v20 seaworthness

[throwback]

Ok can hear the screaming already but Although V20s are great little boats but are marginal as open ocean boats. Twenty foot is twenty foot. Boats have some waek points the windshields are crappy take a hard look the Inboard boats are not selfbailing and at least the early boats have limited floataion. Evan a 1200 gal rule is not much help if your swamped. Also the batteries are prone to getting drowned alsa no pump power. No I am not bashing a fine little boay just suggesting that you don't expect to musch from a 20 footer. Wrote an article last year for Big Game Fishing Magazine about fishing offshore in a small boat included a picture of my 27 footer nda 24 albe in rough weather. Seas were flat all morning blew up around 11am into 7 foot seas. Conditions not foorecast a 20 footer would have been history. MJ was very lucky that another wave did not roll over them or the story would have bbe different. Believe in Murphy I do

[TunaHead]

As I see it, your points are as follows:
1) The V20 has limitations and it's a good idea to be aware of them. (I agree with that.)
2) Your 27 foot boat is safer in rough water than a 20 foot boat. (Ok, I'll buy that too.)
3) "Sh!t happens", and MJ was lucky that things didn't go from bad to worse. (I agree with that as well. Of course the same could be said of anyone who survives an ocean mishap regardless of the size of the vessel involved.)

Congratulations, you are officially a master of the obvious.

[reelapeelin]

I think all of us should be VERY aware our V-20s are just that...20 ...as good as 20 gets, but still...20

But one other consideration is, there's a LIMIT for EVERYTHING THAT FLOATS...history has proven that time and time again ... MJ was luckier than most of the souls aboard the Titanic (considerably larger than our 20s ;))...

Just as commercial boat Captains and Commercial Jet Pilots gain as much information about the conditions awaiting them, we need to do the same ...

[THEFERMANATOR]

As was stated, SH!T HAPPENS!!! I've been 7 miles out in a 14' jon boat with no lights, bilge pumps or NOTHING!(of course I'm not quite right in the head) I've been 50 miles out of MONTAUK on a 43' TORRES in true 6-8 footers and got the SH!T KICKED out of me! It's all a roll of the dice, you never know what's going to happen tommorrow. I've been 50 miles out in an 19' ANGLER bay boat in 8-11 footers and felt more comfortable than another guy out there in a 50 footer due to the wave duration(I was able to ride up and down em, he was hitting the next one before the last one passed). It's luck of the draw. If there's one thing I've learned in life it's that you never know when it's your time, but when it is you CANNOT stop it from happening. So live life, don't live in fear. I'm only 26 but I can't tell you how many times I should have died. I can tell you that ER doctors told me before to say goodbye to my family it would be my last chance, yet here I am today still goin.

[Airslot]

Throwback, what kind of 27'er are you running? ;)

I'll agree that any 20' boat has limitations. I fish many of the same waters as you, out to 20 miles on a regular basis and 38 or so a few times a year when I'm convinced of the weather patern over a few days time and can buddy up, which is most any day.

MJ was a victim more of a rogue wave as much as rough seas. He would have been fine all morning in 3-4, if not a bit uncomfortable.

[msbhammer]

In the End, Mother nature Rules.

[charlie_the_tuna]

oh hamster, you're so gay.

[cbe317]

Ok can hear the screaming already but Although V20s are great little boats but are marginal as open ocean boats. Twenty foot is twenty foot. Boats have some waek points the windshields are crappy take a hard look the Inboard boats are not selfbailing and at least the early boats have limited floataion. Evan a 1200 gal rule is not much help if your swamped. Also the batteries are prone to getting drowned alsa no pump power. No I am not bashing a fine little boay just suggesting that you don't expect to musch from a 20 footer. Wrote an article last year for Big Game Fishing Magazine about fishing offshore in a small boat included a picture of my 27 footer nda 24 albe in rough weather. Seas were flat all morning blew up around 11am *into 7 foot seas. *Conditions not foorecast a 20 footer would have been history. MJ was very lucky that another wave did not roll over them or the story would have bbe different. Believe in Murphy I do *

Hmmm. First off, I think you mean SEAWORTHYNESS. Secondly, 30 knot winds with 7 footers breaking over the bow of my v-20? Sounds like a normal winter day off of Wasaw Sound here. ;)

Marginal as open ocean boats? ?!? I would have to say your open water experience in a v-20 is very limted then. To say a 27 footer is going to be more seaworthy than a 20 footer is like saying, "you know, that water stuff sure is wet." And to say a v-20 is a "marginal" open water boat just means you have never spent much, if any time on a v-20 on the open water.

