Just curious.........

[Miguel]

..... how many of us are owners of 170´s or 175´s????
I´ve seen a couple of new arrivals around in the galleries.  Please post if you own one, and let the rest of us know your impressions.
I´ll start:
1985 Osprey 170 with a 1993 Mariner 115.  I love the boat.  It is extremely versatile.  My fishing takes place in Panama, where options abound.  It is easy to trailer and works OK in most conditions, from shallow water to offshore on calm days.....
Only thing I don´t like is the relatively shallow V, which makes it pound a little (or a lot) in headseas.  I read someone on THT, who owns a Genmar made 175 that trim tabs work wonders and make a heck of a difference.  I would love to hear from the knowledgeable experts on our forum.

[JimCt]

Hi Miguel!

Mine's an early 70's 170.  No modifications from the original factory issue.  I agree the hull pounds but I suppose that comes with the territorry.  Just a guess, but maybe AS was most concerned with having a shallow draft hull considering  they are Florida boats where there's a lot of shoal water fishing. But with a shallow vee comes pounding.  All hull forms are a compromise.  I think they succeeded very well with their designs in balancing the needs of fishing with some degree of sea-keeping qualities.

I enjoy my boat for what it is; a good utility bay boat with ample open space. They'll tolerate being pushed hard with big engines and are safe, though wet, in reasonable seaway.

[RickK]

I'm in...
I have a 1971 170 that I've owned since 1988.  First had a 150 straight 6 Merc on it (read "fast").  That was replaced with a '88 rude 110 and recently replaced it with a rebuilt '98 115 johnson.
I enjoy the design and it's ability to get in pretty skinny water. Mine will float in about 6 inches of water if you can keep her level. She's a great bay boat and I've taken her out to 10 miles although it was scary having only 8" of freeboard in the aft end. Won't do that again.
They really made these a stout boat back then - you can push in on the hull at any point and there is no give - try that on a new design.
Things I'm sure they've improved over the years:
Stability - my boat is 6ft wide at its widest and from that it is not very stable.  While cruising I can actually steer the boat by moving 1 ft port or starboard from center.  As long as you tell your passenger about this so they stay centered, it's not a big deal.  I think the newer designs must be wider.
Dryness and wave entry- a sharper v in the front would help cut through the waves better (no pounding) and a curve in the upper sides of the front would help throw the waves it cuts through off to the sides farther making it a dryer ride.  My boat has barely any curve to it.  I'll have to look at my neighbor's new one and see what they did.
Overall, I'm happy with her.  I've invested a lot of my life in this boat and she's served me well.  I take care of her and she returns the favor.  (Of course my wife doesn't understand the relationship. )  I've only been stranded once by the boat and that was because the choke in the key shorted out so that the motor wouldn't start.  Was an easy fix.  If I decide to get another boat, I'll probably still keep her for the bay, there may be some better boats for the bay out there but not by much.  

[Anonymous]

Hello, I have a 1988 170 Osprey with a 130 hp Yamaha that I have owned since 1989. I have  taken her everywhere from the Fla. Keys (over 600 miles from my house) to freshwater lakes and rivers. I have fished inshore reefs, and bays and also freshwater lakes and rivers. My two daughters now 20 and 23 literally grew up with this boat. We have fished, skied, scuba dived, together and there is no way they would ever let me part with her. So many of our family memories are associated with our boat that I really can't imagine what our family would have been like without her. I had owned several type boats when I began to research what would be the best boat for my young family back in 1989. I needed a boat that trailered well because I knew that I would use this boat in several different bodies of water. I needed a safe boat that was well built and would hold up under ocean use conditions. I also needed a boat that could be used for water sports and also fishing. I knew that I didn't want a boat that had a lot of high maint. interior items that would deteriate quickly. I also knew that I wanted a boat that had a "classic design" that would not age.( I fiqure you guys know what I mean :).  Well to make a long story short my list of potential boats got very short with the 170 Osprey at the top. When I brought her home in 1989 our whole family immediately fell in love with her and we still consider her to be a part of the family. I can honestly say that buying that boat was one of the best decisions that I ever made. I can't wait to introduce my grandchildren to the family boat one day..

[Mr. Osprey]

What's up guys,
I've got a 1984 170 Osprey powered by a V4 1984 Mercury 75hp. It's a great boat that I've done a lot of work on these last few months. Took off the origanal blue striping(since it already came off on one side) and did a new boot in black. Looks pretty good with new boot and finished wood. Right now the steering is out because I stripped it and am in the processes of replacing. The 170 is a great overall boat. I use it mostly for wakeboarding, tubing, fishing, sking, and more tubing in Orleans on Cape Cod. Great hull but is very hard and wet in choppy seas. Great classic boat that you can use for about anything.

[Gipper]

I just picked up a 1974 17 that had been submerged in Long Island Sound for a week.  It came with a 1973 Dilly trailer and a 1984 Johnson 90hp V4.  First task was to remove the OB and put it on a stand in the garage.  I'll cover the boat until the weather warms up.  In the meantime I will completely rebuilt the V4.   Picture are already posted.

[Miguel]

C´mon guys....  Keep them coming.....
Mr. Osprey.  I´d really like to see that new black boot.  Do you have any pictures?

[RickK]

there's gotta be more than 6.....

[JimCt]

Last time I talked to Deckdaddy he had one... real nice one with the original stern boxes.

[Miguel]

You are all going to make me eat my words.....  I tought there were more of us owners of 170´s around......

[Reasons]

Just brought home a 1986 17 with a 1989 115 Merc, T top ,leaning post, GPS, Depth finder, salwater washdown and a killer stereo. What is the difference in the 17 and 175?

[Bluesbrother]

He He, I bet there are more 19.6-200 owners

[JimCt]

Bluesbrother, did AS make as many 170's?

[Anonymous]

I bought my first AS in the spring.  Its a '74 with a 1990 mercury outboard.  great shape, bought from the original owner believe it or not.  still has the green rub rail intact, in fact, its in great shape all around.  minimal spider cracks in the get coat around the transom, but nothing serious.  I love it and can't wait for spring, which can't come soon enough here in frozen new england.

[Deck Daddy]

Yep, 1973 17' with a 90hp yammy and the original stern boxes redone. I have owned the boat since 2001. Bought it from a kid in south Miami When I lived in Hollywood. Great boat tops out at 33knts with 2 people and gear. She has been a great boat, fished from Ft Laud to Key West and all over Cape Cod and the Islands. Picked her up as a handy man special. Put many hard hours of elbow grease into her and she has never let me down. She is a bumpy ride at WOT in a chop, but throttle back some and she smoothes out some. I kept the stern boxes because they give me more storage and a live bait well if needed. All in all she is a pretty good all around boat. Even caught in 4-6 foot seas I felt just as safe as if I were in 24 footer. But after 5 years I still have 2 foot envy. So to cure all that I want a 22'2 or 20 ft WAC. But we shall see what Uncle Sam has in store for me first.