Look what followed me home tonight!!

[3 Squids]

Well after a couple weeks of putting this guy off I finally found some time to go get the boat.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/declansdaddy58/Boat%20stuff/CE8DFAA7-48BB-43F2-9B83-2B5839455EFC_zpsngg6uq63.jpg (http://s1186.photobucket.com/user/declansdaddy58/media/Boat%20stuff/CE8DFAA7-48BB-43F2-9B83-2B5839455EFC_zpsngg6uq63.jpg.html)

She actually seems like a pretty solid boat. Transom definitely needs work. Still not sure what direction I want to go with this thing. Regardless it will be a complete tear down and rebuild. Biggest debate is keeping it IB/OB or putting a bracket on it. Also keeping it a cuddy or making it a CC. I really like the idea of a skiff type, simple no frills center console. Time will tell. First things first I got to get my other '79 going

[Redloon]

These boats are definitely an obsession.

I'm actually starting to look for a dual console model to compliment my 1977 V20 Center Console and 1984 V20 Cuddy Cabin. That may make me the only one with the perfect trifecta of V20's as far as I know.


I like the split boxes up front on my center console but don't like the fact that they are not lined. I can see the foam and stringers when I look inside the box. It is easy for stuff to fall into the hull without liners inside. In fact when I first got the boat and was cleaning it up I found an old rusty corded electric drill down in the bottom of the hull. I'm planning on fixing that by making box liners.

3 Squids - I'm wondering if the front boxes on your 1979 CC are the same - no liner in them?

[3 Squids]

3 Squids - I'm wondering if the front boxes on your 1979 CC are the same - no liner in them?

You are absolutely correct. Open the tops and you see foam. Also it appears in the very front bow compartment (anchor locker?) that it had a bottom at some point and someone removed it. I have also found a lot of sfuff wedged down in there including a number of fillet knives which is scary as I have 3 small children. Also the rod holders are open to the foam. When I removed the rod boxes there was quite a bit of water sitting on top of the foam. I ordered some stainless rod holders with caps to help slow that down but I'm sure it won't completely stop it. I'm not much on the, "tub" I call it, design. I like the simplicity of a skiff, work type hull.

My head is racing deciding what I want to do with this boat. I had one of those wake up at 3am with a bright idea moments. I think it would be awesome to have a cuddy as well as a center console. I've come to realize there is still a lot I do not like about my center console. My thought was check this boat out good, if it's as solid as it seems maybe put a bracket on it, new transom, new fuel tank and my newly rebuilt Merc. Put her in the water and roll with it then tear my CC down and rebuild as I want it. Transom is already done I just wish I would of went with composite. Plus how cool is it that they are both '79's. Too bad I wasn't born that year or something.

I guess it all depends on if the new boat is solid as it looks. The PO said it's been sitting for 4 years after the IB/OB corroded away. He told me he used it weekly fishing in the Chesapeake for most of the year. We shall see where the road takes me but for now I have to put a new floor in my house to make up for a new toy sitting in the yard.

[3 Squids]

Also I haven't looked but he told me the Bimini canvas was always removed and stored indoors and it has full curtains as well. I have yet to get them out and see what kind of condition they are in but if they are in good shape I feel that alone was worth the money. If I decide to keep it the way it is that is.

First things first, anyone have an idea of what bracket I would want? I'm not sure of the degree or anything yet.

[phatdaddy]

yeah, you got the V20 bug. no known cure

[Destroyer]

yeah, you got the V20 bug. no known cure

Yup. Definitely. No cure, only thing you can do is feed it another boat every few years. :you:

[Striper80]

I'm waiting until my uncle wears his out so I can take it off his hands.

[3 Squids]

Yea you all are right. I got bitten by the V-20 bug and can't seem to get rid of the symptoms. Plenty of worse things to be addicted to. My wife would love to find the cure for V-20itis but she knows it's either these small, practical boats or racing as my hobby and let me tell ya, racing will put a much bigger dent in the wallet as well as family time so she's dealing with it. She's actually a much more avid fisherman than me so really this hobby works out for both of us. I work on the the boat, she fishes out of it. Not sure how but apparently that's a fair deal. Who knew.

