18 Sport

[rhahn427]

Hi Guys;

I'm new here. Kajun introduced me to your site as I have a 1990 Wellcraft Sport 18 like he does. He said there are a few guys that hang out here that have the same boat. I bought the boat last Dec and I love it, although I have a hard time finding any information about it or parts for it ......... I'd love to find out others with the samr boat to compare notes

Thanks

Rick

[msbhammer]

Welcome aboard Rick. Great site with lots of knowledge.

[rhahn427]

I know ...... I've been lurkin the last couple of days and you guys look great ....... and a lot of good info

[Kajun]

hey Rhahn..welcome to the board! great group here!...me, stinky hooker and wellcraftman has the 18 sport.

here's a brochure from the gallery on it

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=cat_1989&id=016_wellc raft

[rhahn427]

Das Ma Baaaaaby!!!!!!!!

Hey Kajun,

I got your bmails on tidalfish ....... did you get my replys ......... not sure about that new tidalfish format ..... not sure what's working and what's not

[Kajun]

yup i sent ya a reply tonight...hadnt been on TF in a couple days.....got any pics of ya boat?

[rhahn427]

Would love to read it but the Tidalfish website is down for some reason ........ I keep getting the cannot find screen ...... had another friend try in a different location try and she got the same thing .........

[rhahn427]

I have 1 picture ....... but how do you post it here ..... I hit image icon and it doesn't give me a browse box.

[Stinky_Hooker]

Im an 18 lover too bro, welcome.


You can see my gallery, but it doesnt contain pics of alot of the addons and such Ive done. I will add them soon so you can see em. 8)

Ill see if I can dig up the repairs thread I made awhile back. ;)

[Stinky_Hooker]

Here it is...found it!!

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Repairs;action=display;num=11480523 15

[rhahn427]

Wow Stinky ....... looks like you've been busy ........ I bought mine from a dealer last December and the more I ride in other people's boats the more I love mine ......... Right now I'm getting a T Top installed. I ran into a great deal I couldn't pass up. A T Top off a 21 ft Cat in great condition with 4 rocket launchers, hardtop, electronics box, 3/4 Strataglass enclosure 2 lights and a storage bag for $500. I also just bought a Lowrance LCX 111c ....... it's probably too big for the boat but with a 10.5 in screen I can watch my jig from the back of the boat. Looking for a deal on a leaning post now. Can't wait to get it back ...... with the enclosure I should be able to fish all winter ........

Hey ..... where are you guys from anyway?

[Stinky_Hooker]

Thats cool on the ttop bro...good deal!!

I am collecting aluminum and will be building my own in the near future. Im gonna build a leaning post this winter, got enough for that.


Im in Mobile AL.


And on the riding in other boats and liking yours more, I concur.

The 18 is a heck of a boat for its size. I have riden in several others the same size and even a little bigger and the 18 is smokes em all. It definitely helps that its so heavy. Its no V20, but a good compromise. ;)


What kinda motor you runnin on yours?

[rhahn427]

1996 Evinrude 135 hp ........

Wow ...... Mobile Ala ........ I was down your way August a year ago .......... I work for Social Security and they put together two teams (somehow I ended up on both of them) to set up temporary offices after Katrina. On the first trip we set up offices in the evacuation centers in Texas and the second trip we set up temporary offices between Biloxi and Baton Rouge ....... hope I NEVER see that kind of destruction again as long as I live ..........

Had to fly into and out of Mobile because that was the closest Airport open when we got there.

[Stinky_Hooker]

Cool deal, I live about 1 mile from the Airport. :)

[Kajun]

whats ya top speed with that 135?...i was able to pull about 43mph with my 140hp before my overheat alarm came on..i think i may be able to milk alil more out of it if i can get it running right and trimmed right.

[reelapeelin]

I looked at an 18 w/ a cuddy B4 findin' a V20...it was a great hull (no motor)...woulda required lots of work to get fishable and trailer was not so hot ...but the 140 Rude I had at the time woulda pushed it pretty good ....never saw another like it...

[rhahn427]

OOPS ........ TYYYYYYPO ......... I have a 115 not a 135 ........ on a calm day <1 ft chop I got 35 mph as measured from the GPS .......... usually about 24-28 in a decent 2 ft chop.

[Kajun]

ah ok ..yea thats about average for that hp range then....i was getting 35mph with my 120 force

[Stinky_Hooker]

I can hit 40 with my 120 force and just me litght loaded. Stainless prop too.