What happened to MJ was a freak accident. And, surely does not reflect on the seaworthyness of his boat. I think it's a testament to the toughness of the hull and the skill of the captain that he made it back.


Besides, if he had been in a Mako or Grady he probably would have been swimming. ;) ;) ;) ;D

[msbhammer]

CBE, just looked at your V. Sweet. ;)
You have a gallery ?.

[cbe317]

not yet hammer. I need to start one up.
I have her all torn apart right now. Tryin to get the transom done, but it's raining buckets here lately. So not much work gettin done.

[willy]

If you read my reply in MJ's posting of the events you know how I feel about it. The V20-21's are great all around in shore boats and more sea kindly than most their size. That being saidthey are of course in-shore boats and used within their limitations which all designs have they are tough to beat. If you want to run out 20,30 miles from shore on a regular basis they are not the appropriate boat IMHO. Not because they can't handle rough weather but because they are not designed to be an off shore boat. Off shore boats are generally larger, are heavier and wider. They have large multiple scuppers in them or wide open transoms to allow large volumes of water to flow out of them almost as fast as they take it in. Generally speaking they are twin engined and preferrably with diesel for the fire safety reasons. Their windshield arrangments are stout.
This does not mean that many other boats with different designs won't do. For example the contender, regulator and that ilk have gone another direction which generally revolves around the premise of speed and the ability to cover nautical miles fast enough to get you out quick and of course the reverse.
But if you do as Airslot says and watch your weather window and your limitations you can shoot out for off shore run. But again like MJ's event shows us the weatherman is full of sh!t a lot of times. So you roll the dice.
But if you want an all around multi-species fishing boat that is tough dry and comfortable with an astounding amount of room for a 20 footer then we have one of the best. And you can do it economically, put it in a berth for a season without taking out a loan or trailer with many common vehicles. It will hold a super model or two and your fishing buddies if for some unknown reason you would bring them along for that trip. You can bring the CEO and the children and have a dry safe ride for them.
Tough combo to beat in-shore, off-shore grab the dice ;)

[cbe317]

I agree Willy. *But what I and I think Ferm are really saying is, we each have our own limitations. *I don't feel like I'm rolling the dice at all taking a v-20 30 to 40 miles off. *But that's just me. *I've been to the stream(70+ miles each way) in a friend's 26 Regulator countless times. *I don't feel any safer in that boat than I would in my boat at 30 - 40 miles off. *

Now the 34 venture I fished the stream on a couple of months ago with triple 275 Verados feels a little safer. ;D ;D ;D *And faster :o :o :o

[msbhammer]

cbe, you gotta post pics. of your transom rebuild. You doing it from the inside or taking off the outer skin.
Hook us up with some Pics. ;D

[TunaHead]

Hammer,
I've been re-reading old posts. I have found a pattern reminds me alot of when guys had a crush in 6th grade. Rather than actually TALK to the object of their affection, the 12 year old guys would punch them in the shoulder. I notice this pattern occuring again and again on this forum. Mike, I think CTT has a crush on you and is jealous of Lisa. Don't tell him though. He probably isn't aware of it himself. ;D

[twistedparot]

even a dogs got enough sense to get out the rain.

[parishht]

I'll bet the fishermen in the "Perfect Storm" would still be alive today,
if they were in a fleet of V's, (just being fececious)

But really, watch the discory channel sometime,
and you may catch the show about rouge waves.

There were two cruise liners off the coast of Argentina
and close to AntArtica.
The first got hit by a rouge wave and destroyed the helm area.
This was no small ship.
The second was right behind the first and by the time the wave got to that one,
it was nothing more than a big wave, no damage at all.

My point is a rouge wave is a rouge wave and can pop up anywhere.

[mauryc]

What's the point of this original post???? Stating the obvious?

[Blue_Runner]

V-21's are invincible....sell your V20's boys, they ain't worth a crap ;D

[Stillrunning]

Ok, I guess I missed something that MJ had posted about getting caught in some rough conditions and I could not find his post. I glade I read this becaus I had no idea that my V had limitations and I guess I'll have to cancel my trip to run 100 miles off shore next week.

[chesapeake_dreamin]

I think throwback was just stirring the pot amongst other things. Seamanship goes everybit as far as boat size. Weather too playes a huge part, pick your days is my motto. But with all this said, the v is a good fairly stout boat. Hard to beat in shore on the bay or yes even 40 miles out. They ride well handle the big water and you don't hear many stories of them ending up visiting Davey Jones now do ya.

