What was your First Boat?

[Skools Out]

OK gang lets have some fun! And be honest. This should be a great profile of all of us.

First: What was your first boat & at what age were you?

Second: What is your current boat or boats and your age now?

Third: Boat's you've had?

Lets see who is really a player!

My first was a 1979 Chaparall 20' with 1979 Johnson Sea-Horse 115 HP. Top speed was 38 MPH trimed. Bought it for $800 at age 21 sold it 3 yrs later for $2700 all i did to it was wax, rewire, and paint and decal motor.

Now almost 28 and have 1978 V-20 project motor(s) undecided, 1978 Continental 21 project with 225 Johnson, 1986 250 FC Sea Ray with 310 Hp I/O, 1977 Sea Ox 1900 project motor(s) undecided, Monoco 21 with 225 Johnson. *Jet Ski's 2 Yamaha sit downs and 3 Kawasaki Stand Up race Jet Ski's.

Had a 1973 Manatee 18 with 1987 Evinrude 140 Hp Looper ran out at 43 MPH. 1986 25' Aquasport with 260 Hp I/O. 1988 29' Robalo with twin 200 Johnson's.

[chumbucket]

I'm gonna have to compile an extensive list and post in the AM when I get home from work. ;D

[macojoe]

at 24 I bought a Great Candian Cape Cod Bay Canoe, Added a trolling motor and fished the Mount Hope Bay area and the Taunton River, Bought it for $100, sold it for $300

at 26 I found a 12 foot Sears Gamefisher in the river. It was left there for 8 months, after thre State finished the Bridge painting.
It was sunk and in the mud, I had been watching it for some time, and when winter was coming I decided it was time to drag it home.
After cleaning all the paint out of it and fixing the trasom, I added a 6 hp Johnson I got for $200 and a freash water trailer I got for $100
Sold it for $500

at 28 I bought a 1962 Hawkline 17' runabout. Had a 1972 60hp Johnson thats was pure Hell !! I replaced it with a 1990 Mercury 90hp I bought it for $1500 sold it for $2500

Right after I bought it I sold the canoe and the Sears boat.

at 33 I bought the Wellcraft V20 for $2500 and Can't even begin to think about how much I have spent over the years?? Sure I am over $10,000 :-/

Sold the Hawkline 2 months after I got the Wellcraft.

And there you have it, I will be 44 this summer and still using the Wellcraft. Gee I have had this boat longer then I thought?? Time flys when you are spending so much money!!

[shicks007]

technically my first boat was a 14' jon-boat about 4 years ago, never used it.

I bought this V-20 2-1/2 years ago and consider it my first boat. And I love it. I could not see myself without a boat now. I am now 36 years old.

Scott

[reelapeelin]

At 25, friend and I co-purchased a 14' alum. semi-V w/trailer for $350 that the state of SC had used...one of us had an Elgin 7.5 hp antique...full rotation for reverse...later bought new 10 hp Chrysler POS... then a used 15 hp Johnny...THAT was the motor...bought my friend out...sold semi-V, bought new 14' jon...15 hp too small...moved up to 25 hp elec. start Johnny....needed more room...bought new 16' Big John (sold 14')rigged w rod-holders, trollin' motor, bait tank (1st striper boat)...25 hp Johnny got ho-hum w/ that much wieght, bought new 40 hp elec start Mariner...duck hunted, striper fished, courted my wife and took my 1st born on MANY, MANY trips/adventures in that boat...nearly CRIED when that one left the driveway, replaced by new '88 17' McKee Southporter w/115 cross flow, gas-suckin' Johnny...2nd born's first introduction to boatin'...lotta fun, but RUFF ride...sold that and boatless for about a year in early '90s...another buddy and I bought a '67 Thunderbird w/'84 Evinrude 140...GREAT BOAT!!...bought him out , kept til V20 was ready to splash in '99 and you know the rest of the story... ;)...

Now 53, hope the above qualifies me as a ''player''... ;D...

[phester]

1st boat:a wooden lifegaurd boat that I helped myself to from Sunken Maedow state park. State park employees happened upon us as we were "dragging" it home. They thew it in the bed of their pick-up and delivered it right to my back yard. I cleaned it and painted it only for it to get reconfiscated by the Long Island State Park Comm....no charges filed,I was heartbroken,and about 12 years old.Boat #2,early 20's, a 15 foot Glastron GT-150,75hp evinrude 3cyl..great motor,paid 2600 sold it 3-4 years later for around the same price.Boat#3...21' Checkmate Enchanter,my "guido" boat...200hp Johnson,black,silver and red metalflake,did almost 70 mph, lotsa good memories on that boat. Paid 6500$,sold 4 trouble free years later for 5500$. Boat #4, some Glastron 16' bowrider,no power,good hull and trailer. Paid 0.00 for it, washed it and sold it for 800$ a week later.boat#5 believe it or not...a Bayliner 15' runabout early 70's lapstrake hull,clean,w/ a 50 hp Johnson. First thing I did was heat gun off the "BAYLINER" decal on the gunnell.It was actually a cool little boat,fatory speedo worked, remote spotlight worked,just a little fishing rig. Bought it for 400$ sold it that same year for 800$. Boat #6 a 1969 Slickcraft w/ a 85 hp V-4 Evinrude. We called her the RED ROOSTER. In terms of amount paid for [1300.00], amount of use I got out of it,how many fish hit the deck,and not having to put a dime into it, it was one of the best boats I've ever owned.Sold it 3-4 years later for 1250$. Boat# 7....1986 19' Angler CC, 90 HP Merc....paid 5000$,boat, motor and trailer all in nearly mint cond. The Merc needed a little more attention/repairs than I was used to,overall a nice package. Kept that boat for 5 seasons and TRADED it for the V-20 and I defenitly got the better deal.Also I've got a 15' Duratec [an older Duranautic] w/a 35 HP evinrude. Boat and trailer was 400$...already had the motor,nice flounder boat or trolling rig. Overall my boating career has been for the most part trouble free and alot of fun.I don't know if I'm a player or not, and at the tender age of 44 I expect to be boating for the rest of my life

