Why a V20?

[ne1309]

I am a new user. I am very interested in a V20 after reading up on them. I live in southeast VA and curious if this paticular boat would be a good bay boat....Comfortable and dry? It is nice to see a boat with such a following.

[mauryc]

ne1309

The V-20 hull is the driest riding 20' you'll ever ride in. The boat fishes and handles much "bigger" than other 20 footers. The bow pushes the water off almost horizontal in large swells. This tends to slow the boat down in rough seas, but its well worth it. I was very comfortable going offshore. The boat could handle much more than I could. If you want speed, then find an old Seacraft ($$$). I ran my V-20 with dual 115's so I had plenty of speed. Only limitation on older V-20's (cuddy) is fuel capacity. Older models have 2- 18 or 20 gal saddle tanks which are not enough for long runs. Fish in it, ski in it, sit under the carport and drink a beer in it. Its all good. My vote for one of the best hulls ever made.

Maury

[ne1309]

Maury

Apperciate the advice. I plan on using the boat for fishing and yes a few beers. They seem fairly priced and a good all aound boat.

[buckleyjr]

The open space of the cockpit combined with the cuddy cabin you can walk thru makes this boat really flexible in terms of use. My wife can go to the bathroom in the cuddy (a major plus), but I still have the ability to walk around - almost like a center console. It is a great family boat you can feel safe in, AND a great fishing machine. Check out all the various set-ups of this boat in the gallery.

Also, the hull is solid and the gel coat generally can be compounded and waxed to a nice shine - even on 30 year old hulls!

Personally, I just happen to think they are beautiful looking boats. Some boats these days look like pregnant whales. That deep V hull and the flare of the bow is just gorgeoius to look at (and as flounder said, functional as well).

I looked everywhere before I found these boats. Try finding a boat like this, that has a quality hull, for under $10K. Also, this site rocks and is a great resource. I often wonder if I would have purchased my boat if it wasn't for the site. Good luck!

[ne1309]

buckleyjr,

like the site has given great insight. Thank you for your opinion. Looking at the V on ebay right now. Looks pretty nice.

[Franco]

I lived in Virginia Beach and fished the Chesapeake Bay for 40plus years, a V20 is a great bay boat. I fsshed a lot of winters hunting down strippers, summers I was looking for Cobia, flounder, some amberjacks at the ches light, you'll love it!!!!

[reelapeelin]

Boy, I hope my wife never catches me "hunting down strippers"...Franco, does your wife know you were huntin' strippers or did she think you were fishin'?... ;D...

NE1309, get the boat, Man...you gonna luv it here!!... ;D...

[fillet1]

Ne

The v-20 is in my opinion one of the better bay boats new or old. For the money it is unbeatable. The cockpit is gigantic for the boat's size, which is key for me. No center console in the same size has more fishing room. Plus, it keeps you dry and your gear dry in the cuddy. Much more dry storage then any center console. You can store 50 rods in the cuddy if ya got em. You can power it with as little as 115 hp or as much as 235.

The kicker is that you can get a decent one for less then 5k if you shop around. Honestly, I snicker to myself when I see guys in 18-21 boats that they paid 20-40K for. My boat rides better, is dryer, has more room, more storage and no payments. ;D

[Mac_Attack]

The boat has a great ride. She handles Lake Erie very well.Buy one you'll love it! Bill Mc ;D

[Veeder]

Fillet,

Just saw an ad ( page 175,new Offshore magazine). Edgewater 205 EX, with hull color, lounge seat and "other options"; $52,949.00!!!! Looks much like our boats (without the flare, of course) for a MERE 50 G's.

[fillet1]

The prices of new boats are just plain ridiculous. Particularly when anything 18-21 is really just a bay boat, and gas is almost three bucks a gallon.

[trout25red]

I saw a boat online that might make a good replacement for a V20. It was a 20ft Dusky. I would not be surprised though if the V20 had a better ride. Howeve, the Dusky had lots of room in it also. I was browsing around for a 23-26ft boat for going farther offshore when I saw this boat. I am very interested in the 23ft Dusky as the next offshore boat, but they are in Florida with no dealer chain. Therefore, I think I would have to get my butt to Florida to check them out . I guess I could make a vacation out of it?!!?