All this said, some of the points he raised have been addressed here as how to improve our boats. It's all about what we like, and can afford.

P.S. Buddy just picked up a 25' aquasport walk around cuddy, I'll post pics asap. You won't believe the deal he got that lucky sob LOL

[chesapeake_dreamin]

P.P.S. I want my name back, taking too long to build up the numbers again. As soon as the rainy season is over here in Brunswick, back to work, with pics, on fixing the dreamer.

[RobsTV]

From the MJ post:

"We were at a area none as Middle Ground about 5 miles from thew harbore when the waves started to get nasty, But mangeable, all of the sudden we came over a 3 foot wave and it was like we droped into a hole a mile deep!! I looked up and all there was, was a wall of water all of 10 feet!! "

Only 5 miles out!!!!

If you are scared to take the V20 out to a point where danger kicks in (5 miles in that case), sell it and stick to shuffleboard.

[cbe317]

cbe, you gotta post pics. of your transom rebuild. You doing it from the inside or taking off the outer skin.
Hook us up with some Pics. *;D

Hey hammer, here are the first batch of pics from the cap removal and transom work:

Well nevermind there seems to be something wrong with the repairs section. NO TOPICS? So I can't copy and paste the link.

Wierd. Anybody else not getting the repairs section?

[RobsTV]

yep, repair section is wacked.

[macojoe]

Ok I agree with everything willy said!!

I have had my V for 9 years, I have been in some real crap, and always got home!!

I got the V cause it was what I could afford at the time. I had a small 17 footer and I use to fish with a buddy that had a small 18 footer. I knew one thing when I bought the V I wanted a boat with room!!
I was tired if not being able to move on the smaller boats.

The V fit what I wanted Large fishing area and cheap!! I had never even heard of them years ago.

I have been 25 miles off shore, but with friends in there boats just incase!!
Everyones area is different!! Here in thew NE the water can get real nasty fast!
My friend on the gulf coast says he has to go 20 miles just to find deep water. so on and so on.

The V has been a great boat for me!! But I have kind of out grown it, it has a 18* dead rise which makes it great drift fishing cause it is so stable, But that very thing also makes it pound crazy in ruff water.

I am now looking for and have been before my accident something not bigger but with a better dead rise to handle the ruff water I fish.

I am looking at 20 to 23 foot boats and I like to be in a 21* dead rise or better. But this also has a draw back, cause a 24* dead rise will cut 5 footers like a hot knife thur butter, ikt sucks in a beam sea as there is no real chine, while drifting in ruff water I will roll like no tomorrow.
This is why I am saying that a 21* or so will be better then what I have for ride and should still be good on the roll also.

Any way here is what I have to say!

Thje V is a great tuff affordable boat!! But no your limts!!

And one lesson I learned years ago is RESPECT the OCEAN!!!

History has taken small tin boats and the largest of curise linners!!

pay attention to the weather!! that does not mean listen to the weather man!! Look at the sky, the wind, the water, and the first sign on white water, dark clouds wind shift head home.

Konw your area, know your boat like it was your third hand!! Pay attention all the time, it might not be weather at all, maybe another boat is going to hit you?

Just be aware & alert!! And most of all do not lose repest for the sea, cause the day you do that, you needs to get off the water and never come back!!

[parishht]

HEAR, HEAR to MJ.
Well said. ;) ;) ;)

[chesapeake_dreamin]

DITTO! The V is the work horse of the boat world not the Cadillac.

[twistedparot]

so basically this an an old question with 2 basic opinions.

1) size matters

2)its not the size of the boat, its how you pilot the ship

all i,m gonna say is my wife loves my boat. and as long as chores get done, she dont care how much i play with it. and the other day she even helped me wash it.

[spareparts]

MJ, take a look at a 23 Sea Craft Scepter or Tsunami, kind of a V-20 on steroids. The center comsoles are selling for stupid money, but there are some deals on the cuddys( Scepter, Tsunami). I've rode in some nasty weather ina 23 Seacraft, and it would take a much bigger boat to replace it. In the 20' range, I'll take my V, in the 23-25, give me the seacraft, 25-30, Bertram 26. ABove 30 won't fit in my back yard, so I'll have to buy a bigger lot with a shop before I get a project of that size( will probably have to live in the shop as my wife would kick me out of the house for bringing home anything that big)

[kamikaze]

Dead rise is one one aspect. An important one I agree but not everything.