[Blue_Runner]

1992 Yamaha Waverunner bought at age 20 or 21 for around $2500. Kept one year and sold for around $2500.

1994 Polaris Jetski (used demo model) bought at age 22 for $4800, sold at 23 for $4800.

1968 Thunderbird 1975 70hp Evinrude bought at 26 fpr $900 The motor blew out on me on 2nd trip on the water - Went from :D to :-[ in no time! Drove to Virginia to pick up a used 1975 70hp Evinrude which I paid $1000 for! Best motor I've ever had! Sunk the thing to the bottom of the lake and was riding around in it the next day!. Sold it after 6 years at age 32 for $750.

1968 Fabuglas Tri-Hull with 1986 Johnson 70hp which I bought from my elderly grandfather for $500. Had to get carbs rebuilt. Kept it 2 years and finally sold recently for $750.

1972 Wellcraft V20 bought at 31 years old. Worked on boat and rebuilt trailer for about a year. Spent $800 having transom rebuilt. Still have the boat but need to sell.

1994 Wellcraft V21 - bought at 32 years old and not thinking of selling - EVER! BTW still 32 years old 8)

[kamikaze]

At age 28 I owned an 18 ft flat bottom ski boat (Manufacturer unknown) done in an ugly green metal flake that had fade by y this time. It was pushed (slowly) by an early 70’s vintage 85 Hp Evinrude that on it’s best day only ran on three cylinders. Paid $350.00 for the boat motor and trailer. Lived in San Diego at that time and while moving East the leaf on the trailer spring busted and I ended up giving the boat and trailer to a mechanic at a little garage in upstate New York, so I could get to a new job on time (That one still hurts!)

At 31 purchased a 16 Ft 1968 Starcraft Newport (closed bow runabout) with a 1972 65 Hp Evinrude. Paid 300.00 for the boat, motor and trailer. Replaced the floor, installed new seats and interior and painted the hull. Also replaced original wrap around plastic windshield with modern aluminum trimmed, walk though windshield I salvaged from an old MFG. Eventually sold for $1600.00. Of all my boats I’ve owned the wife enjoyed this one the most. Nothing like tooling around the lake in an antique!

At 34 purchased a 23 ft 1986 SportCraft Fisherman (Cutty Cabin). It had a OMC Cobra outdrive and a 4.3L Inboard. I paid $5500.00 for a boat, trailer and a ton of fishing tackle downriggers and outriggers and such from great lakes fisherman from upstate New York. Cleaned her up and replaced exhaust manifolds and repainted the outdrive and later sold her for 8500.00

At 36 purchased a series of boats with express intent of flipping them. A 19 ft, 1986 Sabre CC I paid $400.00 for, sold her for $2600.00 after complete renovation. Also purchased a 16 ft side console bass boat with a 35 HP Johnson and trailer, paid $450.00 at a local auction and later sold it after installing a new floors complete interior upgrade for $2600.00

At 43, I currently own four boats (Can you ever have enough boats!). 1974, Wellcraft V 20 with a 1986 235 Evinrude that I paid $3300.00 for about a year ago. A 1968, 17 ft Cutlass (Mako later purchased the line the same year so–it’s a identical to Mako) with a 120 Johnson hanging from a 26” bracket with a t-top that is currently being completely refitted. I also own a 1976, 19 ft Galaxy, closed bow ski boat with a 1976 Inline 6, Mercury 115 that’s the family boat from running around the lake and such. And lastly I am half owner in 1982, 25 Ft Aqua Sport CCP (Center Console) with a 1993 Johnson 250 V8 outboard just about complete from a fully retrofit and rigging for offshore fishing.

My next boat? Well what do you got that your welling to deal on?

[willy]

Starting at age 26, three diffrent canoes, from 12 foot solo's to current 17.5 Mohawk. All shoulder powered. Serious fresh water river and lake fly fisherman. Age 35 and on 4 different aluminum boats 16 - 17.5 footers with 9.9 motors(various) and last one with 9.9 Suzuki and 50 hp Force. All for fresh water impoundments and the Delaware River. Past 10 years age 51 fishing with best friend in a couple of boats but mostly his 25 ft Grady White WA. Last year bought my first salt water boat 1992 Robalo CC w/Merc 150. After 1.5 year search finally found the V20 I wanted and bought it from fellow V20.com member Fillet1 Going to mount my 9.9 Suzuki which I kept on it and use for fresh/salt water and salt/fly fishing and transporting super models ;D

[Mac_Attack]

I have always lived within *a 1/4mile of the sixth Great Lake, Lake St. Clair. *Neighbors always had a boat so I guess my love of the water came from them. At age 27 married my beautiful wife Jennie. *Her father had an 18' Penn Yan. *My first boat was a blow boat, a 22' Catalina at 30 years of age. *My wife had a 14' Laser which I guess would be considered mine also. *At 32 my first boy was born and the sailboat was sold. *Father in law moved up to a 23' Pennyan so we were not off the water. *At age 42 I bought a 16' Gruman CC. *Great boat, easy on gas (40hp Suzuki). *Was a good boat for my 2 boys and brother in law to fish off of. *At age 53 started looking for a V20 which I had ridden on 17 years prior and fell in love with. My boys had gotten too big for the Gruman. Found this site and with the help of BS found the Macattack, 1990 V20 Sport with a 150Force. *My age now is 55, and I only have the V20. *My father in law now owns a 57 Chris Craft. *I hope I've passed the audition. *Bill Mc *;D

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=Mac-Attack-on-the-water&id=June_13_2004_001

[TheTinMan]

A 1959 Fiberglass tri-hull, what a tank! Came with a 1968 40hp that had a burnt cylinder. A friend of mine, get bthis, had a 1959 (same year as boat) 35hp Johnson Super Quiet for $100.

