos are not very good...cramped storage building with the owner in the middle of a move.

Port/bow with Minkota trolling motor visible.  I would have preferred no bottom paint since it will be trailered.  Hull is solid white/off-white. Was the tutone hull an option upgrade

Starboard/bow.  Never cared for painted steel trailers or all roller trailers so I hit the daily double on this one.  


Starboard view.  The trailer is not right for this hull.  Rearmost rollers sitting at least 2' ahead of transom.  A tongue replacement and brake line extension will be needed.  Upside - four new Goodyear Marathon radial tires.  Notice there are no 222 CCP graphics.  Was that an option?  And what is that stainless steel 'guard' at the transom on the gunwale?


Transom view.  Meter reads 184 hours on the 1988 2.4L Mercury 200hp w/stock aluminum prop - professional engine check pending.  The Bennett tabs are a plus.


Aft teak seat - standard, option or modification?  The teak has never seen oil or varnish.  The condition of the teak supports the claim that the boat has "always been stored inside".


Helm/console shot.  One of the two Big John downriggers that are included with the boat is visible in the lower left.    

Bow shot.  Cushion condition indicates minimal use.  Canvas for bow dodger/forward shelter is dusty/dirty but doesn't show much sign of use - same applies to the bimini canvas.  Don't care for the way the mast for the GPS antenna is mounted - VHF antenna on the ohter side of the console is mounted the same way.  It seems grab rail mounts would make more sense - easier to reach from the controls and it would have eliminated holes in the console.

[jdupree]

Great looking rig :!:  :!:  :!: and it has the coffin box Nice cushions on the coffin box :!:

[GoneFission]

Some answers to your questions are embedded below:

Port/bow with Minkota trolling motor visible. I would have preferred no bottom paint since it will be trailered. Hull is solid white/off-white. Was the tutone hull an option upgrade  
Answer:  The "Tahiti Tan" was an option, but most folks would not consider it an upgrade...  The off-white hull is preferred by most.  

Starboard/bow. Never cared for painted steel trailers or all roller trailers so I hit the daily double on this one.   Starboard view. The trailer is not right for this hull. Rearmost rollers sitting at least 2' ahead of transom. A tongue replacement and brake line extension will be needed. Upside - four new Goodyear Marathon radial tires. Notice there are no 222 CCP graphics. Was that an option? And what is that stainless steel 'guard' at the transom on the gunwale?  
Answer:  CCP decals were an option for this year, and some of us think the boat looks better without them.   Regarding the trailer, you may want to see what you could sell this trailer for and buy a replacement that fits. The stainless guard on the transom was an aftermarket add-on - not original or an Aquasport option.  But it could prevent dock rash...   Looks like the owner really treated this boat like a pet - and I love pet boats!    
 
Transom view. Meter reads 184 hours on the 1988 2.4L Mercury 200hp w/stock aluminum prop - professional engine check pending. The Bennett tabs are a plus.  
Comment:  Motor looks good; you will want to get a 19 pitch stainless prop - maybe keep the aluminum as a spare...  Check the cap on the oil tank - they sometimes crack - especially of over-tightened - that leads to a big oil leak under the cowl.   Oil injection on these engines has been very reliable if the hoses and clamps are in good shape.   :)  
 
Aft teak seat - standard, option or modification? The teak has never seen oil or varnish. The condition of the teak supports the claim that the boat has "always been stored inside".   The teak seat is a mod and looks pretty good - hey you could even put cushions on it like SteveD did in Italy.  Agree that boat has been stored and well cared for.  Minn Kota is a fresh water model - be careful if you use it around salt water.  
 
Helm/console shot. One of the four Big John downriggers that are included with the boat is visible in the lower left.  

Bow shot. Cushion condition indicates minimal use. Canvas for bow dodger/forward shelter is dusty/dirty but doesn't show much sign of use - same applies to the bimini canvas. Don't care for the way the mast for the GPS antenna is mounted - VHF antenna on the ohter side of the console is mounted the same way. It seems grab rail mounts would make more sense - easier to reach from the controls and it would have eliminated holes in the console.  