I recently fished out of a 2006 HydraSport 29 VX. 24' degree of dead rise, but the boat still road like crap because it had 2 - 250HP 4 stroke Yama's hanging off the rear weighing it down like a anchor. The angle of attack of the hull sitting still was terrible never mind what happened when the power was applied. I firmly believe the balance of a hull is just as important as dead rise. Many of the older boats got it right and lots of the newer stuff made all the wrong concessions on the side of flash and traded off real performance.

Kamikaze

[mauryc]

I agree with the Sea Craft Scepter. Great boat. Much cheaper that the center console.

[throwback]

It been a couple of weeks since my original post about seaworthyness of v2o. In the interum been to the wash canyon five times in my 27 foot trophy pro. Two were very wet rides. The point I wanted to make about the v20 is be careful the ocean is a very unforgiving place
and the V is not designed for serious ocean service. All boats have limits. Four foot seas is my limit for the 27 but have seen a lot worse but not by choice. Sure on a nice day you can go deep in a 20 carolina skiff but remember murphey is always present .

[Seacrets]

If you would've been aboard a 248 or 250 Wellcraft, you wouldn't have gotten wet. ;)

[Hammerhead]

I go out 15-30 miles to fish the gulfstream. Seas turn 6 to 8'...ugly fast. I bump the trim to lift the bow and the boat handles'm fine @ 22 knots.

[randlemanboater2]

I go out 15-30 miles to fish the gulfstream. Seas turn 6 to 8'...ugly fast. I bump the trim to lift the bow and the boat handles'm fine @ 22 knots.

Holy Carp!!!!!! I feel like I'm doing good if I am doing 22 kts in 1 ft seas.

I guess it all depends on the beating you are willing to take.

[whatknot]

I would kill for a 15-30 mile run to the stream. I plan on taking this boat 50 miles out easy with a 15 gallon external tank for back up. Pick yer days, dont stick the bow, publix fried chicken.

[Pipe_Dream]

Pick yer days, *dont stick the bow, publix fried chicken.
Agreed, and it doesn't hurt to go with another boat. ;)

[Bygracealone]

Hey guys,

How many of you have taken your V's to the Chesapeake Bay? I'm still pretty green as far as serious boating is concerned. Is the bay a place a guy like me should stay away from for a long while? I've heard it can get pretty nasty there too...

[parishht]

I say go for it. ;) ;) ;)

When you are in the bay's, if the weather changes,
they are still protected and the waves generally don't kick up as high as in the ocean.
I am not saying it won't be rough, I've been thrown around pretty good in the Delaware.

Also if a surprise thunderstorm comes up,
you have enough warning to get to any safe harbor to tie up and ride it out.

[Airslot]

BGA, I logged litteraly 1000's of miles on the Chessy, mostly around Smith & Tangier Islands, in both a V20 and an earlier V18. You've got a perfect boat for the Chessy.

'Slot

[Bygracealone]

Ahhh, that's great to hear Parrishht and Slot. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to experience it this year...

Thanks for the responses guys.

[willy]

BGA Air is right on the money, I fished the h@ll out of my V20 in the Raritan Bay and Atlantic Ocean, they are fabulous in shore boats and you will be very happy. If the seas pipe up and the stuff turns steep and sloppy just slow down and ride the waves the V does well and will keep you dry and safe. You will find they drift well and steady compared to a lot of other boats and tend to drift beam too which is nice for fishing.
Go for it and enjoy the experience without apprehension my friend, you will be happy you did. ;)

[Hammerhead]

Holy Carp!!!!!! *I feel like I'm doing good if I am doing 22 kts in 1 ft seas.

I guess it all depends on the beating you are willing to take.

Oops...I might add...22 knts on a following sea. That's usually the situation I deal with. Same speed head on would be a beating for sure. :o

[steplift20]

hey wat happened to mj?

[msbhammer]

He went Bayliner. :-X ;D

[randlemanboater2]

Oops...I might add...22 knts on a following sea. That's usually the situation I deal with. Same speed head on would be a beating for sure. *:o



Now that I can do. My beach is an east-west beach, normal wind in summer is from the south, makes for a nice ride in.

[steplift20]

are you telling me he sold the wellcraft and bought a bayliner?
why would anyone do that
but i have to say the trophy is a ok boat not a steplift but its ok

[macojoe]

steplift don't listen to that cracker!! :P

Yes my V is for sale and at a good price!

But I have not moved nor would I ever move to a Bayliner!! :o

I have bought another boat but I have not told any one yet! :-X

I am going to take pictures and make the announce ment later today.

[msbhammer]

You can Tell Me MJ. ;D ;D ;D :o :o