I had to install new cable steering, got it all hooked up, all excited towed it to the ramp, launched it, took off and turned right.....and the boat went left! duh

Gees, the name of the hull was Glass*****, may have been Glasstron or Glasspar. :o

[Franco]

AN EARLY 80"S 20' SEAOX CENTERCONSOLE WITH A 115 'RUDE 30 YEARS OLD

THAN A 13' BOSTON WHALER SUPER SPORT WITH A 35 HP SUMPTHIN 35 YEARS OLD

83 WELLCRAFY V20 CUDDY WITH A VOLVO PENTA 225 HP I/O 42 YEARS OLD

2005 MCKEE CRAFT 196 MARATHON CC 150 YAMAHA F150 FOUR STROKE 49 YEARS OLD

[captbent]

WELL MY FIRST BOAT WAS MY FATHERS A 1964 CRIS CRAFT, THAT IS WHERE I STARTED AS A YOUNG BOY, IN MY TEENS I SOON BECAME THE PILOT BUT NEVER THE CAPT, HAD THAT BOAT TILL I WAS IN MY EARLY 20S, THEN MY FIRST BOAT WAS A 1967'28'LUHRS SPORT FISHERMAN THAT I HAVE A PIC OF ON THE SITE LOVED THAT BOAT HAD THAT IN MY LATE 20S, THEN IN MY 30S I WENT SMALL A 17' BRIG WITCH I STILL HAVE, THEN HAD A 37' SILVERTON CONVERT FOR 5 YEARS, THEN I GOT A 17 'MIRROWCRAFT THAT I USE FOR FISHING ALL THE TIME, AND NOW A V20 THAT I GOT FOR FREE THAT I AM REBUILDING AND IM 47 NOW

[mmiklosz]

1976: My first boat was a 1974 V20 with an OMC 165HP, bought by my dad when I was 12.
1978: Dad traded it in for a 1978 Century 27' (big mistake) with a single Mercruiser 260: poorly built but we got a slip on Lake Michigan in Chicago.
1980: Dad bought a 1978 Trojan Express Cuiser 30' with twin 225 Crusaders. Dad wanted twins for Lake Michigan. Starboard engine never worked right despite a rebuild.
1982: Dad traded the Trojan for a 30' Sea Ray weekender with twin 400HP mercs which went 45MPH.
1986: Mom had a stroke and ended our boating days
1990: Dad died of cancer
2004: I started the whole process over by buying a 1986 V20 with a 225 Johnson.

[rb437]

Late 60's - early 70's: Spent summers as a kid in NJ sailing a Sunfish with my best friend.
77-78: Spent 18 months aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal.
80's & 90's: owned a few small boats, Sunfish, O'Day Widgeon, Jon boat.
1999: Bought a 1992 17' Bayliner Capri with a 70hp Force. The boat was in great shape and ran well for me, but I quickly discovered how small this boat was. It was good for playing around in the river, but you had to keep a very close eye on the winds and avoid any days over 15 knots if you didn't want to beat yourself half to death. After learning the shortcomings of the Bayliner the decision to move up to a larger boat was easy. That decision was confirmed the day I was pulling one of the kids on a tube and I turned back into my own wake and took water over the bow.
2001: Bought 1989 v20 and have been very happy with it from the first day. Sold the Bayliner for $400.00 more than I paid for it.

I don't know if that qualifies me a player, but to quote MJ "who cares." I love my boat.

[fishmaster63]

a 12 foot aluminum skiff with an ancient evinrude.

a 16 foot glasspar with a 40 evinrude.

an 18 foot silverline tri hull with a 115 evinrude.

a 24 foot performer with a 350 chevy.

a 22 foot sea ray with a ford i/o and later with a 225 evinrude on a bracket.

a 24 foot bayliner ciera with a 350 chevy.

a 1986 wellcraft v 20 with a 350 chevy and a brand new hardtop.

* * * * * * * * <*{{{>( and im 42.

[willy]

Hey Rick, you brought back memories with the USS Forrestal my Dad who passed when I was 16 was a marine engineer and installed the engines on that carrier, I have pictures somewhere of walking around on the deck when I was a little boot. First carrier with nuke propulsion.

[Blue_Runner]

You a playa in my book if you got a V20 (or V21)... ;)

[C YENSEN]

bought my first boat this year. 1984 v20 with a 470 merc. nothing to compare it to but i love it

[chumbucket]

