my craigs list find, but what model is it????

[Kramer44]

Hope someone can help me here:

I just bought this 18.5 foot Sylvan, and I am trying to identify the model, and get the specs. I have exhaustively searched the web and even called the sylvan factory, have ruled out the "supersporster" model as it had a livewell.

Here is what I know, and some pictures.

1) it is a 1985, the coast guard tag next to the driver seat says model Number is: "18 SO A" and sylvan marine, Paris IN
2) there are two numbers on the transom one is "150561" and the other is "SYL05831A585"
3) the floor has recently been professionally replaced so the seats are not original. there was no live well, but the shop that did the floor thinks there was a storage compartment
4) there was some kind of platform between the two rear seats, just in front of the motor.


Any info is appreciated. If anyone has stock pictures of this boat, I would really like to see what it looked like when new. I have searched with Google and not had any luck.

Thanks

David in NY

 

[NHGuy]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

Nice boat! I don't know diddly about Sylvans but I just wanted to wish you luck with your new-to-you water entertainer.
The floor & interior look good and roomy. What will you use her for, fish, kids & tubes, swim station?
Have fun, that should be a good, economical to operate, ride.

 

[Beefer]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

NADA lists the following 18' Sylvans for that year:

OFFSHORE - 18'; RODMASTER CTR CONSOLE - 18'; RODMASTER SIDE CONSOLE - 18'; SPORTSMASTER - 18'; SPORTSTER - 18'; SUPER SPORTSTER - 18'

So it should be one of those. Your guess is at good as mine which one though.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

Nice boat! I have an 80 something Rodmaster, I think it's a little older than yours. The transom shape is completely different as is the seating, but I'm not sure if that's just because mine is older. Is that the original splashwell? When I redid mine I searched craigslist postings across the country to get an idea of what model it was and what it used to look like. Good luck, it's a nice boat, mine has served me well.

 

[Kramer44]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

Thanks for the input guys - to answer some of your questions--

NH guy - as far as what we are going to use it for - fishing, swimming, tubing skiing and anything else that gets us out on the water. Sold the last boat (15 feet, not a bow rider and only 40 hp) to get a larger bowrider with enough HP to allow us to ski.

Beefer = thanks for the tip, I have not checked the Nada site. Boat actually measures 18.5, but I think it would fall under the 18 footers on the list.

sublauxation - You described exactly what I have been doing, searching for a picture of what it used to look like. I believe it is the original splash well. I can't find pictures anywhere however.

David in NY

 

[sublauxation]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

I have dozens of pics of Sylvans. None have a decent shot of the inside plus the side where you can see the name. This is the best I've got. You mentioned storage, the one with tan interior has storage right behind the drivers seat. Mine originally had the same thing except it was a live well. I'll look through some more and see what I can find.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

Here's the tan one.

 

[Kramer44]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

thanks for the pictures, I really wanted to see the layout and those are great shots.

David

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

That 70 hp Johnson should be a good reliable motor and push it pretty well being it is an aluminum boat.
Those seats look exactly like the Wise brand premium seats i put in my last boat.They cut about 100 pounds off the weight being the old wood frame seats were heavy and the Wise have molded plastic frames.
A little carpet work and that will be a good looking rig.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

Found 2 more, hope they help.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

Mine does 42 on GPS with a 90hp but trolls a little quick. It's rated for a 135 but I think that would be a lot of overkill. That 70 will be nice.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

Sorry, found one more that shows the storage better behind the drivers seat. This one has the back to back seats like you currently have. They appear to be matching seats so I'd assume they are factory. Hope this isn't confusing. That blue one I posted is the only Sylvan I've ever seen in all my searches with the rails around the front like your's so I'd assume that is the closest.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: my craigs list find, but what model is it????

Nice rig, I think it's a Sportster model but that's just a guess.

Check out some of the Starcraft restorations or brochures(link in my thread) since they are nearly identical boats. The Sylvans just had more carpet

A 70hp will be a nice, economical outboard for that boat, I'd like one myself.