Loaded I top out around 34-35.

I gonna go 150 next for sure! 8)

[rhahn427]

That's what Blu Lou keeps saying ........ that I need a 150 on it .......... but I was concerned about the weight and ..... well ...... as long as this engine is operating nicely I'll keep it ........ I'm not a speed demon and it gets a whole lot better mileage than a 150 .......

[rhahn427]

Hey Kajun ...... I love your signature picture ...... did you do that in Adobe Photoshop software?

[Kajun]

yea it was done in photoshop but i didnt do it.....someone did it for it me.

[Stinky_Hooker]

That's what Blu Lou keeps saying *........ that I need a 150 on it .......... but I was concerned about the weight and ..... well ...... as long as this engine is operating nicely I'll keep it ........ I'm not a speed demon and it gets a whole lot better mileage than a 150 .......


I have a buddy that runs a 150 on one identical to ours. He tops out at about 53 mph (gps) and it doesnt use as much fuel as you think.


He gets WAY better mileage than my Force does. ::)


The 150 is not working near as hard to push that heavy little boat so mileage is plenty bearable, if not improved. 8)

[rhahn427]

Dang ......... 53 mph ........... whao, do ya call him bug teeth ;D ;D ;D

Maybe I'll reconsider the 150 ....... what kind does he have? ........ most of the 150's I've seen lately look like they'd sink my boat .......

[Stinky_Hooker]

Its a mid 90's model Johnson.

The 18 is rated for 150 BTW and most boats perform the best when maxed out.

[Kajun]

here's 415 lbs or so hangin off the back of my boat(378 motor+ 40lb jackplate)...plus a 50lb battery...my other battery was in the live well at console....this is also without 2 bodys sitting in the chairs...notice how the water is right at the scuppers?..not too cool...i havent had a chance to fish with it like this in a 1-2 ft sea yet....so i dont know how it will handle...what i dont want to have is wet feet in the winter time..honestly i'd much rather have my force back..i never worried about my scuppers with it...35mph is plenty fast.


http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6866/dscf0001mo2.jpg

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5088/dscf0004vp1.jpg

[Stinky_Hooker]

Thats EXACTLY where mine sit Kajun and Ive still got the Force. I also have two batteries in the back on one side and a shrimp trawl with boards in the other. Behind my console is a 150 QT full of ice. With two people fishing in the back they actually bob up and down under water. I plan on relocating the icechest and batteries this winter...should help.

Im thinkin on the scuppers with the ball valves maybe?

[spareparts]

out of all the boats i've looked at recently, and ones i've been working on or discusing( see classicseacraft.com) scuppers seem to be one of the most talked about subject, but I haven't seen a factory boat other than a big sport fish that has scuppers that actually work, there are lots of boats out there that the scuppers look like they should be OK, but once loaded and in the water, they are right at the water line. I've allways wondered just how efective a pair of standard 3/4" scuppers would be if you took a wave over the bow, after you add the weight of the water, your scuppers would probably be several inches below the water line, you would have to keep the boat moving fwd for it to drain. I don't like the scupper set up in my v-20, and plan to change them to bigger thru hulls with direct overboard drains rather than draining to the motorwell. What's ya'lls opinion on this

[rhahn427]

As a new boater, I've taken a couple over the bow in 3-4 ft seas , a close chop and 25-35 mph winds. The water goes out the motorwell and the scuppers drain what's left very effectively. But this was just a couple on waves ..... not a succession of them.

[rhahn427]

The guy that's installing my T Top just sent me a picture ......... Kajun, you asked for a picture ...... here it is ttop2.jpg

[rhahn427]

Ok ........ so How do I post a picture like above from my computer?

[Kajun]

you have to upload it to a picture hosting site before you can post it .....go to http://www.imageshack.us/ and upload your pic....then take the internet address that the pic is now located at on image shack and copy and paste that here....call me at 757-444-4958 if ya need help

[Kajun]

here's ya go..this is Rhan's boat with his new T-top

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8360/rhansboatax2.jpg

this is the for sale picture of it before he bought it....i think we posted this boat up in the forsale forum at one time.

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1390/rhanboat2bd4.jpg

[rhahn427]

Hey Kajun ....... thanks for posting the pictures for me ...... good talkin to ya

[Kajun]

no prob rick..good talking to ya too