Comment - Cushions look good and the canvas is a pretty rare option on CCPs.  I would be interested in seeing the forward canvas up and in place - maybe even some dimensions so someone could reproduce it...  It is typical to mount the VHF like this, but most folks mount the GPS antenna on the console...  It least it is symmetric - one on each side...

Overall this is a hell of a nice boat for its age, and it really looks turn-key for the most part.   I don't know the price, but replacement cost would be about $60K for a new one (if you could get it...).   I would guess you are getting about 90% off!  
 

See ya on the water!

[damnitbadger]

Nice Find!

[Hardwater]

Again, thanks guys.  Original plan was to get it into a shop this weekend...but more snow on the way...this year the winter is goin' down fightin'.

Appreciate the answers.  Agreed on the trailer…that’s eventually the direction to go.  For right now I’ll get the next wall thickness up in 3x4 box tube steel, go about 2.5-feet longer than the current tongue, have at it with the drill press, prime, paint and get a longer brake line and it oughta work fine for this summer anyway.

Read your post on performance of the High Five 19p prop vs. a 3-blade SS on virtually the same hull and motor.  Very interesting!  That’s one I wouldn’t have considered right away.  To be honest, I was expecting great hole shot and a performance drop-off at top end – but the numbers looked good!

I was a little surprised on the comment about the forward canvas.  Looking at the 1986-87 all model brochure in the Gallery section, the 222 CCP page has a small picture at bottom-right that shows one with full canvas.  I got the idea it was either standard or a common option.  If the weather ever cooperates and we can finish this deal, I will definitely post measurements with photos for reference.

[GoneFission]

Regarding props - 3, 4, or 5 blades?  I think I would go for 4 or 5 on the 222CCP with the 200 - gives a better hole shot than a 3 blade.  But - and this ain't no trivial matter - price does come into play!    You can often pick up a 3 blade stainless 19 pitch (very popular pitch BTW) for $100 or so on eBay or at your local marine supply/salvage.  A 4 blade will usually cost more, and the 5 blades are fairly hard to find used.  Check out eBay's listings and you'll see what I mean:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... category0=  

I looked for quite a while to find the 19" High Five - but I was also moving from a shifter prop that retailed for $1000     I knew I could sell the "old" prop for several hundred bucks, so I didn't mind spending a couple hundred on the High Five.  I got it for $260 and sold my Power2 shifter on eBay for $285.  So it was basically a wash for me.     I am very happy with the High Five - very efficient and a good hole shot, and it runs 43-44 MPH top end with it at 5400 RPM.

[DOCREED]

"It is typical to mount the VHF like this, but most folks mount the GPS antenna on the console... It least it is symmetric - one on each side... "

regarding GPS antennas....
If they are under canvas they will work well in good weather, but when the canvas gets wet in lousy weather when you need the GPS the most it MAY lose the signal.
The setup on this boat keeps the WAAS antenna in the optimum locatation for a good signal.

there is my 2 cents

[Hardwater]

Finally…the deal is done!  Engine checked out in great condition – and Ill be picking it up within the next couple of weeks.

GF – After seeing the performance numbers you posted, I’ve been looking at the Merc four & five blade props…Revolution 4, High 5, Trophy Plus, Maximus.  When it gets closer to buying, I’ll move this to the Engine & Electronics section.

Doc – You’re right about this mount keeping GPS antenna in a good reception position.  Whether the GPS/VHF mounts are on the side of the console or grab rail, either one is kind of a problem with canvas up in snotty weather.  The goal is to complete the canvas adding a section to tie the forward shelter to the bimini, adding side curtains as well as either a drop curtain or ‘slant-back’ enclosure.  We’ll see.

Thanks again, everyone….really looking forward to this next ‘new’ boat.

[DOCREED]

This what happens to a boat that is operated in fresh water only and kept in a shed all winter.------It looks like new after all these years..