Aquasport w/150 Johnson vs Century w/150 Yamaha... need opinions 9-22

[brian8980]

OK, whats the opinions on these two..

1. 1997/98 Aquasport 215 Explore w 150 HP Johnson Ocean Pro with 450 Hrs.  Very clean boat, already rigged to fish.  Has new Fish/dept finder and GPS. new T-Top with canvas cover, enclosure and costume deck cover. Has rocket launchers on T-Tops with spreader lights. boat is going for 12500, 13500 with trailer.  in a slip until Nov 1

2. 2003 Century 2100WA w 150 HP Yamaha saltwater series Ox with 160 Hrs. Bimini top and enclosure. fish finder and GPS. barely used and is selling.  needs a good cleaning on the outside. asking 14000 with trailer.

I am looking to fish with the boat of choice that i get, i like the first one but the hrs on it scare me.  i would have to put some money into the second one with a possible canvas  t-top or radar arch with rocket launchers and lights. not sure what to do.   any ideas 

[Noworries2009]

Asking too much for the Aquasport of that vintage unless I'm missing something. Always like Yamaha over the older Johnsons. 03/ Yamaha vs. 98 Johnson is a no brainer 

[brian8980]

I think so too, but it has new canvas on it, new t-top, and fish finder.  only reason i think it might be worth that.  thought those johnsons were bullet proof, but i hate the fuel usage on them.

[CapBob]

Both are good solid boats.....but I would take the Yammi over a Johnson any day.

Pricing on the Century seems a tad better...everything depends on what extras are on the boat, wear and tear, overall condition.

Remember 2 things:

1.  It is a Buyers Market!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Do not get all hot in the pants over a boat and let it cloud your judgement! Go over the boat throughly from the Keel up. Ask to see maintanence records!

[brian8980]

The aquasport has all the rocords and well is spotless.  The own is a real fishing nut (a good thing) and has taken great care of her.  He was honest about everything and well has alot of extras, i wouldnt have to do anything to the boat but maintane it.  The Cerntury own is a fist time owner and doesnt have all the maintaince records and well hardly used the boat and just wants to get ride of it.  the boat needs a few things to really be a good fishing boat.  needs a cleaning very badly.  i also would get a slip til nov with the aquasport and not with the century.   has anyone fished off a centruy and how is it?

[Noworries2009]

My advice would be to keep looking  Don't trap yourself. If you have the money, you're in charge. Fall is always a buyers market 

[wb]

Asking too much for the Aquasport of that vintage unless I'm missing something. Always like Yamaha over the older Johnsons. 03/ Yamaha vs. 98 Johnson is a no brainer 

could not have said it any better

but remember, 450 hrs is not that many if it has been well maintained, and,

if the owner is not cleaning the boat regularly what else is he not doing regularly?

[IrishAyes]

450 hours is not a lot of hours at all. I put over 1500 hours on my 2 stroke Yammie before replacing it with a 4 stroke. Was still running strong with that many hours but I wanted the 4 stroke. I have 660 hours on my 4 stroke and this is only my third year with it. Maintenance is key.

Don't know if that would compare with the hours you can put on a Johnson...not that Johnson!  The outboard...

[Still Running]

I just got a price for an enclosure and was told it cost about $4000.00.  That's something to think about.

I don't know about an outboard, but 450 hours on a car engine should put you around 20,000 miles on the engine. A car engine with that kind of mileage is nothing.

[brian8980]

Took a closer look at the Century and all it needs is a good cleaning, waxing, and did i say cleaning.  besides that there is almost no where at all on it, besides a few marks where the windshild meets the boat on the port and startboard side.  engine runs nice, has all the maintance paper work on it, its a yahmaha salwater os66 fuel enject with 154 hrs on it.  boat comes with 06 trailer.  my questions is, it is ~ 3500 or a bit more loaded so how might the ride be in some chops when fishing?  it felt light walking on it compared to the aquasport which is ~ 4200 laoded.  the aquasport shows signs of wearing on it as well when i took a closer look.  im not getting hot in the paints, but the idea of buying a almost new 2003 21 boat with trailer for about 14000 isnt to bad to fish with for a few years, even if it rides a bit rough.  all i need is a fishing arch with spread lights and rocket launches  .  anyone know anything bad about the century or yahmaha around that year, 03

[Maritime Matt]

There are a bunch of these OMC 150's in the marina that I service and they are good motors.
The Yamaha OX motors are good motors but they are fuel and oil thirsty. Also the oxygen sensor must be maintained as well. I personally would take an Aquasport over a Century. Why would a person put a dirty boat up for sale? I see this often and its one reason why they sit unsold.
Stray Cat, a member on here has a nice Aquasport for sale. Always fished and maintained. For the money you can't go wrong. Matt.

[L.T.]

I have a 1988 Century 21' Cuddy with a 260 Mercruiser I/O It weighs 4500lbs dry.  Old school wooden deck and reinforcing.(Wish I had a glass deck though) Great wave cut IMO. I will tell you this: Century is owned by Yamaha now. I don't know when that happened for sure, might have been in the mid to late 90's

[Stray Cat]

Another good thing about the aquasport its completely glass, no wood in the stringers,deck, and transom.