Why do YOU like Aquasports?

[Glock Diver]

Thought I would poll this informed group to see what opinions we get.  

Aquasports are discontinued, most likely not to be manufactured again.  They have plenty of critics if you read the "other" boards out there.  Yet Aquasports have a cult-like following of happy boat owners (myself included), who really like them and think they're great boats.

My question is, WHY?  What about the boats make them special, great, or superior, compared to the competition?  

[fitz73222]

I really like the early 1973-75 Osprey V bottom design and top cap. There is no other boat that looks like them. I really like the upward sloping lines almost like a panga style. I had the opportunity to work for a dealer that sold them in the early 70`s plus I spent my teens and 20`s in them. I always thought they were a well built boat, light and fairly fast for the time. They may not have been the strongest of the strong but I always felt they were in the the top 5 in market segment and they really were the first to mass produce the first center console boats we know today. Aquasport really created the market. My 73 22-2 is still a head turner to this day, she is a well worn original boat. Plus I`m beginning to see these boats as an investment now. Values are definately beginning to rise for the older models in nice orginal and restored condition.

[seabob4]

The look, the style, the functionality, the construction, the fact that you got a lot of boat for your money...and I built them!

[polski2]

Well I have to say I have never heard of an Aquasport before 1-10-10. Then I saw one for sale and I remembered how I always wanted a center console, you know you drive standin up. So I bought it for the kicker motor and the kicker ended up being what an awesome boat this was. I was fortunate to get one that is like new. Its like time travel. Only better its real. I have always had aluminum boats and a sore back. Hoping this will be the end of the sore back. First boat was fiberglass, 1970ish Herter with a 9.9 paid 850.00 for it in 81. Then in 89 I bought a 16.5 Smokercraft with a welfare motor. Yep a mercury 25hp some times it work and most the times it didnt. In 96 bought first new boat, 170 Stacraft with 125 mariner, No surprise motor still suc@%! The boat has been pretty good and has held up well or so I thought. Until I brought home the the new( almost new) 1975 Aquasport . This thing kicks azzzz for quality and appearance.

[Marcq]

For me it was the lines of the boat, looked like a real fishing boat. Second, was this site. Third, where I come from, my boat is one of a kind :)

Marc..

[woody]

I was looking for a good center console in the 20' range . I had a friend who knew a guy with a '74  19-6 that he wanted to sell . The seller needed some cabinetry so we did a barter .He got the cabinets and I got the Aquasport . When I saw the lines of the boat I was hooked . This was in the early 90's . Ran the boat and worked on it for years  . Sold it , bought a whaler , used it for a couple of years , found another deal on a 175 AS and now working on it and using it . I love the Classic AS site , the people , the info , and the good feeling of belonging to such an elite bunch of cool people who share the same interest in a great boat . Why do I like aquasports ? Like putting on a good comfortable pair of shoes ,  just feels good .

[seabob4]

I was looking for a good center console in the 20' range . I had a friend who knew a guy with a '74  19-6 that he wanted to sell . The seller needed some cabinetry so we did a barter .He got the cabinets and I got the Aquasport . When I saw the lines of the boat I was hooked . This was in the early 90's . Ran the boat and worked on it for years  . Sold it , bought a whaler , used it for a couple of years , found another deal on a 175 AS and now working on it and using it . I love the Classic AS site , the people , the info , and the good feeling of belonging to such an elite bunch of cool people who share the same interest in a great boat . Why do I like aquasports ? Like putting on a good comfortable pair of shoes ,  just feels good .

Can't say it any better than that...

Bob C

[Circle Hooked]

My boat is 13 this month,got it new,back then there wasn't an equal boat out there for what i paid for my boat,and to match that quality again in a new boat,I'm scarred to think what that would cost so i will keep her and maybe give her to my son down the road.

At 13 no problems knock on wood except for a stern light bulb or 2 and the work I'm doing now to her is because i want to not that i have to,heck just changed the bilge pumps and the old ones still work,so to me that sounds like a quality boat all day long.

[Beerpilot]

Just bought a '74 22-2....just like the one I used to "borrow" from my girlfriend's parents back in 1980.  Did someone say "time machine"?  Fond memories, if you know what I'm saying!   Now I have to sell my AS 175....don't have room for both.  Wife said "don't", if you can believe that.