[JeffXJ]

Hey ne1309, where at in Southeastern VA are ya? I'm in Va Beach, so I had to ask ;D! If you plan on using a boat around the HRBT, CBBT and not too far offshore, then for 20' you can't go wrong with the V20. These boats are suited well for this area (and the price is very good, especially compared to new boats!)

Jeff

[fillet1]

Trout - The dusky's are nice. *Not priced too bad either. My next boat may be an Albemarle. The 24's are priced well (18k ish for a used one) and its a superb sea boat for its size. I dont know why anyone would buy a Grady White for 3 times the cost. The 27 Albemarle is a pretty good buy - you can find one for 30k ish and have a real canyon boat.

I may go the other way and get a big old tub that I can camp out on with the family for the weekend and still go fish the inshore artificial reefs. Something like a 30 Foot Luhrs Alura, 31 Pacemaker, etc. They can be had cheap.

Ne- Ya want the bad to go with the good?

Most V-20's are old. *That means fiberglass over plywood. Transoms rot, stringers rot, gas tanks leak, decks get soft. *It also means that the boat probably had a few prior owners who drilled holes everywhere. and screwed up the wiring. *Plus the age of the boat means in all liklihood the gel coat will be clapped out with spider cracking every where. *


Find one without these problems and you have a gem.

[Franco]

I got one for sale, new wiring, new stringers, new gauges and switches, new risers and manifolds, new reman engine
( 305 cid gm) new hydralic hoses for tilt, deck holes have all been repaired, gas tank cover has new core, transome solid as a rock, lotsa new stainless deck hardware, new bilge pumps, new battery hatch doors inside of transome, new battery switch, fuel seperator, remote oil drain and remote filter, new vhf, stereo, cockpit lights, vhf ant., bimini, fuse box and stuff i cant remember right now - includes trailer all for $5500.00

[ne1309]

Can not say it enough, I apperciate all the GREAT advice! Looks like i might have to keep my eye open and see what i can find. Last boat was an 18' WET boat did not last long due to that fact. I like they idea of a cuddy. Looking at the gallery of boats looks like i could put curtains on to make it a little more comfortable during rockfish season at the HRBT and CBBT.

[Stinky_Hooker]

I think you are on the right track. I have an 18 center console (wet boat) and that is why i got my V20 to restore. SICK OF BEING WET AND COLD!!! ;D

[macojoe]

Cause I said to get one thats why!!

[Franco]

HE HAS SPOKEN, WISE MAN LISTENS WHEN MJ RUMBLES!!!!!

[reelapeelin]

Where'd HE come from?... :o...

When I rigged mine, I had top w/ front, side and rear curtains made...in winter add a small propane(no flame) heater and stay toasty... ;) :)...

[phester]

the v-20 is one of the most [if not the most] versatile, safe, comfortable, stable, dry,and w/ the big horsepower, pretty fast hull as well. In a 20 footer you're not going to find a better boat. Good luck in you're search...ask many questions, everyone here is eager to help.

[Vic]

Franco, Lets rig one of those bait fish. Everytime I see that fish I get the shakes. Where is my gaff?

[Franco]

FISH ON VIC!!!!

[steplift20]

you think i love that boat just look at my name
great looking and love that flare

[Blue_Runner]

V20's (and 21's) are the DO IT ALL BOAT (and then some). The perfect mid-size boat. There is nothing closer to in-between than the V20. The boat wears many hats. Lake, bay, inshore, offshore waterway, sound (carport drinking beer ;D) - and most importantly - behind the truck headin down the highway. I pulled that V21 down from VA over 230 miles in my V8 Jeep Cherokee.

I don't know what else to say. Its already been said. I 2nd the "snicker when I see those guys" with 25 - 40 k in a boat of the same class that aren't as well thought out. 8)