I just bought a 1852SF about a month ago...from my internet search, it seems that they discontinued that particular line, but they still manufacture many others at their plant in TN. They were put out by Pro Craft, which was bought out by the Tracker Marine Group in Missouri in 1988.
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2008 Stingray 185 LX, Volvo Penta 3.0/135HP I/O. Finally bought a new boat!
I just picked up a 1988 Astro (Astroglass?) 160 Bass model with a 1989 115HP Merc from my Mom-in-law. I'm looking to find some info about them as well.
This thing is going to need some repair (mostly cosmetic) before it's ready to go back in the water again as it's been sitting on the trailer since 1999.
Good luck finding an owners manual, etc. The original manual was so skimpy it was nearly useless - just generic stuff on safety, trailering, etc - almost nothing specific to the systems that came with the boat.
Astro and ProCraft are basically the same boat - minor cosmetic differences - the usual manufacturer's dodge to promise a dealer an exclusive dealership for Brand X in a geographic region....then turn around, build the same boat with a different nameplate and let the dealer's neighbor sell it as Brand Y! At any rate, if you can't find anything on your Astro, try the same search for ProCraft.
Anyone know if they were bought out or just folded?
BOUGHT MY 1998 1850DC BOAT BACK IN MARCH OF 1999. HAD A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS WITH IT WHEN I FIRST GOT, TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES ,FINALLY GOT THE BUGS OUT. I HAVE ENJOYED THE BOAT TO THIS DAY. MY WIFE AND I GO FISHING ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND. THE ONLY TIME SHE DOESN'T GO IS WHEN IT'S 45 DEGREES AND BELOW, BUT I'M STILL OUT THERE FISHING. I THINK THEY QUIT MAKING ASTRO'S BACK IN 1999. SAD BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT BOAT. HAD NOTHING BUT GREAT LUCK WITH MINE. THERES NOT A LOT OF THEM DOWN HERE IN HOUSTON,TEXAS. SORRY IF I'M RAMBLING ON............
I have a 1990 Astro Quickfire 18FDX bass boat with a Mercury BlackMax 150 XR4. I love this boat, I bought it from a friend who won it in a bass tournament. I have owned it since basically new and have had very few issues. I have rebuilt the trim pump once and replaced one oil feed line, 2 water pumps and 2 tune ups in 18 years!
It runs great and will top out at 78 mph (high "5" SS prop) (GPS) on a light chop and no head wind, always starts on the first crank.
The Astro bass boats were some of the first to come from the factory as a complete boat/motor/trailer/electrics "ready to fish" package. I have been struggling over selling this boat recently due to my lack of fishing time and higher fuel costs (although this boat is easy on gas). I've also been offered a ridiculous amount of money for it.
Its a full tournament equipped boat with dual everything and fishes more like a 22' boat instead of a 18'
I don't have a picture up yet, but I have been saving up and finally bought my first true bass boat. I'm in college and try to fish as much as I can, so finding a 1998 Astro 18 bass boat with a Mariner 150 EFI for $2500 was a godsend. I had to get some motor maintenance done and there is a two inch hole in the hull that I have to fix, but overall this is a good boat.
I love the shape of the boat. It's almost designed like a Ski boat, but decked out for bass fishing. There are a few electrical problems I have to work out as well, and was trying to find some sort of wiring diagram for the boat. It's surprising that these boats were in production so long, and no one makes a repair manual specifically for them. If you do a google search on astro boats, you get the websites of a few people who are selling them, but not much else. It's like they dissappeared off of the face of the planet.
I sent an email to tracker boats to get some more information, and I'll post again if I get any useful information.
Astro boat owners
Re: Astro boat owners
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