Hmmm, don't know how old I was when I got my first boat. My dad gave me a wooden rowboat that was kept at our camp in Maine and provided many years of fishing fun on that lake. We threw a small 2hp motor on it after a couple years. I bought my first boat myself in 1973. A 14' Mirrocraft side console with a 25hp Johnson at the Boston Boat Show. Boat, motor and trailer for $800. Had it up until about 7-8 years ago and sold it for about 2X what I paid. 8)
My first "real" boat (if you want to call it that) was a '78 20' Glastron Cuddy Cabin with a 115 Merc inline six (God, I hated that motor). That boat was very solid and lots of freeboard with a decent layout for fishing.
A 24' Century powered by a Merc 260 I/O. That I/O gave me so much trouble. Seemed I was always working on it more that out fishing. I sold that one after 1 1/2 seasons and beat it like a rented mule at the end.
Next came a 26' Stamas Pilot house similar to the layout of the Parkers. This one was also powered with a Merc 260 I/O. You would think I'd have learned my lesson from the previous boat. Found out after several misadventures that the previous owner installed a motor donated by one of his trucks and never changed the camshaft or anything else. That motor gulp water while trolling at 3 knots and that was all she wrote on that motor. I threw a big block in it with a Bravo outdrive and the power was so much better. I loved this boat to fish from but it was an absolute PIG on gas with either motor. I think the boat tipped the scales at close to 10,000lbs. We liked to make the run across Cape Cod Bay to fish the Provincetown Race and it cost a fortune in gas even at $.99/gallon. Hated to do it, but got rid of that boat.
Then came probably the best boat I've owned. '87 Grady-White 22' Walkaround powered by an Evinrude 225 on a bracket. Yamaha 4 stroke 9.9 kicker motor with electric start. Nice full enclosure for the helm and a huge cockpit for fishing. This one was "The Boat" for me. It had everything I wanted. Then a few years later, my daughter was pregnant with my grandson. After he was born, I made the difficult decision to sell the Grady to help put a down payment on the house right next door to mine. So now I get to see my little buddy everyday, so that's not a bad thing right? ;D 8)As pre-arrainged, I made it known that when the Grady got sold, I would be buying something else for a lot less $$.
This is where the Wellcraft came into the picture. After extensive searching, I found the V20 Center Console the boat for me. I loved fishing this boat and the mobility it provided me. I really shouldn't have sold it, but the guy wore me down with an offer that I couldn't refuse. So, I sold it for considerably more than I paid.
The search has been on for a while now for a replacement but between working lots of hours and some other priorities on the homefront, I haven't seemed to be able to make a connection on anything. I've made a few offers on boats. There's a 17' tin boat sitting in the driveway that I've been using. Powered by a 60hp Evinrude, it's actually not a bad Striper fishing boat, but I want something a little more than that.
I'm 50 years old now, so maybe I'll settle down and keep whatever I get this next time around. I'm really not looking for a project boat. Too many other priorities to get saddled with a project. I've attempted a couple of those and just never found the time to complete them, so they were sold as is. I still have a bracket from one project. If I find the right boat, maybe I'll sell the bracket to get those thoughts out of my head. Whenever I see the bracket, I start thinking of taking something on to apply that bracket to.
Oh well, the search continues, but this is a tough time of year in the Northeast to do any real looking, so we'll see what pops up come springtime.

[phatdaddy]

1976 bought a 1964 13 ' whaler w/ 25 evinrude
1982 sold whaler and bought 1972 Mako 19'w/ 115 evinrude
1989 sold Mako (motor blew up) & bought a 21' Hydro-
Sport w/ 235 Evinrude. Driest and best riding center console I have ever been in,but too much vee. At anchor if you walked to the side, you felt like you were going to tip over
1990 Sold Hydro sport for $6500. and bought 83
V-20w/150 mercury for $6500 on the same day.
2005 Still got the boat but re-powered with a 150 Mariner in 95
I 've been looking for another boat for years, but the
V-20 always beats them and I already own it.

[mirage2521]

This is going to be tough

1. 12 Carter Craft mahaghony skiff with 10 hp Wizard outboard, I was 12 yrs old

2. Some kind of little green skiff with an 18 evinrude then a 25 Evinrude I was 16 or so

3. some kind of white V hull about 18 foot with a 90 johnson, late teens early 20s I guess, at the same time I had a gill net boat that was 17 foot with a 25 johnson, and also pulled shrimp nets with it

4. 16 foot Carolina Skiff it's on it's 3rd motor and second trailer, still own it and still use it constanly, got it when I was 26

5. 17 foot montgomery sail boat, 5 hp motor

6. 30 foot Columbia sailboat 12 hp diesel got it when I was 35 and still own it

7. Saving the best for last 1976 V-20 Center COnsole with a 120 hp got it a few months ago and will probably always own it

[Brian_M]

Previous

1979 Anchorcraft I/O runabout (also known as the AnchorCrap)

1979 Dufour 35' Sailboat w/ 27 hp diesel. Owned it 16 years and lived aboard for 5 years in NC and California

1989 Catalina 27 sailboat w/ 12 hp diesel

Now

1985 Carver 3207 Aft cabin, twin 5.7 MPI Mercruiser inboards installed this summer

1996 Wellcraft Eclipse (married this one)

1976 Wellcraft V20 w/ 165 hp inline 6 I/O

Happy holidays!!

[chitbob1]

let's see my first would have been make shift rafts I made as a child that would take a month to build and maybe would float a day 4 lakes behind our house
ok now the kind that float I think about age 20 I got a 12 monkey wards v-bow aluminum just a trolling motor
later put a Sears 7.5 gamefisher on it needed more power so I put an additional 7.5 GF on it to fast then just recently sold it I kept it for my pond in the yard

2. age 23 1975 westwind 17' tri hull with a one way 85hp mercury in line 6 always paddled back

3. age 26 1975 23' westwind cuddy cabin 292 chevy omc outdrive that boat was so heavy you had fits getting out of the water

4.currently 8' peddle boat in my pond
1977 17' pro-line deep vee cc that my wife learned to fiberglass on we totaly redone everything on her pride
&joy 85hp chrysler very good boat

1975 wellcraft v20 cc i/o 4.3L omc cobra bought for 1,000 have not had the privledge to take it out yet
2 other projects going hope I QUALIFY

[Skools Out]

oh yeah sounds good hey you had a 12 MW with twin 7.5 hp's? i'd like to see that that is a sight a 12 ft with twins how cool. were they both tillers?