Great Boats.  Well built.  Extremely versatile.  Simple, yet very attractive....hmmm....starting to sound like the perfect woman....

I have it in my "Last Will and Testament" that I am to buried in my "95 Suburban (250k miles, original engine and tranny, runs like a mf!).  Now I'm gonna have the 'Burban placed on the 22-2, which it will carry easily, no doubt.  Head it west out of Gordon's Pass, mash the throttle, and light that sucker!

[miky2884]

My current boat and my last boat are both Aquasports. I had a 1979 20 ccp last and dear god did i love that boat i still dream of it at night wishing i had both boats. That hull was such a solid hull i felt like i could go anywhere in that boat and always felt safe. I currently have a 2000 215 explorer. I needed to step up a little to something with a cuddy. I stumbled on my current boat in a local magazine and the guy who owned it was looking for a smaller boat and a center console. So there the deal was made i felt liek the day i brought my old boat to pick up the new one kinda a bitter sweet feeling, but however i do love my current boat haven't seen a boat the size of mine with as big of a cabin and still have the cockpit size it has. You surely get every inch of that 22 feet out of it. My wife and i go away for up to a week at a time on it staying very comfortable (as long as we are marina hoping) 2 days on the hook is plenty long enough. All in all im happy with the Aquasport line of boats here are a few pics of my last girl, id love to stumble across this boat again!

[gran398]

I just wanted to be like the other guys, my new Florida cousins......so I put my money where my mouth is(was).....

When I was 15, I learned how to ski behind a 19-6. It had a 135 Evinrude V-4, biggest motor around at that time....well, maybe Merc had a 150, don't remember. It was a great-running boat though.

Then a guy here in town last fall had a fully restored '85 ice blue 19-6....it was a looker, took a ride, rode like a dream. Was hooked.

Then Skoot found my 22-2, which is still in layaway....going to pick it up in 3 weeks.

Great board, great people, lotta sincerity here. Welcome and enjoy!!

[slvrlng]

Hey gran did you ever get a trailer?

I like the way the early 70s look. The sheer line is hard to find in a modern boat. I agree, almost like a panga style. In their day you got a lot of features for not a lot of money.

[RickK]

When I bought my 170 I partnered in with a friend way back in '88 and it was "just a boat", a 17 yr old boat.  

It had some nice lines and a fishability unlike the boats I'd had before. We worked on it, fished it and it

grew on me. The partner sold his half to another friend, we worked on it, fished it and it grew on me some

more. The new partner ran into financial problems and I bought him out. Then I worked on it, freshened up the

look of it, put another motor on it, fished it and now I had something to be proud of - not only in looks but

this is an excellent boat for inshore and one that anyone can take out by themselves with no problems.


I've added some amenities to it over the years and another motor


- don't think I'll be parting with her any time soon.

Then I wanted a little bigger boat so it would be more comfy for my wife and it never crossed my mind to get

anything other than another Aquasport - was in my blood now. Wasn't parting with the 170 though - just an

addition to the family.  




{if anyone wants to see how I did the linked thumbnails, just click quote and you see the codes.  Another "feature" built into the forum - been holding back on ya }

[Glock Diver]

Dumb rookie question here:

What does CCP stand for?

[gran398]

Cap'n Rick, thanks for the new tricks. ...and enjoyed your story from way back, sounds like we all share the same great memories. Thanks.

Lewis, found a nice galvanized float-on tandem here in town, Shoreline '03 model.  My trailer guy is getting it ready for the haul. Four new wheels, tires, bearing assemblies, brakes, lights, etc. Frame clean and rust-free.  Light duty use, purchased for a 22 Whaler, but infrequently used. Probably doesn't have 100 miles on it, but after 7 years, the rubber, etc. is questionable, especially at such distance. So gonna change it out.  

1610 mile round-trip, mostly I-95. Think could be a contestant on "How far did you travel for your Aquasport?".

Not crazy about 95, even on the best of days.

Lewis, spoke with Skoot today, he told me how you found the Time Capsule, and urged him to buy it.  He did the same for me. Good stuff. Hope you guys have a terrific time at the reunion!