Looking For My First V20

[Hoski1]

Hello All !!!

Iam Interested In Buying A V20 With Cuddy , Iam From
The NewYork Area
If Any know's Where I Can Find A Good Deal On A V20
With An OutBoard Motor

[reelapeelin]

Hoski, welcome to da board...search this section and keep watchin' it...lots of nice boats come thru here...stay tuned...
;)...

[TheTinMan]

Welcome Hoski....where in NY?

[Hoski1]

Forest Hills , Queens Fishing Out Of Jamaica Bay
Howard Beach

[mmiklosz]

I bought mine on ebay and got a great deal. Also, try boattrader.com.

It's a great model and you will not be disappointed.

[Skools Out]

Hey Hoski1

Look at this link not sure if it's still for sale but it was a nice looking boat. it's on my way to the beach. if you call and they still have it i can stop next beach trip and see how it is really good.

For Sell 78 Wellcraft Complete (http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=for_sale;action=display;num=1136420 069)

[TheTinMan]

Forest Hills , Queens *Fishing Out Of Jamaica Bay
Howard Beach

I'm out east on the island...what's your price range? *I'll keep my eyes open for you.

[Hoski1]

hey tin you think with a v20 ill make it to the mud hole ?
iam coming from j bay ?

price range 4000 or 5000

[phester]

H1, I'm on L.I. too, Kings Park, Northport area, welcome. Just bought my V20 last March, or was it April..??, anyway rarely saw any advertised in the N.Y./ L.I. area, don't know why that is but I saw many in Conn. and N.J. My boat was from Conn. As we get more toward springtime perhaps a few more boats that are local will pop up.I was almost convinced that I'd have to go on a real roadtrip to find one. Wellcraft made ALOT of these boats, so when you least expect it , one may show up right in your backyard. Four to 5000.00 you can come up w/ a decent boat, I actually traded my Angler 19ft. CC for the "V" and I thought my Angler was worth about 4500+/- .....I DEFENITLY got the better of the deal. The Angler was nice, but, the V20 is so much more of a boat, and I wanted a cuddy too. We all keep our eyes open in the 4sale dept. TheTinMan is a personal friend of mine, known him a long time, he has a good eye for "boats for sale", so keep an eye out for his posts. This is a great site w/ a good group of guys who really know their boats.Good luck!

[phester]

P.S. where's the "mudhole" ?

[TheTinMan]

I think the Mud Hole is about 25 miles south of Rockaway Inlet, so even further for you, right? I've only fished it once and that was on a 46' Bertram out of Freeport. We did have an estimated 800-900lb Giant on for 2 1/2 hrs...lost em right at the transom, was a 10,000+ dollar fish, bummer.

Hoski, I don't know what kind of boating expierence you have so it's hard for me to say. There are some "good" days where the "V" would be fine, hell my tin boat would be fine. Double check the distance from where you are launching and make sure you have PLENTY of fuel. Fuel may be a problem unless you have an auxiliary tank, not sure. The weather is a big concern too. You don't want to get caught that far offshore in a 20 footer in nasty weather. I ALWAYS know what the forecast is but sometimes unpredicted T-Storms do happen. Make sure all your gear and safety equipment is in top working order. I would have a kicker on the stern too. Do lots of research!! Then research some more.

Looking to go for Giants? Catching one of those on a V20 would be quite the expierence!

hey tin you think with a v20 ill make it to the mud hole ?
iam coming from j bay ?

price range 4000 or 5000

[willy]

Hoski the V20 will do a 25 mile run good weather. The problem with fishing that far off shore is you really need to spend a good chunk of money in preparing a boat to do that kind of fishing, also though many do it without I personally believe you should not be that far off shore in a single engine boat. IMHO. Also you should be prepared for fog with radar and you should never go out that far without EPIRB's and a raft. Sat phones would be recommended also. Of course the norms like a good VHF and Good antennae along with a portable back up.
This is just my opinion of course and some may disagree but it's not that a V20 could not handle a run like that. It's the fact that sometimes Mother Nature raises a big hand and smites you when you least can afford it. There is no fish worth the life of a good friend or family member and God forbid a super model.
There are good Captains with well equiped ships that will take you and your buddies there a couple of times a year for a very reasonable cost and you don't have to do anything but fish and eat and drink.
Like I said there will be others with differing opinions and many will have a lot more experience than me.
In shore or close to shore reefs, wrecks 5-10 miles out max, drifting in shore running inlets bay fishing skiing and tubing with your kids, bouncing super models on your lap as you run the chop, thats what these boats are made for and they have not really built a better all around in shore boat than the V20-21's for doing those things well ;)

[Mulv80]

Well said, Willy

[Franco]

Trust what Willy sez, hey has his head screwed on right and has been voted into the Norton Snagger Fishing Team!