[reelapeelin]

TWIN 7.5s....FANTASTIC...please tell me you got some pictures you can post!!!... ;D 8) 8) ;D...

[JeffXJ]

After reading all the previous posts I realized that I'm an "aspiring player". All of the boats I've been on have been owned by either my father or cousin. Growing up my dad started with an 18' MFG (early 70's maybe even 60's) with an OMC I/O that seemed to be nothing but problems that he inherited after my grandfather passed. I remember many of days my grandfather and him working on it before granddad passed and many more days he worked on it afterwards. But once it was in the water it was a good little no-frills boat. Caught my first bluefish (about 14 lbs)on that boat trolling with a Cisco Kid when I was 8.
In '85 he and my mom bought a 19' galaxy bow-rider. That lasted until we got caught in some mildly rough seas (3 ft) and on the way in slighty dipped the bow through a wave or two.
So the next boat they bought was a 20 foot '86 Regal. Closed bow (dad's preference) with plenty of creature comforts (mom's preference). Very versitle boat. Not really a fishing boat, but we made due.
In '92 mom & dad went on a "bigger is better" kick and bought a 26' Bayliner. Turned out "bigger" wasn't really "better" and in '96 they bought a Wellcraft 23 Excel. A very fishable boat with just enough comfort to keep mom happy, though over the years her interest in boating has fadded a bit.
My cousin has had 3 boats over the last 15 years between 17' and 20' (his latest).
For the last few years things have come to a point in my life where I can finally have a boat of my own. I wanted a '20 boat that could handle the the lower Chesapeake Bay and the coastal waters comfortably. I'd seen plenty of V20s roaming the bay and liked the hull design as well as the open layout so I went looking for something similar to the V20. I never did see anything similar in new boats, but I did see the high prices (+30 grand for a 20' boat????) on top of not seeing a layout that I actually liked. Which led me to look for a used V20. The one I came across is now my first boat. It's the '71 V20 sitting on the side of my house waiting for me to restore it. Unfortunatly time and work space hasn't been on my side, but I'm working on fixing those issues. So until I actually splash my V20 I guess that makes me an "aspiring player". In the meantime I'll keep reading the posts here for encougement and ideas as well as putting in my two cents every now and then...
Oh, yeah I'm 33 and wanna-be-boataholic! 8)

[chitbob1]

Skools yes they were both tillers it was tough sitting in back of the boat with both hands behind you but believe me you knew when you got them in time with each other that was the trial then I built a bracket for it where you could concentrate on lookin forward with just one hand behind you quite a sight to see the men in bass boats when you pass them up

[willy]

Hey JeffXJ we are all aspiring players, it never ends, thats what keeps us young and looking forward to the next best thing or best gadget etc. Welcome and good luck with the restore ;)

[CT_V-20]

12' Snark - sailboat (12-yrs old)
14' Zuma - sailboat (14-yrs old)
20' Sea Sprite I/O - parent's (15-yrs old)
14' MFG - mine (16-yrs old)
16' Old Town Canoe - (17-yrs old; still have)
17' Hansa - sailboat (22-yrs old)
15' Key West Explorer - (24-yrs old) awesome & simple
20' Sea Ox Walkaround - 30-yrs old
Quahog - current

[reelapeelin]

One day, I will lose interest in boats...the next day, I will die...

[Pipe_Dream]

One day, I will lose interest in boats...the next day, I will die...
Interesting . . .
Last Saturday we pulled the boat out for the holidays. We'll be going out of town and didn't want to worry about it in the water. Getting the PD on a trailer has never been fun, and nearly always involves me getting wet, at least to my knees, but this time I managed to climb over the bow rail and onto the trailer to winch it up tight without going into the water, which is in the low 50s. I couldn't help but think that it would be sad someday if I couldn't manage to do this! Don't lose interest, Reel!

First boat owned was a 16' Luger sloop and no motor. Used to take girlfriends out for days of sailing -- ah, those were the days! ;D

[willy]

Low 50's I wish I'm living in a winter wonderland
HO HO HO :-[

[macojoe]

Interesting . . .
Last Saturday we pulled the boat out for the holidays. We'll be going out of town and didn't want to worry about it in the water. Getting the PD on a trailer has never been fun, and nearly always involves me getting wet, at least to my knees, but this time I managed to climb over the bow rail and onto the trailer to winch it up tight without going into the water, which is in the low 50s. I couldn't help but think that it would be sad someday if I couldn't manage to do this! Don't lose interest, Reel!


Ha Ha Ha thats why I have a bend in my rail! I couldn't get over it and almost fell and grab it and hung from it!! 320# was a funny site to see!!

I drive on most of the time these days. But if I can't the 2 speed winch is just fine and I never have to get wet.

[Pipe_Dream]

I'm hoping to see some of that lake effect snow next week! ;D

I don't know . . . my trailer has bunks, and I've never been too thrilled about winching all that weight up those bunks with that little bow ring. :-/ I can usually drive the boat right up to the rubber bow stops, but if not I hate using the winch for anything but helping to secure the boat. I'll get as much of the trailer as possible into the water without getting my truck's back wheels wet (salt water is baaaaaad news) and sometimes that means I've got to get wet!

[Skools Out]

yeah pipe i bought a trailer for a 24 ft boat the V20 so my tires never get wet and a trailer for a 29 ft boat my 25 ft Sea Ray. Don't worry about those bow and transom eyes. I've picked up all my boats by them off the trailers in my garage.

