V20s...did you know?...

[reelapeelin]

When I first got mine, I had no idea what V20s are all about...Only reason I got it was because it had big V, good deadrise and full windshield...saw one pictured in Boat Trader in Houston and it just looked like what I wanted...then a buddy saw the one I actually bought...it was "FOR SALE" across road from Columbia SC Boat Show...(good place to sell a boat)...

When you got yours, did you know?...

[Franco]

My brother was production manager at wellcraft for several years when they were making the V20. Also they were a very popular boat in my neck of the woods. I got to fish on a few cc models and admired them very much. I wanted one but they always were out of my price range. A few years later, a fellow i worked with invited me to go fishing, he was more a boater than a fisherman and the stripper season was finally reopening in Virginia so he wanted some pointers. I knew he had a V20, just had not seen it. It was very clean when I got it and it ran it's butt off. He was the second owner, had all the original paperwork and such. When he stepped up to a bigger boat, I got first shot and snapped it up

[labii]

I bought mine on traderonline . It was down in Ft. Walton Beach Fl. and a good 11-12 hour drive from here. My family had a 1974 cuddy when I was groing up. My dad sold it when I went off to college . I had a Whaler Montauk 17' for a while and I got to old to take the beating . My best friend had V20 center console a I liked it so I knew that was what I wanted . I started looking around and found what looked like [and turned out to be] a great deal. I rented a 3/4 ton truck and headed south to Florida . Absolutley no regrets !

[CT_V-20]

When I had to replace my Sea Ox, I was pretty focused on an old Bertram to fix up. They were all too expensive and 15-20 years older than I wanted. In doing research on the Betrams I found out Ray Hunt did a bunch of non-Bertram hulls and the V-20 turned out to be my favorite (and the most economically feasible). I used this post to learn about the V-20.

[knightfisher]

I lucked out i found my 89 c/c on boattrader.com i did not know anything about the V-20 it was in Deltona Fl. about 4 hours from my place, I went and looked at it and loved it it was just what i wanted.when i saw that flair on the bow i knew it was for me. He was asking 4,000 for it and he said the transom was rotted so i told him i will have to think about it and he said give me 2,500 right now and it your's i grabed it, 350.00 to fix transom with seacast and i have a boat that looks like it was never used this boat was kept in dry storage and hardly ever used. it had a 150 force original motor upgraded to a merc 200 which i got for a steal and i can't be any happier with my V-20

[reelapeelin]

So Knight...maybe you can negotiate my next boat...you sound pretty good at it... :D...

[phester]

I first saw a v20 at the end of someones driveway" FOR SALE"this had to be around 1982/1983.What caught my eye was the flair of the bow.I got out ,poked around, thought to myself whatta nice layout, and if I recall I think the motor was a 175 evinrude so I assumed it went pretty good.Why it took me 22 years to get one will forever a mystery

[mirage2521]

I have wanted one since I was a teenager, being in the military made it hard to own something like thiat but now that I am retired it took me about...oh, I retired oh the first of may and brought the boat home on the 3rd :D

[Havis]

I had no idea. I was looking on ebay, with no intention of buying anything, at prices for something I could take past the galveston jetties. One prerequisite (from the wife) was that I had to have 2 engines to venture offshore. Most anything with 2 engines was 11K or better. I ran across one for 6K. If it's junk, I thought, I could sell the engines for that. I found 6K on anunused credit card and hit 'buy it now'. Having been somewhat in the marine industry (service work, engines, generators and such), I wasn't afraid of a little work. I get there and the hull is near -perfect-, really. Just a couple of boat trailer dings on the bottom. The P.O. had redone the transom to accomadate the 2 big engines, and did a fine job. Being OK with the boat, I handed over the cash and drove away (new trailer, tires, etc, included). Cool, I thought, fair deal.

I was very worried that Laura would say 'what piece of junk did you bring home?!?!' or something to that effect (I have done that before). But, no, she said "Wow, that's a NICE boat!" "I love the lines." "Look at all the room." "Can we go out tomorrow?"

We did go out the next day. And the one after that. The ride impresses everyone and the speed was thrilling. And she's a very pretty boat, to boot. But I was organizing a list of things to do. First, a compounding and waxing of the hull and it looked new. I bet this one was stored, unused, for a long time.

