I stumbled across this site several months ago and have been reading it regularly since then. I finally registered last week to post a smart ass comment about a boat description on ebay where someone stated that their model Aquasport had the motor in the back of the boat. I thought that was unique.
Anyway, I've been searching for a used CC knowing that I didn't have the cash in hand until I sell a dump truck that I own but don't use anymore. I've been looking at Aquasports, Wellcrafts, and older Mako's in the 17' to 21' range. I usually fish the Ohio River for catfish, Lake Cumberland for stripers, and I kayak fish in Florida with one eye pointed toward the bays and Gulf.
While searching Craigslist on Friday I stumbled across this add for an AS 19-6:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/boa/785813206.html The pictures are just blurry enough to hide any problems so I made the 4 hr drive to check it out. For $725 I now own a 1977 Aquasport 19-6 project hole in the water that I can throw money into.
For being 31 years old the hull is in decent shape. The floors are solid and the transom feels the same. I plan on drilling some test holes in the transom to check it out before hanging a motor on the back. When the dealer took it in the boat had a 40 hp tiller and a smaller tiller motor hanging on the transom. They actually bought it for the motors. The boat must have been owned by an older man that trolled the Detroit River and Lake Erie he didn't go anywhere fast. I guess the top cap got chalky so he painted it with a brush. He also refinished the teak gunwale caps with a couple of coats of brown paint for that 'classy' look.
Yesterday I peeled back some brown gunk around the fuel tank access panel and removed the panel. I found the tank area completely foamed, and full of water. I could also smell fumes which I hoped were due to the hoses being in pretty sad shape. After digging out the foam, the tank looked pretty good until I hoisted it out with an engine lift. I found 2 holes in the top which began leaking out the 40 or 50 gallons of water/gas mix which was in the tank. I now get to make a donation to the local hazardous waste recycling center and search for a new tank. The fun begins.
Sorry for being long winded on my first post. While I search for an outboard and other incidentals what is the going price for a new 50 gallon aluminum gas tank?
