I just bought a 2000 aquasport 215 osprey, 21' dual console, with a 2000 evinrude 200 hp outboard. I have 3 questions, all of which I'm embarrassed to say I don't know the answer to!
1) Is this a good boat? or a bad buy?
2) Can anyone tell by the ser. number on the motor what type it is? (2 stroke? 4 stroke?) ser.g04793661
3) what type of trailer should this boat be on? I think it should be a dual axle.
The dry weight of the boat is 3215 lbs.
1) Almost any boat can be a good boat, and all most any boat can be a pile. Generally speaking I believe that is a sound hull. That's the most important piece, as all of the other stuff can be replaced and is generally the same from boat to boat. We'll help you keep her a good one. Just needs TLC her whole life. Not sometimes, all the time.
2) Repost that question in the JohnnyRude forum below vvvv dive captain, dive . . . oooooh gaaaaaah. Hopefully a 2 stroke Ocean Runner? Maybe a FICHT?
3) Tandem axle with brakes. Period. You are probably over 5K lbs all up with that combo.
Aquasport is a great boat. I've had an 18' CC for a number of years with a Johnson 115, and its a solid rig. For the most part, construction is all fiberglas including the stringers and the transom. Hope you enjoy yours as I have mine.
don't run the engine until you know what it is, and learn about mixing fuel and oil. And as you learn about boats, keep this in mind: A boat is like and unlike a car, just as a horse is like and unlike a motorcycle. You are in a whole new world, I started to say after the steering wheel but even steering is different! be safe, be cautious. But you will be OK b/c you started off asking questions; it's the ones who don't care about what they don't know that end up broken down or as casualties.
If you don't know the difference between a two stroke and a four stroke engine I suggest you not even look at the key until you understand what it is you bought. Failure to understand this can result in a very expensive learning experience. Just a hunch here but I think you have an Evinrude, it is a two stroke engine, and it is a much hated FICHT (that's techno speak for an early direct fuel injection system). Here is the short version.
Two stroke engine: Requires a mix of fuel and oil (called OIL injection) or if that auto-mixing feature has been removed as it often is, you MUST mix two stroke outboard oil (branded TCW-3) on the container at a ratio of one pint per every six gallons of fuel. If your engine is a FICHT, it is also FUEL injected (direct fuel injection or DFI to be precise). You do not have to change oil on a two stroke. Run these engines without oil and I hope you have a lot of extra bucks in your piggy bank.
Four stroke engine: These engines are just like the engine in your car. It has an oil pan, a dip stick, valves, timing belt or chain, and you do NOT mix oil and fuel. It may be FUEL injected or carbureted. You DO check dip stick for oil level just like you do (or should do) on your car at each fuel fill up. These engines also require frequent oil and filter changes.