New to the forum and 170 club

[akbridge]

I just bought a new to me old Aquasport.  Its the 170, I am having trouble dating it.  It appears to have the earlier style front hatch, two scuppers down in the rigging well and tank above the sole.  So I think it was produced pre 1972.  I got it for a steal of a deal.  Engine needs to be replaced, I have a spare that fits, and a nice aluminum trailer.  The boat is solid (transom and floor) and mostly original.  All for $800!  So I am in the process of repainting it and giving it some much needed TLC.  Anyway the plans are to repaint, repower, jackplate, move the batteries up to the console, hyd. steering and enjoy the girl.  I will try to post pictures when I think to get the camera out.  By the way I am located in Lakeland if anyone want to come by and help sand ?

[Marcq]

Hey, welcome to ClassicAquasport, you'll like it here for sure  
Post many pics of your new acquisition

Marc..

[RickK]

Welcome aboard akbridge  :!:  :!:
You'll find that you've purchased (stolen   ) a great little fishing boat.  I've had my 170 since around '88 and wouldn't part with it.
What you're describing and the estimated date is about right.  Do you have the rear cleats in a recessed area in the liner right at the transom?
Be careful what you do to alter the CG of the boat - putting a jack plate with any setback to speak of may cause you problems since there is already not much boat between you and the water at the transom (maybe 8"?).
Post some pics so we can see your loot.

[akbridge]

I do have cleats recessed at the transom.  I will post pics hopefully this evening.  Its not much to look at right now.  Bare hull and a lot of parts in my storage shed.  I was thinking of CG with the jackplate, that's why I am moving the battery to a hatch in the front of the console to compensate.  My old man had a similar boat back when I was a kid and I always loved it.  I am looking forward to getting her on the water.  As I said before my floor and transom are solid (I can jump on the cavitation plate and the transom doesn't flex or move), but I have cracks in the old gelcoat about an inch from the top.  I think it is a filler material that has shrunk over time?  Does this sound right?

[striper 17]

Welcome akbridge Ive had my 170 about a year and a half and love it. Whay kind of power are you planing on using? mine came with a 125 merc a little much but it makes out running a storm easy. I also live in lakeland havent seen many aquasports around here. Good luck with the sanding and looking forward to the pictures.

[akbridge]

I have a 1992 90 hp evninrude that I am rebuilding to go on it.  It will be set up for a little bit of speed.  Boysen reeds, low water pickup, and I might mill the heads for some more compression.  Where are you at in lakeland?

[RickK]

I do have cleats recessed at the transom.  I will post pics hopefully this evening.  Its not much to look at right now.  Bare hull and a lot of parts in my storage shed.  I was thinking of CG with the jackplate, that's why I am moving the battery to a hatch in the front of the console to compensate.  My old man had a similar boat back when I was a kid and I always loved it.  I am looking forward to getting her on the water.  As I said before my floor and transom are solid (I can jump on the cavitation plate and the transom doesn't flex or move), but I have cracks in the old gelcoat about an inch from the top.  I think it is a filler material that has shrunk over time?  Does this sound right?

Sounds like you have a '72 or late 71
Mine doesn't have them but '72s do.

[striper 17]

I live on the southside near geico and the airport. That 90 should be a great motor I had thaught about selling mine for something smaller but decided I would keep it we sometimes go tubeing and knee boarding so the extra power is handy.

[SC170nFL]

Welcome aboard. lots of good info on this site. My 170 is in Punta Gorda. It has a 140 Johnson looper which keeps the sculpers under water due to the weight. It still runs the flats fine once on a plane. Had this boat about 15 years and still love it.

[akbridge]

Good to see so many Florida folks around here.  I am also on the southside, might need to meet up and check out each other's rides sometime.  Here are a couple of pics of her current state.  



Like I said, she is all torn down and waiting more sanding and some painting.  Someone had repainted this old boat once and did a bad job.  They even painted the rub rail.  It will be worth it when its all done.

[RickK]

Doesn't look too bad. The rub rails are originally green "hued" and I think I've seen blue also.  I made the mistake of replacing mine thinking there was something wrong being green and all - THEN I found this site :(  Oh well.  She'll be worth the work.

The 170/175 family is HUGE here, so there's lots of help when you need answers.

Welcome aboard SC170nFL  :!:  :!:

[bamafaninfl]

Welcome to Aquasport.com looking at your pics I would say it is about the same year as my 170/1977.

[Marcq]

Welcome to Aquasport.com looking at your pics I would say it is about the same year as my 170/1977.

I believe it's closer to 1969/70 http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery ... 550/page/1
Marc..

[RickK]

I think 70 is the first year. If you look at the docs we have they refer to "c"1969 so it's a guess.  Also the earliest we have shows the cleats on top of the gunwale (like mine), not in the notch like his. Also the consoles were different back then - mine does not have the seat built into the front (nor does the pic in the docs) and the outline of a console that does is on the floor of his boat. '72 did have such a console.

[akbridge]

Well the boat is registered as a 1972.  But the HIN starts with a "c".  As for the cleats and console, your guess is as good as mine with what people might have added over the years.  Also the boat originally came with a single captains chair and someone added a cooler seat later in life.  So I figured it was produced pre 1971 roughly because of the front hatch, fuel tank, and serial number.  Thanks for everyone's input.  I will most likely start a post in the buildup forum and show my progress.

Andrew