So, now I'm hooked. What else could one want? A great, dry ride even in heavy(ish) seas; solidly built; plenty of fishing/people riding area; nice looking; dry stowage in the cuddy; all in an easily trailerable package.

Just want....more fuel capacity...t-top...more electronics...

[phatdaddy]

I had owned A Whaler, Mako, & Hydrosport, all center console, untill my daughter was born. Then we needed something with a cuddy. This was in 89 and the walk around was catching on, but there was no deck room and too much cabin. I picked up a friends 84 V-20 for $6500. That was 16 years and 2 outboards ago. I get upgrade fever every 2 or 3 years, but I can't find anything to take its place.

[steplift20]

great boat great lines plenty of fishing room especially with out the passenger seat in it , just looking at it never get tired looking at itand its a 1978 and im the secound owner the first time i had seen one on the water i said thats going to be next boat .and bought one and have it now for about 10 years and love it more today then yesturday

[rb437]

I had never seen or heard of a V20 until I bought one. My wife actually drove by the boat and noticed the for sale sign. She looked at it first and then called me. When I saw it I knew she had found the right boat. We were looking to move up from a 17' bowrider. We wanted some thing that would not beat you to death when the wind got over 10 knots, could easily be trailered and had plenty of room for the entire family. It is perfect for us. We've owned our '89 with 165 mercruiser for 2 years now. I can't imagine wht I could replace it with that would be better.

[reelapeelin]

Rick...sounds like your wife is a good judge of boats...you need to keep that one around... ;D...put some pictures up when you can... :)...

[brianct12]

I've been using a 1969 18' Thompson for the past 25 years - *my first boat. * I added a new 90hp Evinrude back in 1985 - *the boat was good for fishing and w-skiing ... would do 40 mph tops. *BUT - *it was a terrible pounder in the ocean. *I took it everywhere when I was young ... and could endure a beating. * Narragansett Bay, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard, The RACE in LIS.

Well - *I decided this was the year I would buy a boat that would be better suited to ocean use. *I had been looking for a year ... and have to admit ... my first choice was the 21.5' Chris Craft WA model called Sea-Hawk from 1985-1991. * But, probably a little too big for trailering all the time. *I found this web-site when searching for the Chris Craft ... and became more and more interested in the V20 every time I read a posting. *I guess it was the praise from all you guys .. *about how well the boat handled the seas .... * that made me decide this was what I wanted. *I DO enjoy the "look" of the hull and the layout of the boat very much. *

I have never had a ride in a V20 yet .... but am anticipating my first launch very much. * Especially after all the work I am putting into my restoration project. *Hell, I just like the way the naked hull looks in my garage ... every time I walk out to *look at her. *Going fishing will be the icing on the cake.

[Blue_Runner]

RAP - I did not know....

I saw mine on eBay and noticed that it was 1.5 miles from my house!!!! I got wood looking at the flare, the full windshield and the massive deckspace.

But, now I know 8)

[reelapeelin]

Brian, glad we influenced you to come aboard nut-hut.com... :o ;D...hope you can post some pics soon..or have you already...

BR...it's good to "know"... ;)...mile and a half...amazing!...

I found what I think is a 21 across town...it's under a tarp, but you can see blue lettering on sides like a 21 posted a while back...no SALE sign on it...wanna go ring his doorbell...might one day... ::)...

[fillet1]

I admired these things for years before I got one. I'm form follows function kind of guy. Things that are designed to work well look good to me. Thats what a v-20 is. Giant cockpit, nice deadrise at the transom, steep deadrise at the bow with carolina flare, and a tumblehome in the transom.

I knew I would be buying one for a while before I pulled the trigger. :)

[rb437]

Rick...sounds like your wife is a good judge of boats...you need to keep that one around... ;D...put some pictures up when you can... :)...

Hey Reelapeelin,

Yeah, she's a keeper. So's the wife.

Pictures coming soon. Just got a new digital camera this weekend.

Rick

[macojoe]

its what I could afford!! I did not no what I was buying ???

I guess it was just $hit luck!!

