New to the Board

[NorthRiver]

I am new to this board. I bought my 1976 V20 last fall and had a similar experience I had no idea this site was here or what a V20 was before I ended up with one. In all honesty, I bought her for her motor --powered by Honda 130 w/ 57 hours. Now I am hooked! She tops out about 40 mph and that is fast enough for me. I have already rewired, put in a 12 circuit panel with breakers, installed new electronics, new cleats, chocks, rod holders, horn, etc. --

I am putting her back in the water this weekend. Will post some pics! By the way, this site is fantastic and has already answered a lot of my questions!

NorthRiver

[labii]

Welcome to the site ! Do you own a cuddy or center console ? I 'll bet that Honda sips fuel .

[NorthRiver]

Thanks! She's a cuddy and yes, the Honda 4 Stroke does sip fuel. Mine has the twin saddle tanks, both of which effectively hold about 16 gallons (slops out the vent too much when you fill them up), so the fuel economy really helps to increase my range.

[Mac_Attack]

NorthRiver where are you from? Welcome to our V20 site. Bill Mc ;D

[NorthRiver]

Mathews, Virginia. As you may have guessed, I keep her on the North River off of Mobjack Bay.

[Mac_Attack]

I figured it was North River somewhere. Here in Detroit we have a road called North River Road with all kinds of marinas on it. I was just wondering if you might be from this area. Again welcome! Bill Mc ;D

[NorthRiver]

Has anyone here ever changed out the saddle tanks? If so, is there a manufacture for replacement tanks, preferably plastic and with a bit more capacity? I still have the aluminum tanks and would like to change them out as well as do something about the fuel leaking from the vents. Any thoughts?

[harryg]

I replaced the fuel fill with one that has a vent incorporated into it. So if it splashes it will go back into the tank. I had a problem with sea water being driven up the side and into the tank through the side vent, this solves both problems.

Harry

[Brian_M]

Hello,

I run my V20 out of deltaville, just a bit north of you. My saddle tanks do the same thing, theres quite a few posts about solutions, most of them recommend moving the vent higher above the deck. I have petcocks which I can open/close to limit the fuel spills /o starving the engine. I found about 1/2 open works good...

Brian

[NorthRiver]

HarryG, I am assuming you just removed or plugged the hoses going to the vents on the side? The vented caps are probably better all the way around --especially with the seas we can encounter in the Bay. I hadn't really thought about sea water going in, but I do not see why it wouldn't.

Brian, I am very familiar with Deltaville. I spend a lot of time there sailing with friends. Also spend a lot of money there at West Marine and BoatUS!

[macojoe]

Welcome!!

I have the 75 V20 and what I did was move the vents up higher and no more problem!!

I just left the old vents right were they are. This way I did not have to fix the holes.

[harryg]

I moved the hose from the side vent up to the new vent in the fuel fill, so the hose is going straight up from the tank to the vent.

Harry

[NorthRiver]

Got it. That makes sense. Seems pretty simple. Did you buy off the shelf gass fills? Also, did the new gas fills fit into the hole or did you have to bore them out?

[Jester]

Welcome Aboard to another Virginian!!!

At least I live in VA (on the Potomac), keeping the boat(s) in Annapolis and Shady Side, MD on the Chesapeake.

[harryg]

I bought them at West Marine and they fit right in.

[harryg]

While I was at it, I replaced all the fuel lines. Although I didn't know it at the time, they were leaking. I did this before I launched it the first time.
BTW, I have a 1977 V20 w/1985 Johnson 115.

Harry

[reelapeelin]

N River...my '74 didn't slosh gas out the vents...it pulled water in...any turn in rough water and she'd go to spittin'...bought two 90 degree elbow vents and relocated ABOVE rub-rail...problem solved!... ;) ;D...this would most likely correct your fuel loss as well...

I yanked my saddles and installed new tanks inside seat boxes...w/ your Honda, you wouldn't have to go nearly as big...couple of 25s or 30s would be plenty...

Oh yeah...even w/ vents relocated, if I topped off my tanks, the gas would EXPAND and out it'd come, so I learned real quick not to do that any more... :o...

Welcome to the board...any way we can mess w/ your mind, just let us know...

[shicks007]

Welcome NR,

Your in the heart of speckled trout territory! I'm from Yorktown, Va. I also have a 76'.

[Franco]

Welcome NR, formerly of Virginia, Hail form Florida now, used to fish the chesapeake bay bridge tunnel, off virginia beach and north carolina

[NorthRiver]

I really appreciate all the information. I think I am going to change out the tanks and put do the gas fill venting. It is nice to see so many V-20 neighbors out there, and yes, the speckled trout are thick in our area.

[JeffXJ]

Are the Speckled already in??? Guess I'll have to hop on my dad's boat!

[NorthRiver]

Speckled love the shallows in the Spring, I am told. You have to love Mobjack --there is always something to catch.

[knightfisher]

Welcome i hope you get as much out of this site as i have it is great how everybody in here is so kind and willing to help out

[shicks007]

I haven't heard of many spaec's being caught this spring, but surely they must be here.

[NorthRiver]

I will let you know how I do this weekend --assuming I find the right cleats for my boat. I took them off to find replacements that match the same holes on the deck. The old ones went bumpy metal on me and started eating up my dock lines. Salt water!