What would you change ?

[steplift20]

I have a 1978 wellcraft Steplift ( I'm sure you know that by my posts) I think it's a perfect set up and a perfect boat so I was thinking and going to ask, name one thing you would change about the layout or design, I will start
The only thing I would redesign and I'm sure you out there must have done it is I would put storage for life jackets under the side cabin seats close in the sides going down to the floor and have a door under the cushions to put ( in my case ) life jackets. That's all I would change
1; storage under the cabin seats
.

[phatdaddy]

Coat all of the drain holes in the stringers with resin
Glass the top of the transom instead of the aluminum junk
Seal the deck when they installed the seats
Seal the holes when they installed the hatch rails
Coal tar the fuel tank

But, I guess if they had done all that, we would have missed out on a whole lot of fun.

[steplift20]

Agreed glass the transom cap , what were they thinking when they put on those stupid caps

[phatdaddy]

they were thinking it would last 5-10 years, which was probably long enough for the original buyer to either sell it or pay off the note.

[bgreene]

The crappy aluminum transom cap trim plate on the V21 ?
Same idea…

My V21 tested dry but I had it redone - entire outer fused as solid unit, eliminated the trim into one solid fiberglass unit.
Had the transom inside also fused eliminating the “seam” of cap fiberglassed into a solid mass.
Suppose it could now easily handle a 300 HP outboard but the V21 rating was for max 200 .

Bow slider design to windshield section can allow water to drip into the cuddy so that would be a re engineer project . My solution ….had bow slider canvas cover designed with rubber edge gasket and snaps . Looks great, easily removable, and solved the issue.

[Pipe_Dream]

The crappy aluminum transom cap trim plate on the V21 ?
Same idea…

My V21 tested dry but I had it redone - entire outer fused as solid unit, eliminated the trim into one solid fiberglass unit.
Had the transom inside also fused eliminating the “seam” of cap fiberglassed into a solid mass.
Suppose it could now easily handle a 300 HP outboard but the V21 rating was for max 200 .

Bow slider design to windshield section can allow water to drip into the cuddy so that would be a re engineer project . My solution ….had bow slider canvas cover designed with rubber edge gasket and snaps . Looks great, easily removable, and solved the issue.

Nice. I've been pondering that cuddy sliding hatch issue.

[bgreene]

Nice. I've been pondering that cuddy sliding hatch issue.

If you have V21 I can connect you with the guy who designed mine, have same one made.
The rubber flange around the edge works well as the snaps keep it in place. Simple.

[steplift20]

Bgreene I would like to redo my transom too, did you do it or did you have it done? Was it expensive?

[scook]

My cuddy hatches were in the way of the anchor system I need for river fishing here, so I removed the slider rails. Another V-20 guy near me had canvas made, like bgreen - I just tuned up the seals on the sliding hatches, installed 4 eye bolts and hold the hatches down with bungies - it works well for me and I made a storage rack I’m the space under the deck to stow the hatches when they’re off (so they don’t clutter up the cuddy and get in the way when working with the anchor rope).

Nothing wrong with the canvas solution, but mine will be more secure if I can figure out a locking hold-down system.

[bgreene]

Bgreene I would like to redo my transom too, did you do it or did you have it done? Was it expensive?

Had it done professionally after a LOT of work to find the right shop.
Cost … a few g’s yes but transformed the transom . It’s a shop here in NJ close to the shore .
If you’re wanting an estimate I’d provide you with the contact / phone. I have no affiliation with shop other than the work done to my boat.

[ctmv20]

I would add better access to the bilge which I did. My 89 V20 cuddy only had a 8 inch round access hole to the bilge, I added a tempress 11 by 17 inch hatch to the deck to get better access to the bilge pump, bait pump and shut off valve. Much better now!

[steplift20]

Bgreene,I will keep you in mind ,I'm not ready to do it but when I do I will pm you I'm in nj too so it won't be a problem