[revmax]

2boats

1st- 19 ' 1983 bayliner capri bowrider I/O 3.0 4 cyl iron duke(i miss that engine), bought it for 600 with blown head gasket sold it for 3500. after a lot of work

2nd 1979 v-20 I/O 4.3

I'm 51, a late bloomer

spray those bunks with silicone and off and on she goes

[Skools Out]

hey newbies tell us what ya had when ya started even if it was a Bayliner lol

[THEFERMANATOR]

I'm not quite a newbie, but my first boat I owned was just a plain jane 10 foot jon boat for pond hopping when I was 15. My next boat was a 14 foot jon to get out on the flats, and my obsession has gone out of control since.

[gofish]

hey newbies tell us what ya had when ya started even if it was a Bayliner lol

Cool thread Skools, glad you brought it back from the dead.

I'm a newb around here. Here's my brief boat-owning profile:

@20 yrs old. Grandpa gave me and my cousin his old 14' Kennedy Craft (1970's model w/ a 1976 20hp Merc.) Still runs, cousin still uses it.

@26 yrs old. Went in w/ two buddies and bought a 1985 V-20 Step-Lift w/ a 150 Yamaha for $2500. Eventually bought the other two guys out for $500 a piece (So that's $833 initially + $1000 buyout= $1833). I'm 29 now and I run it 2-3 times a month, mainly diving/spearfishing off of it.

I have been on all types of size and make boats growing up in Panama City, FL, but those are the only two that I've actually owned.

I can say without a doubt that a V-20 rides better than any other 20/21 ft boat I have ever personally been on. I had never been on a V before I bought mine, so I completely lucked out in discovering the beauty of a Wellcraft V-20.

Ragan (gofish)

[tsubaki]

Somewhere around 14, my father got tired of me taking his homemade Geechee boat and got me a silver 10 foot aluminum boat with a 3hp turn around 180 degrees for reverse outboard. Boy did I wear those out!
Started driving and had a 1960's style 14' semi-V hull with same era 40hp Evinrude for saltwater fishing.
Some later stuff.
12' fiberglass v-nose w/7.5 Johnson
16' tri-hull w/70 Johnson
12' Sikescraft w/9.9 Johnson
15' Owlcraft w/30hp Johnson
These are still with me presently.
Flare 16' tri-hull w/70 Evinrude
14' aluminum boat w/25 Evinrude
Ashcraft V16 w/50 Johnson
17' Mohawk canoe
oh and the V!

[shubey61]

I think i was 12 when i got an 8' aluminum pram, I had to row the first year. The 2nd year I saved up & got a 3.5 HP Eska. Wore that out in 2 seasons, then got a 4 HP Merc. this one had F N R ! The 2nd. boat was a 12' Mirro-Craft w/a 6 HP Johnson. I think I was around 20 when I when a bought a 1977 15' Arrowglass w/a 55 HP Johnson. Then around 24 I got a 1983 24' Renken w/a 3.8 liter OMC I/O. Ran the hell outa that boat for at least 6 seasons. Then a traded that in for a 1988 Glasstream w/a 3.0 Mercruiser I/O What a POS! Only 1 season with that one. Then I aquired my parents 1987 21' Chris-Craft Cavalier in 1991, It only had 42 hrs. on it. I still own it to this day. Then in the summer of 2006 I bought a 1969 12' Aluma-Craft with a 1986 8 HP Evinrude, still have that one. Then in spring of 2008, I got my 1990 V-20 with a 200 HP Johnnyrude.

[CaptJJ]

My dad raised us on a early 1970s?, Tcraft, 22' I believe. I/O, four cylinder that was always breaking down and under powered.
My first boat, my 1989 V20. My dad bought it for me brand new for graduating college and we went with the Yama 225 because he wanted no more problems and lots of power.
Dad past in 1993 from bone cancer. He had it at the time he bought it for me and didn't get to go on it that much with me because of pain. He was happy to see me enjoy it...that is why I haven't parted with her(memories). The golf course he use to play at was right on the ocean and I would call him when I was coming by and he use to love watching it go by...man I miss him.

[reelapeelin]

Where's Hammer w/his 1st boat??...

[cfelton]

I started with a 16ft. Juniper homemade flatbottom boat with a 3hp Evinrude. My dad found it sunken in the Chowan river, brought it home and rebuilt it. We fished it till he passed in 1980. I kept patching it until it was totaly rotten and scraped it a few years ago. Around 1990 I was given a 37ft. Colonial with twin Chryslers 6cyls. I worked on it for about a year and had arranged to have it pulled to paint the bottom when a hurricane sank it in 25ft of water in Bennets creek in Gatesville. I tried pulling it up to the top and pumping it out but couldnt keep it up on top, so I pulled it on shore with one of our log skidders and scrapped it. I then bought and rebuilt a 1972 Carolina plyboard boat and a new 25hp evinrude, still have it. In March of 06 I bought my 77 v20 with a 170 Merc. Ive spent hundreds of hours restoring the boat ,engine, drive and trailer but now have the boat Ive always wanted.

