ID My Aquasport

[daniel123]

Guys,

I have what is titled as a 1974 170, but going over the old ads and reading some info here, such as the guy who is rebuilding what he has learned is a 1974, the features don't match what I have on my boat. Mine has:

-an above floor fuel tank that is filled through the top of the console.
-a forward raised deck with a single "well" that opens from the front and top.
-a plastic ID badge on the inside of the transom that reads serial #C 600, Max HP of 85 and max load of 950 lbs.
-the title has the boat ID as MCZ052410987; is that a hull ID#? I can't find a hull ID# plate or engraving, but may not be looking in the right places.

Can you help me ID my Aquasport? In the meanwhile, I'll try to create a Photobucket account and post photos.

Thanks!

Dan

[flounderpounder225]

Guys,

I have what is titled as a 1974 170, but going over the old ads and reading some info here, such as the guy who is rebuilding what he has learned is a 1974, the features don't match what I have on my boat. Mine has:

-an above floor fuel tank that is filled through the top of the console.
-a forward raised deck with a single "well" that opens from the front and top.
-a plastic ID badge on the inside of the transom that reads serial #C 600, Max HP of 85 and max load of 950 lbs.
-the title has the boat ID as MCZ052410987; is that a hull ID#? I can't find a hull ID# plate or engraving, but may not be looking in the right places.

Can you help me ID my Aquasport? In the meanwhile, I'll try to create a Photobucket account and post photos.

Thanks!

Dan

Dan
From the HIN, the first three letters MCZ indicate a Michigan Homemade Boats, like someone applied for a homemade title at some point.  http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic1 ... z&sort=mic maybe the original title was lost.
Marc

[pete]

pics would help

[RickK]

Before '72 HINs were not required.
My 71 has a single hatch in the front, but the liner matches a '70.
What you're describing could be a 71/72?  Do you have little recessed pockets in the back of the boat for the cleats?
Pics would certainly help.

[GoneFission]

Maybe someone can help, but this post is worthless without....

Pictures!

[catndahats]

Welcome to the 170 club Daniel,
Mine is a 1970 model and has the following:
- above deck tank that fills through the console top.
-raised forward deck with a single storage area that opens on the top and across the front.
- Seriel number on a metal plaque is something like C-114.
* if yours says C-600 on the plaque it must be newer than mine.  If you could see the stringers, the pre-'72 boats have 3 full length stringers (no place for an under deck tank).

Post photos <said with a smile>

Guys,

I have what is titled as a 1974 170, but going over the old ads and reading some info here, such as the guy who is rebuilding what he has learned is a 1974, the features don't match what I have on my boat. Mine has:

-an above floor fuel tank that is filled through the top of the console.
-a forward raised deck with a single "well" that opens from the front and top.
-a plastic ID badge on the inside of the transom that reads serial #C 600, Max HP of 85 and max load of 950 lbs.
-the title has the boat ID as MCZ052410987; is that a hull ID#? I can't find a hull ID# plate or engraving, but may not be looking in the right places.

Can you help me ID my Aquasport? In the meanwhile, I'll try to create a Photobucket account and post photos.

Thanks!

Dan

[Capt. Bob]

OK all you 170 cult owners, here's three pics. Help Dan out if you can. Thanks!







She's sporting green rub rail if that helps.

[RickK]

Looks just like my 70/71.  Same console although I know my windsheild is not factory. Does your console have a built-in seat in the front? If so, that's 71/72.
My tank fill is on the other side of the console. Liner looks the same too.
Now about those cleats in the back - in a notch out or mounted on the top of the cap?  If they are in notch out, that happened it seems in 71/72.

http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/data/500/68straps_in_place.JPG

http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/data/500/68boat_afloat3.JPG

You can see the cleats on the back of mine are on top.
http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/data/500/68boat_afloat2.JPG

[gran398]

Sweet!

Great work guys, good pics R and B. Beautiful boats. And they run good too. A friend's 170 AS outran my 20 Simmons in most conditions with regularity back in the 80's.

Dan, that V-4 'rude...very clean.

[c master]

Incidentally, I'm very happy about my 170's DOB...April '75.  I'm choosing to believe it was completed on my 15th birthday (April 25th) which admittedly was a Friday, but that's ok. Maybe all they did that day was roll it out of the shop, into the bright Florida sunshine.

[daniel123]

Folks,

My apologies! I've been monitoring my "new messages" input box all week waiting for replies -- and just today figured out, by a comment from Capt Bob, that replies to posts are not listed on that, and that I had to go back to the original post to read responses. Duh. (What chance do I have of figuring out how to post photos based on that?) Luckily, Bob just posted my photos (Thanks, Cap'n) so please take a look and comment.  The cleats ARE recessed, btw. If anyone wants to use my email address below and get me yours, I will email more photos.

Also, the photos here show the a Fishmaster Folding T-top which I installed for an article for Trailer BOATS magazine. I love it, but that said, I may remove it, for it seems to make the 170 footer's center of balance a bit higher and a bit tippy side to side. Any thoughts? Do 19-6s and 22-2s have a broader beam and maybe better suited for an after-market T-top?

Also, the two deck drains/scuppers are placed right in front of where the outboard engine's lower unit comes down the outside of the transom, and so are not accessible form the back of the boat. With the weight of the 115, they are underwater msot of the time,a nd I'd love to be able to put those one-way drain valves on them but can't in their present position. Any ideas? Does their location also lend any insight as to what year the hull might be?  

Thanks for all the input, guys. Keep it coming; I really want to know how "young" my boat is and the 1974 on the title is sounding like a shot in the dark!

Dan
armitage@wowway.com

[Capt. Bob]

Dan,
Start here and work through the different 170s.
http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery ... hp/cat/539

Next go here.
http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery ... hp/cat/512

You probably have seen these but read through each year of 170 we have. Also look at the sales brochures and you can get specs for the different models. You will find that the early 70s 170 have the same specs you listed. Also note the ads and how the same ones are often used between years. Remember, Aqua used inventory up and we have seen boats that were cobbled together from existing supply rather than make another run of say, "caps". The most interesting thing for me is seeing the different variations on the models.

Lastly,
Variance of a year is not unusual and paint, decals, and add-on parts (console, seats, tanks etc.) can and do vary from time to time.

Good luck and send me some more photos.

[RickK]

Remember the HIN only applies to the time of actual title not necessarily the build date.

Is that backwards CB?  The HIN is molded into the boat when built.

[Capt. Bob]

Remember the HIN only applies to the time of actual title not necessarily the build date.

Is that backwards CB?  The HIN is molded into the boat when built.

I'm not sure it's molded as part of the building process. It appears to me to be stamped into the gel coat. I really don't know how they do it but I always thought that when the boat was ready to ship/sell from the manufacturer, then it was stamped. I thought it had to do with the idea that a boat builder could have unsold inventory at the plant and holds off adding the HIN till that time.

I thought I read somewhat that the Coast Guard started requiring builders to stamp models within a certain time frame of completion because some were selling older models as new. That was around 2009 I think.

[RickK]

SB to the white phone....
I think they put a plate/ metal tape with the HIN inside the mold and then start the layup of the hull.  When they pull the hull from the mold - whalla, there she be on the starboard outside of the hull (and a hidden spot under the rubrail too)
That being said, I agree with you and don't think it was uncommon to buy a '70 model in '71 and they title it as a '71 (I think that is what happened to mine, but everything I can find point to it being a '70 model because the '71 had different features)

You can see the outline of the plate/ metal tape in this pic?