How long have you owned your v20?

[bigshrimpin]

What model v20 do you have and how long have you owned it?

[labii]

1994 Fisherman , I have had it for four years .

[brianct12]

BS,
Paid for an '88 V20 outboard model just last week and am going to get it tomorrow ! Needless to say, I am full of eagerness to bring it home, restore, and go boating/fishing this summer.
Brian
ps .... any comments on the following. I have a hankering for a full stern configuration. Would it be silly of me to entertain the idea of "closing in" the transom notch somehow and hanging a bracket ??? Would appreciate hearing what experienced V20 owners think of this.

[shicks007]

Iv'e owned my 76' V-20 cuddy almost 2 years.

[PhilD]

2 days... Just bought a "75 v20 cuddy w/ 200 Hp merc. Engine Compression tests were all 124 except for 1 at 122... Spent a long time researching similar boats before I settled on a V20.... I love it ;D ;D But some wits say that 2 best days in a boat owners life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it.

[reelapeelin]

Phil...I love those wits...they keep the market supplied w/used boats and they don't clutter up our waterways w/people who shouldn't be there to begin with... ;)

Brain...if your pockets can stand it and you want a full transom, then I say, "FILLER UP!"... ;D

Been luvin' my '74 cuddy since '99... 8)

[PhilD]

I agree with you on the wits... been owning boats for many many years. I am lookin forward to fishin in the C-bay this spring.

[reelapeelin]

Never been on THE bay, but sounds like you got the boat to do it... :D

[Mac_Attack]

1990 V20 Sport 1 Year thanks to you BS Bill Mc ;D

[Brian_M]

2 years, cuddy cabin w/ straight six mercruiser

[Stinky_Hooker]

79' one year and it is still a "project",not a boat. ;D

[Pipe_Dream]

"Owned" her 5 years, but I operated her since '91 (she belonged to a construction company I work for and from whom I acquired her). I have much history with my boat, and hope to make a lot more. 8)

[CT_V-20]

3-yrs with an '86 cuddy. My prediction.... last season was THE last season for the Sea Drive. Stay tuned!

[macojoe]

1975 cuddy, 4 years as I/O, and 2 years as Outboard conversion ;D

[g8r]

'81 Cuddy / 200 Mariner OB. *Actually my 20 is my first boat and only had her since Oct. of last year. *She had been sitting for over a year and I'm in the process of getting your back into shape. *

[chesapeake724]

'87 Steplift...Four and a half months...Still in "lust" and I haven't even driven her yet. 8) If this friggin' snow wouldn't have such bad timing, she'd be in the shop getting ready for spring.

[Capt_K]

4 years, have an 86 v-20 step lift . repwered 2 years ago w/ a 140 4 stroke. Capt K

[Capt_K]

That should be repowered not repwered, but it still runs good. Capt K

[jaysea]

4 YEARS 85 V20 I/O 4CYL

[reelapeelin]

5 years now...sometimes I walk to the window and look out at it...

[macojoe]

I look out at it every day in this weather!! And then I cry :'(

[lucky_strike]

'91 V-20 cuddy with a 150 Yamaha 2-stroke. Have only owned it for 5 months. Have owned 5 other larger boats over the last 35 years. Last boat was a 31' Pacemaker. The V-20 will be a much more managable boat for me; both financially and work/maintanance wise. Back when I owned larger boats, I always noticed the Wellcraft V-20 and was intrieged by it. I always thought of the V-20 as a "little bigboat".

[Seacrets]

four years on first (85 steplift) and one year on current 86 steplift.

[reelapeelin]

You're a real man Maco...I couldn't admit to the crying part... :'(

[Franco]

1983 V20 steplif cuddy cabin with a 305 v8 volvo penta
about 5 years

[phatdaddy]

84 V20 cuddy, bought it in 91, repowered in 95 (150 Mariner) I,ve had his boat for 14 years. I sold a 21 hydrasport cc and bought this boat when my daughter was born(needed the cuddy for naps and diaper bags). I thought I,d keep it till she was 3 or 4, then go back to a center console. Time flies, especially when you buy on credit.

[Blue_Runner]

1972 V20 - owned (and not operated) 5 months. Haven't driven it yet, but gettin ready for a paint job. Hoping to have the boat completely ready by Easter! Bought the Garmin 250 DF over the weekend! Can't wait to paint so I can install everything!