[jjuriga]

Well after a couple weeks of putting this guy off I finally found some time to go get the boat.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z369/declansdaddy58/Boat%20stuff/CE8DFAA7-48BB-43F2-9B83-2B5839455EFC_zpsngg6uq63.jpg (http://s1186.photobucket.com/user/declansdaddy58/media/Boat%20stuff/CE8DFAA7-48BB-43F2-9B83-2B5839455EFC_zpsngg6uq63.jpg.html)

She actually seems like a pretty solid boat. Transom definitely needs work. Still not sure what direction I want to go with this thing. Regardless it will be a complete tear down and rebuild. Biggest debate is keeping it IB/OB or putting a bracket on it. Also keeping it a cuddy or making it a CC. I really like the idea of a skiff type, simple no frills center console. Time will tell. First things first I got to get my other '79 going


Nice lookin boat... What year is it? Looks a lot like mine, I have an 87 cuddy. I would love a cc, but fell in love with the cuddy.

[steplift20]

We the people who ownes step lifts are a great bunch of guys and girls who appreciate the great looking lines and the magnificent style of the wellcraft line, probably the finest 20 foot hull ever made that is why we have our own website to help each other, any way we can Great looking boat, I never get tired of looking at that hull

[phatdaddy]

Well, the good news is, the bug is chronic, not acute. You can live a long time with it.
I've had it for 25 years so far.

[3 Squids]

Nice lookin boat... What year is it? Looks a lot like mine, I have an 87 cuddy. I would love a cc, but fell in love with the cuddy.

It's a '79

We the people who ownes step lifts are a great bunch of guys and girls who appreciate the great looking lines and the magnificent style of the wellcraft line, probably the finest 20 foot hull ever made that is why we have our own website to help each other, any way we can Great looking boat, I never get tired of looking at that hull

You're exactly right. The lines of these hulls are absolutely beautiful. They have character and purpose behind them. Wellcraft definitely nailed it with this one. I'm not sure how far back this "Carolina Flare" that you're seeing on so many boats now goes but I think our V's had a big hand in what that design has become today.

Well, the good news is, the bug is chronic, not acute. You can live a long time with it.
I've had it for 25 years so far.

Wonderful news!!

[bradford]

Squids I would keep the cuddy a cuddy. Re do the transom and mount a bracket.

My advice about the flat deck bare bones center console is to keep your eye out for a pre 77 model with the flat cap. You'll save yourself a ton of work, money, and potentially your marriage by not taking on the project of turning a post 78 raised cap cuddy with the integrated deck and liner into a flat cap separate deck center console. Most of the work for the scantilings has already been done for you.

I figure you're thinking about Kracker's. Check out On The Fly's if you haven't. If I do another one it will be a pre 77 and end up looking similar to their's.

[3 Squids]

So I finally had time to really get in the boat and check her out. Feels like a pretty solid rig to me. I found one soft spot in the floor, 6" round maybe, right in front of where the passenger seat mounts. Tapped on the stringers and they sound solid towards the rear. Transom actually seems pretty solid except right around the lower unit hole.

Tomorrow I plan on pulling the tank hatch and inspecting in there. If the tank is low on fuel I may try and get it out. Also I plan on cutting away the cap away from the transom so I can go ahead and start getting that out. Even seeming solid I still want to put a new 1 piece transom in instead of patching it in.

I did pull out the top it had and it appears to be a factory full enclosure. It has a Bimini that has curtains for the sides and a removable enscolsure that goes all the way to the stern. Seems ideal for winter fishing. It's in immaculate shape. The material is soft and not dried out and the plastics are surprisingly crystal clear. Not sure how old these are but it appears they weren't used much and stored properly.

I'm still on the hunt for a bracket. I don't want to break the bank with this rig as I really just want to get it in the water for stripers this year so if I can find a used one for a few hundred buck I'd be happy. If anyone knows of any please send them my way. Should have some pics this weekend of what I get done.

[3 Squids]

So guys I need an education on transom angle. I got a line on a bracket. Not sure what I need to check to make sure it will work for me. I have a digital angle gauge. When I put it on the bottom of the hull and up the transom in the very middle (close to middle as I can because the drain plug) I get 11.2 degrees. However if I move either way 6" it goes up to 12.5. Another 6" then 13.5. And all the way out to the side 15degrees.

So do I solely go of the 11.2? Or am I supposed to check it approximately where the bracket will bolt up. Someone told me I have 4 degrees of a window as well. Any truth to that?

[3 Squids]

I'm going to update this over in the repair section as I've started the teardown. Lots of pics to come over there.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=21890