[willy]

And Hoski if your heading south, Sebastian Inlet way I can hook you up with a great guide there, goes by the moniker Grand Puhbah ;D

[reelapeelin]

That's Poobah...Bama lama ding dong... ;D...

[Pipe_Dream]

Hoski the V20 will do a 25 mile run good weather. The problem with fishing that far off shore is you really need to spend a good chunk of money in preparing a boat to do that kind of fishing, also though many do it without I personally believe you should not be that far off shore in a single engine *boat. IMHO. Also you should be prepared for fog with radar and you should never go out that far without EPIRB's and a raft. Sat phones would be recommended also. Of course the norms like a good VHF and Good antennae along with a portable back up.
This is just my opinion of course and some may disagree but it's not that a V20 could not handle a run like that. It's the fact that sometimes Mother Nature raises a big hand and smites you when you least can afford it. There is no fish worth the life of a good friend or family member and God forbid a super model.
There are good Captains with well equiped ships that will take you and your buddies there a couple of times a year for a very reasonable cost and you don't have to do anything but fish and eat and drink.
Like I said there will be others with differing opinions and many will have a lot more experience than me.
In shore or close to shore reefs, wrecks 5-10 miles out max, drifting in shore running inlets bay fishing skiing and tubing with your kids, bouncing super models on your lap as you run the chop, thats what these boats are made for and they have not really built a better all around in shore boat than the V20-21's for doing those things well *;)
What he said! 8) I have not seen it put so well before, Willy. Must be why you're a god!

[Airslot]

Yeah, what they said. The V-20 is a great inshore boat with some offshore capabilities. I've caught many a tuner outa the V. In the summer when we have prolonged periods of stable high pressure the V-20 is more than capable of fishing 35 - 40 offshore. The key to comfort is the buddy boat. We always run out when several of us are going on the same day, and stay in touch during the day. Never caught a giant, but have taken bluefin to 200# on the V-20.
Previous owner of my boat had her to the Washinton Canyon on several occasions, carrying mucho extra fuel of course.


Airslot

[greateastern]

Ok, here you go. Hampton Bays NY there was one in local paper I think it was an 87-89 V-20 out board went and took a look at it. I think for the price it might be worth the work if you are willing to do some work, I think the guy was asking $2,500 but you can probally show him cash and get a deal of a life time. With the money saved you can invested it back into the boat. The boat is located in back of a hole in the wall resturant called the fisherman quaters in Hampton Bays NY on North Road.

Hope this helps someone
Great Eastern Mech.

[willy]

Poohbah Puhbah whats an uh oh between friends
I was trying to snazz him up a bit Rap so when I retire and move into Sebastian Inlet and he and I start the Norton Snagger Guide Service and Super Model Ranch we can drink our Killians with our pinky extended ;D

[Franco]

Me, Will and Oz are gonna be the founding members of The Norton Snagger Fishing Team ORGASM
Old
Retired
Guys
And
Super
Models

[willy]

Yea Baby thats what I'm talking about ;)

[Mulv80]

Little Boats On the Big Sea
By Doug Olander (more by this author)
Wed, Feb 9, 2000
The challenge and the economy are the two biggest reasons for taking small boats offshore. Many cite the unique satisfaction of taking on the ocean to fish it on their own terms, knowing they have the boat, the knowledge and the ability to get out there, catch some good fish and get back.
"There's definitely the excitement of being out there in a small boat where you're in control and doing your own thing," says Angelo Cuanang, West Coast offshore fishing writer and expert who regularly runs out as much as 50 to 60 miles to fish off San Francisco Bay. He's done so for many years - all in a 17-foot Whaler.
One school of thought from skilled mariners actually considers a smaller hull advantageous in large swells. Tom King, a professional mate in Massachusetts, for years made the 20-plus-mile run to fish Stellwagen Bank from his 19-foot Midland ("a Nova Scotia-style hull," he says, with a very high bow and very low freeboard). "We came home riding on top of the big seas like an eggshell, while much bigger sport-fishing boats were having a tough time rolling in the swells."
In the right hands, a small boat does have an element of safety that much larger hulls lose: responsiveness. Bill Potter, boat builder and designer of the original Sea Craft and Hobie Power Skiff hulls, agrees, "A smaller boat can respond much more quickly to the motion of the seas."

