Ex-Aquasport/Wellcraft employee (Bob C)...

[Duke]

Thank you Rick. I hope that any one that has info about this problem would give there two cents.

thanks
Rob

[Plumbobber]

Seabob4,

 What is your opinion on this boat? I know it was built way before you worked for Aquasport but do you have any insight? I've been looking at it online but have not contacted the owner yet because of the price. Other than the price though... what are your thoughts? Thanks!

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/boa/1115288336.html

[GoneFission]

That's a nice-looking 246CCP!  Look closely at the helm seats - see how they are slightly tilted toward each other?  That is often a sign of a soft gas tank hatch/cover.  Not a big deal to fix, but you can probably count on replacing the tank as well if it is original.  

Soft decks toward the bow, tank corrosion, and tank harch/cover are the main things to look for in a 70s or 80s CCP.  

Wire corrosion can also be a problem, so look on the back side of the instument panel and see how the wiring looks.  The instrument panel has been modified a good bit - switches moved and wiring changed.  Look under the console at how the wiring was handled.  It also looks like the batteries have been moved - under the console?

[Capt. Bob]

That boat is strangely familiar to me; rebuilt by someone on this forum maybe?  

[RickK]

That's a big fishing machine     Pricey though.

[Plumbobber]

That's a nice-looking 246CCP!  Look closely at the helm seats - see how they are slightly tilted toward each other?  That is often a sign of a soft gas tank hatch/cover.  Not a big deal to fix, but you can probably count on replacing the tank as well if it is original.  

Soft decks toward the bow, tank corrosion, and tank harch/cover are the main things to look for in a 70s or 80s CCP.  

Wire corrosion can also be a problem, so look on the back side of the instument panel and see how the wiring looks.  The instrument panel has been modified a good bit - switches moved and wiring changed.  Look under the console at how the wiring was handled.  It also looks like the batteries have been moved - under the console?

Thanks for the info. According to the ad the tank and wiring were replaced in 1998. I think it is a awesome looking boat, ahead of it's time. I don't know the owner and I am not going to buy it. I just love older boats (I had a 1966 Chris Craft Roamer that I restored back in 1992) and I think this is a great example of someone else who shares the passion. Just curious about it's structural durability at this age.  

[GoneFission]

66 Roamer?  Steel or Aluminum?  Steel I would guess.  I had a 63 Constellation - 13,000 lbs of mahogony - beautiful boat, but a little maintenance-intensive...  Those old Chris boats were great examples of workmanship, and rode the water like no other before or since.

[Plumbobber]

66 Roamer?  Steel or Aluminum?  Steel I would guess.  I had a 63 Constellation - 13,000 lbs of mahogony - beautiful boat, but a little maintenance-intensive...  Those old Chris boats were great examples of workmanship, and rode the water like no other before or since.

Yep, steel hull. I think she was around 15,000lbs. It's still cruising the Great Lakes, I think Erie.

[kroberson6]

had a question about a 1997 245 osprey,  the live well on the back , does it have a recirculating pump or does it just have the fill end empty switch?.  havent had  this boat in the water yet  and wasnt sure.  Also the fuel guage is showing full when empty any ideas where to start.?  Everything else seems to be in working order.  Are there any issues with this model boat  that i should be aware of?  thanks kevin

[Capt. Bob]

 Also the fuel guage is showing full when empty any ideas where to start.?

Assuming you're talking about the electric gauge, does it show full when you turn on the ignition switch? Does it move at all?
Sounds like a faulty sender in the tank.

[kroberson6]

yea  I was talking about the electric fuel guage

[Capt. Bob]

yea  I was talking about the electric fuel guage

Well it sounds like the sender in the tank is shot.
The combination of humidity and fuel vapor play hell with the unit.
Remove and replace.
Make good connections at the tank and gauge and you should be good to go.

[Irish Rover]

Bob,

Quick questions - If I ever need to replace the fuel tank on my 1999 245 Explorer can I just cut the deck along the lines between the seats?  I figure this outline looks like exactly where the tank is located.

Also has anyone that you know of ever put a kicker on a 245 explorer or a 24' hull and if so what size engine did they use.  I am trying to figure out what size engine I would need for small depth creeks and ditches.  We do a lot of crabing with the kids in the New Jersey marshes.

Thanks again for your input.

Judd

[Capt. Bob]

Bob,

Quick questions - If I ever need to replace the fuel tank on my 1999 245 Explorer can I just cut the deck along the lines between the seats?  I figure this outline looks like exactly where the tank is located.

Thanks again for your input.

Judd

That's where it resides on the older model Explorers. Hopefully Seabob can confirm. I thought I read a post he made recently about tanks, with the smaller boats using a tank that wasn't aluminum. Maybe it was this thread.

[GoneFission]

I've seen kickers on 24 footers from 6 to 15 HP.  8 seems pretty popular...

Hope this helps - see ya on the water!