[Pipe_Dream]

The construction company I work for had two V-20s, along with 2 other boats, for running crews and small loads of materials to a neighboring island. All the boats suffered from neglect and abuse, but I cleaned this one up and my boss said I could use her for pleasure, and in exchange I did the maintenance. A good friend and I fished her several seasons, and we both remarked how the hull handled like no other we'd ever been out on. This while we were phasing out working across the water. Slowly the other 3 boats were sold and I eventually acquired the Pipe Dream from the company (we are a utility contractor, we lay pipe so the name came naturally!). When the old 'Rude gave out I decided to get rid of all the scars from her first life, AND I found this website, so basically I lucked into the V-20 world! ;D She is the first powerboat I ever owned (I used to sail), and may be the last.

[Blue_Runner]

Pipe, you could make a movie out of that story ;)

[jaysea]

:'(

[reelapeelin]

End of the movie is Pipe Dream riding off into the sunset, blastin' thru some 2 footers at about 3/4 throttle...camera in the chopper follows as background music "Born To Be Wild" peels the paint off the theater walls... 8)...

Rats...east coast...he'd have to be ridin' into a sunrise....that'll work, too... ;D...

[Pipe_Dream]

Maybe "Born To Run" (Springsteen)? Or how about Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It"! (I watched the TV show Miami Vice back in its heydey, mostly for the boats and the Ferari, anyway there is a scene that's always stuck in my mind, of that big Scarab hauling a$$ from the Bahamas toward Florida -- into the sunset -- with Tina singing away -- big bow waves spraying outwards -- almost poetry!) ::) 8)

[reelapeelin]

Seesaw by The Moody Blues....CRANK IT UP AND RIP THE KNOB OFF!!... :o 8)...

[Franco]

Naaahhhhhhh. Your ideling down the creek, heading to the mouth of the inlet. The sun is just aout ready to come up, but it's still a red glow on the horizon. You pop thru the chop in the inlet, lean hard on the throttle just as jimmy hendrix is letting it rip on "VOODOO CHILE"
Rock and ROll!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[reelapeelin]

`Do we do the movie first or the boat?...I know...we do the boat and make the movie around the boat...great advertising...we won't be able to handle all the orders... ;) :D...

Hey Pipe...who is a currently famous star to play you in the male lead and who's gonna play the female lead?...then we gotta cast the ruff-a$$ old boss and "the guys", your buddies on the work crew you hauled back and forth...remember the time the boat encountered ruff seas, overloaded w/ crew, but the venerable V20 got you thru?...whew!...that was a close one!... :o...

Franco...Hendrix is good...

[Pipe_Dream]

Hmmm, Kiefer Southerland? *He's almost ugly enough . . . heh heh . . . *the leading lady could be Ashley Judd, she's from Kentucky, like me!

I think Franco's got a bead on our advertising strategery!

[CT_V-20]

Brian, at some point this summer you can come down and I'll take you out on mine. Maybe it will give you ideas on what not to do with your restoration.

[reelapeelin]

Ashley Judd could be from MARS and work just fine... 8)...

Southerland sounds good...as long as it's not Nick Cage...if he's an actor, I'm Russian Jet-Pilot...depth of a hubcap, range of a squirt-gun... ::) :P...

[bradford]

Figured I'd bump a good 9 year old thread.

Saw my first one back in 99 or 2000. Was on a trailer at Sail Harbor Marina on Wilmington Island about 2 miles from where I live now. Was a early 70's model with a 200 yamaha precision blend on her. Really caught my eye, seemed like a big boat, but not that big. Liked the huge cockpit, cuddy, and bowflare.

Looked at a few over the years on the side of the road for sale. Eventually moved to Clearwater, Fla and bought a house. Started shopping for a boat and looked at a few different models, but V20's always stood out. Looked at a few that needed some work, and eventually found mine in Winterhaven, Fla. Has been a good boat and I've gone through alot of the common problems with older V's. Spent a bunch having the old 225 rebuilt, new fuel tank, recored the top deck over the cuddy, had the transom redone, new awlgrip paint, new etech 150, took off all the non skid except for the deck, new cleats and hardware, custom bow pulpit, the list goes on.