Economy of Size
Besides the challenge, downsized boats are relatively cheap and easy. Start comparing costs of purchase, insurance, moorage or storage, maintenance and so on for a 25-foot center-console with those of a 17-footer. Then of course there are fuel costs. A day fishing a brutally seaworthy 25 with twin 175s can easily set you back a figure topping three digits - and that's not counting oil. But you can run out and troll all day in a 17 with a 75 for no more than 20 or 30 bucks.
Lots of fishermen will trailer their boats 50 to 100 miles at the drop of a hat. Let's see ... double-axle trailer behind a full-size V-8 pickup - versus a light single-axle trailer pulled by a little four-cylinder pickup: There's still more economy.

Knowledge, Ability and Common Sense
"There is no federal regulation saying, 'Thou shalt not take thy boat and go (offshore),' and in fact the Coast Guard has authority in few places to prevent boaters from going where they want," says Capt. Mike McCormack with the U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Unit in Washington, D.C. As a Coast Guard chopper pilot for 26 years, he's had plenty of experience plucking boaters from harm's way offshore.
To go or not to go is not the question, according to McCormack's philosophy. Rather, he focuses on knowing your small boat, recognizing when to go or not, and with what gear and preparation.
He recounts involvement in cases where small boaters perished before the Coast Guard could reach them, cases where knowing their boat and having the right equipment could have saved them.
When it comes to such small boats, "There's a big difference between a weekend boater and a guy who takes these offshore regularly, - and that's skill," says Potter, "The ocean's nothing for an amateur to fool around with."
Many who skipper such mighty mites far from land tend to be independent by nature. Still, many make it a point to travel offshore with another boat when possible, small or large, which in effect offers a "second engine."

The Right Boat: Moderate Vees and Hard Chines
If you're looking for a good boat of 15 to 18 feet for fishing bays, channels or flats, you'll find scores of them. But if you plan to run offshore any chance you get, you'll find that blue-water mighty mites don't come easy when you start figuring the kind of construction, quality and design needed.
Still, there can be no doubt that with the specialized demands of offshore fishing, not all small hulls are created equal. When it comes to hull design, opinions vary - suggesting competent small hulls may come in more than one style.
A modified rather than deep vee comes in as the top choice among experts looking for the optimal small planing hull for big water. While the deeper vee of 21 to 26 degrees at the transom offers the softest ride through waves, "I would opt for a modified vee in the 17- to 20-degree range - for the stability. That way you still get some damping effect from the vee but also get some benefit of side-to-side stability," says veteran boating writer, Joe Skorupa.
Fuel capacity becomes a serious consideration for any small boat intended to go offshore. On the minus side: Many small boats have small built-in tanks and some provide space only for portables. On the plus side: Light boats with small outboards can go all day on amazingly little fuel. Case in point: My Hobie 15 with a Yamaha 50 (two-stroke) can run far offshore, troll all day and return with plenty of fuel to spare in the two 6-gallon portables under the console. Once you pick a boat, know its range and always allow for at least a 10 percent reserve.
A small but important point: battery placement. As boat designer Peter Van Lancker, responsible for many classic Whaler hulls, points out, "Our batteries are up in consoles, not in the transom and low where they can get wet." Keeping the battery astern and belowdecks in a little hull is asking for trouble.
One other essential element of small boat construction that becomes particularly important offshore is flotation. Positive flotation is required by the National Marine Manufacturers Association in boats less than 20 feet, but the best hulls are fully filled with foam, and the reasons should be obvious. In an emergency, water can force air out of a hull or sides but not out of foam. A light hull gains little weight (always a factor) but considerable strength and rigidity from foam.

Water In; Water Out
A small boat's likely to end up taking on spray and, on rough days, some green water as well. At the latter point, the scuppers become critical. (This assumes that no angler without a death wish would be offshore in a boat that's not self-bailing.) The scuppers must be able to get rid of water as fast as it comes into the hull - if not, you'll soon be playing submarine.
Potter says that transom height is another critical aspect for any small hull that will see offshore use. "Early on we learned in building boats that the greatest danger offshore in open-cockpit boats is the danger of capsizing from free surface water coming in - especially with waves coming over the stern," he says.
A small outboard boat offshore faces trouble fast once enough water gets into the boat to run to one side or the other in the seas, Potter says. To help avoid that, look for boats
with a full transom. A cut-out transom may work with a really good, generous motorwell. Worst case for offshore: a low, cut-out transom with no well. If that describes your boat, stick to the bay.