Blue

[Sea_Rover]

1974 Cuddy with '85 150 Johnson has been going strong for 2 years on the Chesapeake

[fillet1]

85 V20 1999 Johnson 115
Two Months. Been living in it for two months too. ;D

[LESTERUS]

1978, V-20 STEPLIFT, BOUGTH IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER IN 1984 AND I'D HAD IT EVER SINCE.

SAME WIFE, SAME HOUSE, SAME BOAT, SAME JOB:
WHAT A BORING LIFE!!!!!!!!

LESTERUS

[Airslot]

'88 V-20 Cuddy for 4 years now. She's always gettin upgraded and there is no end in sight.

Airslot

[revmax]

1979 i/o v/6 4.3l 165hp for 2 years and am getting ready to take pix with new dig camera and try to post them.

[Blu_Lunch]

I had mine for a year and a half 1974 CC w/1983 150 Black Max...

[msbhammer]

1986 V-20 Cuddy with a 200 Black anchor..oops, I mean Black Max. Foe an a86 Black Max, she running pretty good. Had her for only 7 months. As a yougster, in the early 80's, I was a motorhead. Loved racing my cars in Philly on Front Street and J.F.k. Blvd. I loved my Pontiac G.T.O.'s, I had a 64 convertable, 67 hard top and a 70 hardtop. I compare my V-20 to my past Goats, I consider my V-20 a muscle boat that turns heads.
Ahhh, the good old days...cheap gas and long hair ;D ;D

[msbhammer]

Kids cutting out all my gray...oops, I mean blonde hair last night. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f153/msbhammer/DSC01940.jpg

[Blu_Lunch]

msbhammer: I had 2 nice Pontiacs 67 400 Firebird and 68 Catalina factory 428 4 speed and 8 lug wheels.Ted

[msbhammer]

Yo BLU,
My 67 Goat had a 428 as well. Great motor unitl I spun the bearing. The 389 was a well known motor for spinning bearing. Mis miss my Goats. I cant believe the cost of them now on E-Bay. I sold them for pennies. Junk yard Goats go for a furtune.

[Seacrets]

Had a 69 Judge w/ Ram air IV, 67 Firebird, 69 Firebird. Paid $3900 for the Judge brand new off the showroom floor.

[Skools Out]

Had my V20 for 2 1/2 yrs It's a 1978 with raised transom and 225 Johnson.

[Hammerhead]

Bought my V-20 I/O about six months ago. I've had my other boat ( '69 Bonito 16ft/90yammi ) for 21 yrs.

[whopper55]

Just over a year now. V-20 with 150 rude.Upgrade this winter to raised transom with bracket. Who has done this and did you install fish box in back or go for the added floor space?

[LESTERUS]

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE EVEN IF I'M A NEW MEMBER I'M
A SENIOR OWNER OF A V-20 1978, I HAVE IT SINCE 1984, 22 YRS. OF GOOD USE.

WE(ME AND THE BOAT) HAVE MADE THE CROSSING OF THE FLORIDA STRAIGTHS MANY TIMES TO BIMINI, FREEPORT,NASSAU (BAHAMAS) AND TO CUBA (1980 MARIEL BOATLIFT) WITH HER ORIGINAL OWNER.

LESTERUS

[scook]

Got my '85 cuddy I/O for my birthday July 8, '05 (not running). Replaced fuel line and filter, put it in the water, it started right up, but outdrive wouldn't go down. Got real busy and it sat for a while.

It s/b ready in a week or so, with head machined, new valve seat, all new hoses, outdrive rebuild (had that done by others), un-frozen hydraulic rams (so the outdrive will go up and down now).

Hope to catch some Salmon out of it starting in a couple of weeks and I'm really looking forward to it.

Scott

[reelapeelin]

Good luck Oregon...post some pics of those Salmon trips...

Woulda done some pics of recent striper trip, but rained hard whole trip...everything wet and didn't wanna get camera wet...they don't like wet!!... :P...

[ebol5]

Yuo got me Lesterus... :o But not by much. Have had my 73 cuddy 21 years this past July 2nd. Went out last night and boated 4 king mackerel between ~12 and 18 lbs, released some 10 to 12 lb little Tuny's, had a blast...every drift bang bang bang. After I get my web site back up check it out.. pic's are worth a thousand words. Here's to us old timers! 8)

[reelapeelin]

Diver...let us know when she's back up...you always got pics to envy for us inlanders 8) ...