I'll never come close to getting my money out of her, but I'm not planning on selling her ever either. Yeah, I think I knew.

My music would be "Crockett's Theme" from the Miami Vice soundtrack.

http://youtu.be/_UmOY6ek_Y (http://youtu.be/_UmOY6ek_Y4)

[Destroyer]

Kinda weird story for me. Back in the mid/late 80's I got my first V because she was cheap, and I wanted a boat bigger than the 15' Renken I had at the time. I really don't remember a lot about her. She was an under-powered I/O and I could not get her up on plane. (I didn't know that her engine was scored) Not knowing a lot about boat engines at the time I bought a second hand 6 cylinder engine, fabricated an adapter plate and mounted it in place of the 4 cylinder that was there. Took her out, hit the throttle and .....nothing... (I found out later that the engine was only 65hp and the pitch of the prop was a 21p). Soured me on the boat 100%, I hung a for sale sign on her and she sold for what I paid for her in two weeks. (I've always hoped that her new owner treated her better than I did).

That should be the end of the story......

But...

I always remembered how nice she looked,... what a great flare on her bow, all that room in the back and how she cut through the waves rather than pounded up over them.... and so, many many years later, when one of my uncles that lived in Florida died, my aunt asked me if I wanted his boat (because she knew that I was a boater/fisherman). So my mom (her sister) and I went to visit her for a few weeks, and I looked at the boat and saw that it was a V20 steplift like the one I had years ago. I took the boat out almost every day. I simply loved it. A year later I trailered her home and ever since it's been a continuation of my love affair with these hulls that lasts to this day.

[Striper80]

I was looking for a boat and a guy I worked with mentioned his neighbor was selling one. It turned out to be a boat that I used to stare at while my friends and were hanging out in a park when we were 15. She was an 89 18 cc. I had that boat for about 5 years and had a lot of fun with her. When I sold it the floor was pretty soft but I thought she was a good boat. I picked up a Striper WA because my fiancé didn't like having no place to use the bathroom. That boat never rode anywhere as good as my little 18. My uncle has an 89 v20 cuddy and whenever my father comes up from Florida we go out on it. It seems like no matter what the forecast is it gets snotty but she handles it like a champ.

[cterrebonne]

As a kid, my family bought a camp on the barrier island south of where I grew up. So naturally we needed a boat to get out there and start fishing. At that time, my uncle had the '79 that I bought later on and my dad's friend also had a v20. So, my dad went on the hunt to find a 20ft CC that was not going to break the bank. Low and behold at the local boat consignment yard, the had a '76 with a '77 175 Evinrude for sale at a really good price. So, my dad bought it and brought her home.

That bought caught so much fish and we had so much fun on it. We eventually added wing tanks, a t-top, larger portable livewell, and got a glass shop to build the front area into a huge insulated fish box/storage area. That fish box was awesome. We also added a radio, vhf, FF/GPS.

Being a V20 we had to eventually replace the transom and we had to rebuild the engine have one cylinder have out on us. We then put a 81 ish 9.9 on the back as a kicker motor in case the big engine had trouble again.

Since then, I have been hooked on the v20. For where I fish, it is an awesome boat.

[macojoe]

I knew nothing about them! I saw for sale in local paper, went saw it and loved the room for fishing and I was sold! Was great for 10 years the amount of fish and the water it had went thur was great! till the wave of 2006 almost took us out! Then it was time for a bigger boat.
Best thing about the V was finding the site and great people here!!!!!!!!:love::clap:

[macojoe]

I knew nothing about them! I saw for sale in local paper, went saw it and loved the room for fishing and I was sold! Was great for 10 years the amount of fish and the water it had went thur was great! till the wave of 2006 almost took us out! Then it was time for a bigger boat.
Best thing about the V was finding the site and great people here!!!!!!!!:love::clap:

[bgreene]

Back when I was around 20 years old, our family had a T - Craft 21, very similar to the V-20/V-21.

After a couple of boats, last being a Mako center console, I just wanted a V.

Looked at a lot of " over rated " boat ad's........till the 96' popped up in NJ, and I snapped it up fairly quickly after test ride etc......