[bradford]

Santa brought me a Sevylor 3 man scout raft when I was 7 years old. It was camoflage and oar powered. Mom and Dad got me a 17 lbs. thrust Minn Kota trolling motor for it for my birthday. A year or so later I found a 10 ft fiberglass semi-V on the side of the road for sale for $25. I bought it with some of my lawn cutting money and later added a 3hp sears air-cooled outboard for $40. Never could get the sears outboard to fire, so I put the Minn Kota on the back. Used it in the lakes around Stone Mountain and in the creek me and my friends used to dam up behind our house. Years later Mom accidentally backed over it in the driveway one afternoon when I was painting it. For my 10th birthday we went to the Atlanta Boat Show and Dad bought an 87 Sylvan V-171 bowrider. We took it to Lake Lanier EVERY weekend for the first few years, sometimes on both saturday and sunday. I ended up putting more hours on it than Dad even though I was only in my preteen years. Fast forward to my early 20's, Ended up living on Wilmington Island Ga. and had to have a boat again. Bought a 13ft Gamefisher with a 4hp Mariner. Paid $800. Was great to use in protected back waters, but wasn't stable enough for the girl who eventually became the Wifey. Bought a 14ft Fisher Marine with a 30hp Mariner. Paid $1300 and ran the schiit out of it almost every day sometimes. Wish I never sold that one. Bought an 86 Donzi 18 2+3 (yeah, BIG change) with 350 Mercruiser Paid $7100. Was great for hauling *** (63mph) and making a bunch of noise with through-hull exhaust. Dad talked about selling the old Sylvan and I got sentimental and bought it off him for $2000. He felt sentimental and gave a $1000 back. The wifey and I decided to move to Florida and I had to sell every thing to keep from having to move it, and also the new place didn't have all the room to park all those boats. Sold every thing except for a 90 Kawasaki Jet ski I got in a trade for the Sylvan. The Jetski was fun except everyone on a boat hates you and most jetski folks are pricks. Started reading the boat trader and looked at a couple in the 18-22ft range. After looking at 3 different V-20s, I bought mine for $5100 and sold the Jetski to a buddy of mine. Decided except for the weather, the clear water and white sand beaches I didn't like Florida so we sold the house before the market crashed, and moved back to good ol' Wilmington Island. Since being back I've acquired a 12 ft fiberglass skiff, and the twin to the Jetski I had before, both for free and a 14 ft Mckee Craft with a 50 hp suzuki for $850. Sorry to be so long winded.:beer:

[bcurling]

My first at age 12 was a 14' wooden boat brand and age unknown I'm too old to remember and it had Johnson 10hp, I think? (gone)
Then came 1973 Wellcraft Airsolt 185 with Merc OB. Heavy boat but very dry (gone)
Infinity 19' 1992 w 140 hp Volvo I/O. Very nice fishing boat. Built by the Global Yacht Co. as a launch used on their 78' yachts. (gone)
GlassMaster 1989 w/ Johnson 65 hp (gone)
Glen-L Console Skiff 16' wood (I'm currently building this one on my shop)
Landau 1983 aluminum 16' w/Mariner 40 hp (current)
1983 Wellcraft V-20 Steplift w/170 Merc I/O completely restored at purchase. (gone but not forgotten. I am currently on the prowl for a replacement. That was by far, the best boat I every owned).

[eight]

The first boat I owned was a 12' avon inflatable I got for free. I added a 10hp seaking to it for $100 I think. I fished with that one a couple times a month. It could run the whole weekend on 3 gals of gas.

2nd was a Glen-L 18' skiff with a 70 hp nissan. It was used at least every week for a couple years.

3rd's the catamaran I have now, trying to sell it.

Somewhere in there I got a 14' aluminum semi-v I believe is still by one of my lakes. Also got a stand up jetski a few months ago.

[BuilderFL]

My first boat (bought by my Dad new) was a 1970 Glastron V-176 in avocado with a 115 Evinrude. Great all around boat!

[Franco]

I was partners on a 70's 20' Seaox with a 115 evinrude, then I had a 13' Boston Whaler then I got the V20 and Now I have a McKee Craft CC

[Monkey Butler]

In my teens during the 70's my Dad had an 18' Penn Yann just like this.

http://www.monkeybutler.com/help/PennYann1.jpeg

http://www.monkeybutler.com/help/PennYann2.jpeg

He had it on a mooring in the Charles River near the Mass. Ave. bridge. That was a different era in Cambridge before it became the peoples republic. I don't remember the exact fee to get a mooring but it was cheap by today's standards, something like $20. It originally had a 50HP Evinrude but one day we went to go out and noticed the boat floating a little odd. Turned out somebody had stolen the OB right off the boat while it was in the water! That was the end of the mooring and the season. Over the winter he found a 90HP Johnson that really made that boat move.

Best memory on that boat was watching the bicenttenial fireworks in 1976 with Arthur Fiedler leading the Pops concert. When I was old enough to drive he let me trailer it where ever I wanted and eventualy he basically gave the boat to my brother and I. That lasted several years but sometime in the early 80' my brother ran aground and busted the bottom up. Without me knowing about it the boat eneded up in a bonfire on Whitehorse beach in Plymouth MA on the night before the 4th. I still get worked up thinking about that.

My mom worked at Harvard U. and one of the benefits back then was that they gave employees and their families access to the recreational facilities. This included the sailing club so from high school to my early 20's I sailed O'day dinghies and Lasers there. They also had a Soling but it was rare to get to use that. It was weird, a poor city kid hanging with Harvard students but some of them really used to look forward to me showing up because I had, uhh, local knowledge of access to supplies of recreational drugs.

After I moved west of the city in the mid 80's I had at various times:

A 12' aluminum skiff with a 8HP motor.
A Super Snark sailboat.
A canoe.

Five years ago my ex-boss gave me his fathers old 13' Whaler with a 25HP Evinrude.

Three years ago I bid $750 on a 17' Wellcraft/Manatee on ebay. Here's a picture of the two together.

http://www.monkeybutler.com/boat/boats.jpg

Two years ago I bought my current boat for $2600 then sold the 17' for $1200. Also that year I gave my ex-boss the Whaler back. Long story why but I'll just say I miss that boat.

That's it. I'm happy with the 250 right now,however I would like to replace the Whaler with something similar but that's not in the budget right now.

