To buy or not to buy, that is the ?

[makoshark]

Hello, my first post been lurking for a month or so. There is a v20 in my neck of the woods just put up for sale, its an '81 with various nicks and dings on the hull and keel. Transom seems solid, floor a little spongy beneath the captain and mate chairs, cuddy is trashed, will need to pull and toss everything in there. The engine is an '80 evinrude sport 200HP, guy says it runs, I have removed the cowling and the plugs are new, fuel line has been re-worked, overall lots of rusted bolts. The central large deck hold is a bit wet, cuddy door is missing so I am thinking that rain is draining through there. Boat is located in Biloxi, MS but this guy says boat has no "katrina damage". He is asking $3200, does that sound like a good deal? Thanks for any input...makoshark

[Mulv80]

How spongy is the floor? I would keep looking. $3200 isnt a terrible price for that boat as long as it has a trailer and the motor runs decent. There are better deals out there to be had. I bought my 79 V20 with a 2000 Johnson 150 for $3400. There is currently a real nice V20 in FL listed under the for sale section of this site for $3400. Wellcraft made a ton of these boats and if you keep looking you will find the right deal.

[phester]

based solely on your brief description and what you have observed, re: spongy floor, no cuddy door, wet deck etc. and a 26 y.o. motor [is there a trailer ?] , I think i would pass on that one. It just doesn't sound so good.....for 3200$ .We've all seen a lot of decent boats, and, a few nice boats come thru this board for 3200 and less. Some recent posts in the 4sale/wanted threads w/ a couple of boats that seemed like good deals....don't know if they're in your neck of the woods. Good luck and welcome to the site!

[makoshark]

I guess I agree, I know I would have to repower it soon, as far as the soft spots go the helm chair rocks back and forth a good bit. Mulv, after reading that you got yours with a 2000 motor for similar price, I will definitely keep looking. Thanks

[willy]

Mako I would say pass, the soft floor work your talking about could be quite extensive, also if you are not already aware a word of caution, there has been a lot of sunk and hurricane damaged boats ( thousands) that are being put on the market after some minor clean ups and even extensive repairs to cover damage. Be careful.

[Skools Out]

Yeah i'd say pass or go make a low offer all he can do is say no. offer $1200 I gave $1625 for mine with a new power head on 1990 Johnson 225 and it's all solid. The boats a 1978 and had a 1990 Float-On Aluminum tandem trailer

[willy]

Damn Skools did you have a gun and a mask :-/

[macojoe]

NOT for $3200!! NO way!

there has to be a ton of boats down that way right now!!
I bet there are some Great deals on some storm damage ones also!!

Keep Looking!! I have a friend in Long Beach that says there is a ton of stuff around!

[reelapeelin]

If he'll take $1999 for it, do it, but sounds like you got some WORK ahead w/that one... ;)...

[msbhammer]

I paid twice as much as what I think my boat is worth. More then the price taht you mentioned. It did come with a trailer that also needs work. If I would have held off a little longer, I would be owning the one in Fl. by now.

[fishmaster63]

let it go... theres no shortage of these boats around and why buy crap when you can get a beauty for the same or little more money. seems like theres a v20 everywhere you look. PATIENCE is a virtue and it will pay huge dividends in the long run.

[shicks007]

I would also pass on that deal. I think you could do alot better, there are alot of these old V's out there.

[TheTinMan]

makoshark, where are you located, near Biloxi?

[sfprovyn]

Mako shark: I'm also very new to this board but there are a lot of guys here who really know these boats in and out so please take their advice and pass on this one unless you are an expert fiberglass man with a lot of time on your hands. if you really look around you can pick them up in good shape very, very cheap. I just bought a 83 with an excellent solid hull and long shaft transom that spent its life dry stacked which buffed out like new, a very good top, no damage to the teak or any structural problems etc. but had a junk engine for $1,000 . I put the engine from my recently ground up whaler on it , sold the junk engine for $200 to a boat recycler, slid a good trailer under her and I have probably got one of the best riding 20 foot rough inlet boats ever designed for not much money. Over the years I have had Gradys, Whalers and ALbemarles and for long runs way out to sea in rough conditions I still prefer my 27 albemarle but for what the little V-20 was designed for, I dont think anything out there can do a better job. I made a big mistake a few years ago with a 20 foot whaler revenge that spent the winter under 3 feet of ice in lake huron. I never got it dried out and I must have spent over 500 hours of *** busting fiberglass work for nothing as half way through the project I found that a 4 foot section of the keel and half of the transom had seperated from the foam and the stringers had turned to mush. To make a long story short look at the boat trader , ebay and craigs list or just look around. Regards Frank

[msbhammer]

Send pictures of the boat.