The Right Equipment
No hull, however seaworthy and stable it may be, belongs offshore - ever - if it's not properly equipped. The most major piece of "equipment" is your outboard. A traditional preference among blue-water anglers has been twin outboards for safety. However, adding a second engine for the small boater may be either cost- or weight-prohibitive.
For an amount of horses similar to a single engine, twins add weight, and smart offshore small boaters make an effort to keep their transoms as high as possible. When feasible, a kicker is a great addition since it can get you home in a pinch - but, again, it may not be worth the additional weight on the stern of a 16- or 17-footer.
When the day is right, I fish 10 or 15 miles offshore in my 15-footer, but wouldn't consider doing so without having each of the following with me:
VHF - Fundamental and essential. The Coast Guard monitors channel 16 nearly everywhere around the U.S., and its choppers can find direction from VHF signals. Cellular phones have become popular everywhere, including offshore, and offer good backup. But McCormack warns not to assume these can substitute for VHF in a pinch since, he says, users may not find coverage in all areas offshore. Also, the Coast Guard is equipped to home in on VHF signals in an emergency.
Since small boats like mine lack towers and since VHF is limited to line-of-sight distance, I stick to a tall (8-foot) whip antenna rather than opt for a shorter, less obtrusive one.
GPS Plotter/Sounder - As critical for navigation as for fishing. Separate units are fine, but I prefer a single unit (capable of showing both chart plotter and sounder reading on screen simultaneously) to maximize limited space on small consoles.
Compass - With a good nautical chart, this will keep you headed in the right direction if your GPS fails. Amazingly, some small boaters venture far offshore with neither radio nor compass, according to the Coast Guard.
Extra Battery - With space limited and weight critical, I carry a compact, high-quality motorcycle battery and keep it charged up. If my main battery goes out, I can pull-start my small outboard and save the smaller battery to power my VHF, lights and electronics for many hours.
EPIRB - Again, I go small: A mini-EPIRB will set you back $200 or so, but that's cheap insurance in a real emergency. When activated, this cigarette-size homing device sends out signals at frequencies reserved and monitored for distress calls. (Says McCormack, "If I'm out there floating around and I turn on a mini-Epirb, how sure am I it will be heard and someone will come looking for me? I'd say 90 to 100 percent.")
Life Vests - Going offshore without them would not only be illegal but insane. Inflatables are now legal, making vests easier and less cumbersome than ever to wear.
Emergency Kit - including flare gun and flares, cyalume sticks and waterproof strobe lights. (I also make sure my boat's running lights are in good working order.) Don't forget a good flashlight and extra sunscreen.
Emergency Food and Water - At least a half-gallon of water8 some granola bars and beef jerky or canned meat can get you through a day or two.
Anchor and Lots of Rope - Even if you don't anchor to fish, you may find an anchor valuable, and plenty of heavy rope's a must if you need to be towed.
Sea Anchor - Space may preclude stowing a small sea anchor, but make sure you have at least a bucket or, in a pinch, even a spare life vest. Most boats tend to drift stern-to - the worst situation in a building sea. Your odds of staying afloat when broken down and adrift go up by a big chunk if you can keep the bow into the waves, and any sort of sea anchor will help accomplish this.

The Right Days
Given a seaworthy boat, properly equipped, everything else comes down to common sense. And nowhere can the small boater better demonstrate that than by reading the weather before and during a trip.
Starting out the morning in a 3-foot sea is a mere irritant to a 25-footer, but for the mini-boater who has his head screwed on right, it means a canceled trip. Many mornings I've arisen to find the small-boat forecast revised from the previous evening's 5- to 10-knot wind forecast to one of 10 to 20 knots. Anyone hoping to go offshore in a 16-footer has to realize his fishing days will be limited.
Look for periods between frontal systems, particularly fall, winter and spring when dead-calm days sneak in between blows. During the summer, high pressure systems often bring many successive days of calm weather, particularly in the morning. The run home in many regions may mean a moderate but manageable following chop thanks to afternoon sea breezes.
Just be sure you know the marine forecast for the day before you head out. When the forecast calls for light breezes all day and into the night, small boaters can usually venture forth with peace of mind. Otherwise, the best rule of thumb is a simple one: When in doubt - don't go out.

[Pipe_Dream]

Good reading, Mulv -- thanks for sharing. ;)

[Zebra]

That really is good reading, good info....
Alot of Common Sense, but still a good read.
thanks mulv for posting