[C YENSEN]

my first boat is my V.....still got her. :sun:

[nipper]

First family boat was my Dad's old 1950's vintage 15' Lyman with a 40 h.p. Elgin motor. Dad traded up to a 16' Speedliner in 1972 with an 80 h.p. Mercury. He quickly traded that for a larger 18' Speedliner and kept the same motor. Had many good years with that boat, and replaced the Merc. (very troublesome and unreliable) with a 1986 Evinrude 90 h.p. with VRO that never gave us a problem.

I bought that boat from Dad when he purchased his (now my) V20 in 1991. I gutted the old gal and put in new carpet, seats, etc. Believe it or not, that old plywood floor was still solid when I sold it in 1996 and bought a 20' Formula sunsport with a 265 h.p. Mercruiser. I still have the Formula.

I inherited my Dad's V20 in 2002 and still have it. I had to repower in 2006 with a new 4.3 litre 190 h.p. Mercruiser.

Anyone familiar with the Speedliner hull? I wish I had pix. Y'all would immediately recognize the similarity to the V20. It was a very good solid boat.

[eight]

If we're going into family boats it was:

1974 Duo 17' trihull with a 115, we went out every weekend and once caught some sunfish.
Some 80s 17' I/O ski boat, used once
16' bass tracker with a 50hp merc, figured out how to catch fish in this one.
18' bayliner bass boat with 125 force
1993 20' regency sunbird with 200hp I/O, lots of good times in this one, about the time I turned 16
2001 21' ebbtide with 200hp I/O, fell off the trailer but had a thick hull
2001 tige 21v, dam wakeboard boat
2006 malibu v-ride, dam wakeboard boat
2008 23' malibu, not sure what it is, rides good and good for drinking beer

The malibus will turn as quick and sharp as you can throw the wheel, much quicker than unsuspecting passengers can stay in their seats. 330 hp also.

[Stillrunning]

My parents have lived on the river most of my life so either me or my father had a boat.

1975 My first boat 12' John Boat with a Sears 9.9 (8 or 9 years old)

1980 I purchased a 14 Jon Dorey (spelling) with a 25 hsp Evenrude. I would also use that Evenrude on my 12' John Boat and it would fly (around 14 years old).

1984 My dad purchased a brand new 19' Cudy Cabin Bayliner with an AQ125 Volvo I/O we ran the dog crap out of that boat for about 10 years before it died.

1996 I purchased a 1983 20' CC Sea Ox while on vacation at the Outer Banks.

1996 One month after I purchased the Sea Ox I purcased my 1983 V20 CC which had a one month old 150 Johnson and sold the Sea Ox. I was not looking for a boat but was out with a buddy who owned the V20 and when he said he had to sell the V20 and then the price I just said "sold". I gave him $500 more for the works then he had just paid for the new motor but I did my good deed and helped out a friend. The boat still runs great and is sitting in my yard ready to catch some more stripers. I am now 44 and maybe one day I'll grow up.

[Geekie1]

First boat I had was a Chris Craft kitboat 8' pram. (oars) Built it with the help of my father.
After the pram I spent most of my time on the water in sailboats. They were:

Lippincott Comet - Cedar construction
Star - Olympic class boat with a full keel
Flying Dutchman - Sloop with a masthead rig. Had spinnaker, 140% jib, etc.

In the middle 50's i got into stinkpots and the first was a 16' Lyman klinker built, much like Monkey Butlers Penn Yan. Power, 22 1/2 HP Evinrude. No gears, just forward, no recoil starter, just rope wound around flywheel. Getting underway was an experience. Re-powered with an Evinrude 25 Bigtwin with forward, neutral, and reverse.

Went on with some larger boats such as a 32' Owens inboard with twin 283 chevvys.

About 12 years ago I got into building cedar strip canoes and kayaks. Built 2 canoes and 3 kayaks.

I have had my V20 Cuddy for about 8 years. The first 4 years I was in V20 partnership with my brother-inlaw. My V20 is as follows:

1984 V20
Bimini Top w all stainless hardware. New Sunbrella cloth this year.
60 gallon tank with added 24 gallon tank for far off shore fishing.
Raw water washdown
6 added rod holders in addition to the 4 gunnel holders
15' gunnel mounted outriggers
Anchor Ball
Porta Potti
Sitek VHF Radio
Garmin GPS
Sitek Loran C
AM, FM, CD radio
3 step stainless steel ladder on swim platform

I am currently working on rebuild and re-finish teak on rod boxes. I hope they will be ready for spring season. Refinished teak cabin door, teak gunnel treads, teak bilge door. My goal for all of the wood on the V to be done this spring.

I have an Easy Loader tandom trailer that the V lives on. The trailer is an ongoing refurb project. So far I have replaced the following:

Manual winch with a Dutton Lainson electric winch
All 32 rollers
All lights with leds
Jack
All bearings
4 tires

Original 1985 Yamaha 150 2 stroke, Repainting the leg and cowling as we speak. I am using computer matched Yamaha acrylic blue lacquer w/clear coat auto paint.
Racor 10 micron filter

Like they say, a boat is a hole-in-the-water that you pour money into!!! To me it is money well spent.

Geek

[Hammerhead]

Not counting the canoes and dories I had as a kid my first real boat was a 1969 16' Bonita I just sold about a year ago. Had it for over 30 years. Motors on it were a 90 'rude, 115 'rude, and then a 90 yamaha.

I bought the V-20 when I moved here. The Bonita was Ok for Biscayne bay but, too small for offshore up here.

Here'a a pic.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n147/Surfcentral/DCFN0001.jpg

and the 1977 165HP I/O V-20,...( 6 hp kicker)

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n147/Surfcentral/Fantome.jpg