[mmiklosz]

First time was a 1974 V20 cuddy bought in 1976 and sold in 1978.
Second time was the purchase of a 1986 V20 cuddy bought December 2003, plus a newly used 2004 200 Yamaha bought earlier this year.

[garbubba]

1987 cuddy. I bought it 5 years ago.

Doug

[thestook]

'76 Cuddy w/ an 01 150 yamaha. Bought it about 2 months ago, first boat. Love it!

[Pipe_Dream]

Cool avitar, Dan! 8)

[LESTERUS]

HEY,HIGH_DIVER!!!!

BY YOUR CATCH I CAN TELL YOU'RE A FLORIDA GUY,I'M GLAD YOU HAVE YOUR BOAT FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, I'VE HAD OTHER BIG BOATS (36FT, 44FT.) BUT I'VE NEVR HAD THE GUTS TO SELL MY V-20, IT'S SO RELIABLE AND SO CHEAP TO OPERATE THAT I'D RATHER KEEP IT IN MY DRIVEWAY NO MATTER WHAT.

WHENEVER IN MIAMI, LET ME KNOW.

BY THE WAY, IS MACKEREL ALREADY BY YOU?

LESTERUS

[chitbob1]

75 c/c 4.3 i/o I've had it almost a year been out 5 times in it last time out it almost capsized don't think it will go again

[ebol5]

Lesterus,

The kingfish bite has been pretty good this summer. If you are asking about spanish mackerel, I caught a couple about a month ago... first time I had ever caught SM offshore of Lake Worth..

HD

[ebol5]

Chitbob1,

How did you almost capsize your V-20? Would be useful info so someone else might avoid the same fate,,

HD

[reelapeelin]

I agree w/ Diver here ;D ...might be some useful ''avoidance tips'' there ;) ...plus it just sounds like a good story 8) ...glad you and V-20 OK...

[deshet]

WE(ME AND THE BOAT) HAVE MADE THE CROSSING OF THE FLORIDA STRAIGTHS MANY TIMES TO BIMINI, FREEPORT,NASSAU (BAHAMAS) AND TO CUBA (1980 MARIEL BOATLIFT) WITH HER ORIGINAL OWNER

I always heard people saying that they went off shore in these boats but I never really believe it. I guess it must be truely offshore if you made it to cuba and the bahamas. *Did you have to carry extra fuel onboard with you?

I am suppose to get me V20 on Saturday.

I live in Va Beach, Va area has anyone ever to there V20 to the gulfstream. I want to catch dolphin

thanks

[LESTERUS]

SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN REPLIYNIG, I WAS OUT OF TOWN.

IN REGARDS TO YOUR QUESTIONS, YES MY BOAT WAS TAKEN TO CUBA BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER DURING THE "MARIEL BOATLIFT" IN 1980 (SEE MOVIE "SCARFACE" AL PACCINO) TO PICK UP HIS FAMILY, YES HE TOOK EXTRAFUEL, DUNNO HOW MUCH.

AS TO BIMINI, I'VE GONE MANY TIMES,(48 N.M) BUT I ALWAYS REFUEL AS SOON AS I LAND THERE, THEN I GO FISHING AND COME BACK WITH THAT TANK.

THE BOAT IS VERY SAFE TO GO OUT TO THE STEAM, IN FACT EVERY TIME WE GO FISHING WE'RE OUT IN THE STREAM, HOWEVER GOOD SEAMANSHIP IS THE BEST APPROACH.

LESTERUS

[deshet]

Thanks for the history lesson. I was born 1980 and I did not know what the "The Mariel boatlift" was. That is great that your boat is a part of american history.

thanks

[steelheader13]

1985 V-20 CC, I fish offshore Sebastian inlet mostly, with runs out 25-30 miles on a typical trip one way.

My boat is a Bahamas veteran also, by previous owner, fuel tank has been replaced with a 75 gallon alum. tank.

I have owned it about 2 years. Great hull for what I do.

Have deck mounted livewell, out riggers, down rigger. Catch dolphin, cobia, kingfish, sailfish, and others.