Freeboard, power

[cliffpaul2]

I'm thinking about buying a v-20 cuddy but from what I've seen, the freeboard is pretty low on these boats. Is it a problem? I'll be using it in N. California for Salmon and bottomfish in the Pacific, Stripers in the Rivers, etc. Also, it seems like the standard I/O is only 4 cylinders. Is this enough power to easily get the boat on plane? Thanks in advance for your responses.

[bigshrimpin]

CliffPaul - where are you located? The V20 would be perfect for Salmon Fishing, Halibut, and motoring around the Delta. I have no idea why i/o's are so popular out here . . . If you have a choice get an outboard.

[cliffpaul2]

Thanks for the reply. I live in Vacaville, CA, about 45 min. SW of Sacramento. Are you a west coaster too?What would you say is the minimum HP outboard I could get by with. I'm moving up from a 17' Klamath aluminum center console that never burns more than 6 gallons of gas per trip, so MPG is going to be an eye opener for me with the bigger boat I'm sure. It's worth it, though, to have a boat that's a little better designed for the ocean.

[Mac_Attack]

Hi *
I just made the move from a 16 ft center console Gruman to a 1990 V20 sport. *The V20 Sport has a 150 HP Force on it and the gas usage is quite abit different. *The tradeoff *for the ride and being able to get out on Lake Erie in rougher conditions is worth the price. *I looked for about a year for my boat. *BS turned me on to this outboard model that was located in Ohio. *I was considering an IO model but I'm very satisfied with what I have. *You'll love the ride in a V20 coming from a smaller aluminum boat. *The amount of freeboard has not been a problem either. *Bill Mc ;D

[bigshrimpin]

CliffPaul,
I live in Davis, CA . . . right down the street. I moved out here back in March from Boston (my fiancee is in grad school at the university). We'll have to hookup sometime and go fishing.

Where did you find a v20 for sale around here?

[cliffpaul2]

I've really just discovered this boat. I found one in SoCal on Boattrader.com. When I did a national search I was amazed at how popular they were. Do you have a V20 (maybe that's a dumb question, but you didn't really say)? Does it have an outboard? What size? I'd like to come take a look at it sometime since were practically neighbors. We can chat about what kind of fishing we might do.

[bigshrimpin]

CliffPaul -
I'm still kicking myself for selling it. The v20 is one of the most popular 20ft boats (in production for 26 years @ wellcraft). They're lots of them on the east coast especially florida.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/albums/album07/tim_bigfish.jpg

I had this v20 stepilft for two years and I sold it last fall b/c I knew I was moving cross country. It had a 200hp Yamaha on the back, which averaged around 2.8 MPG at cruising speed 30mph.

I have another "project boat" http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/albums/seacraft/P1010354.jpg that I'm in the process of restoring. It's a POS and I nearly towed it over to the railroad tracks on more than one occasion, but when it's finished it'll be worth it ( I hope). My fiberglass fabrication skills are rapidly improving and I hope to have this boat finished in fall.

I know the boat your talking about on traderonline. The boat looks really sweet in the pictures and appears to be well care for . . .

Anyway . . . I'd love to meet up and talk boats/fishing sometime. Shoot me an email [email protected]


Here's a few links that might interest you.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Performance;action=display;num=1087 168000
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Performance;action=display;num=1081 210804

[reelapeelin]

If you want a gas sippin' V-20, find one that needs repowering and hang a 4-stroker(min 150 IMHO) on it...I think my new Honda is MAKIN' gas...I would be lookin' for a '77 or later, cause that's when Wellcraft went to gas tank in the floor...I think most everybody will agree the old saddle tanks are a big PITA$$...

Good luck in your search(I'd hold out for an outboard, too)...take your time, and from what I've seen, the folks on this site will help you in any way they can short of givin' you their girlfriend's private number...

[cliffpaul2]

Thanks for the replies fellas. Which 26 years was this boat made? Why did they quit making it? Were there any other significant changes over the years besides the gas tank? I'm definitely going to start looking for a gem. I have a boat now, so I'm not in a hurry, but I'd definitely like to move to a larger boat and the v20 sounds and looks perfect.

Reelapeelin - Have you measured the mileage with the four stroke?

[reelapeelin]

CP2...no, I haven't measured fuel consumption(don't have a flo-scan), but mainly we are still propping the motor...19 pitch is next try...used to have '86 carbed 150 Evinrude; great performance, ran like bat outta hell til the day she died, but gas suckin' fool, sucked insects and small birds into the vents at WOT!!

Honda won't move the gas gauges...I'll keep postin' til we get the prop right

[macojoe]

I have a 1989 175 hp Yamaha on mine and I have to say it is pretty darn fine!!
I fish the chatam area and the vinyard. Vinyard is a 14 mile run one way, thts 28 mile round trip not to count all the moves and dstuff I do all day fluking. I use about 15 to 18 gal a day for this trip.

I have been fishing Chatam all this week and I have to say OI have no idea how far it is from Ryders cove out thur the cut and then all the moving I do. But the last 2 days I have used 12 and 11 gal each day!!

I am happy with the gas miles it gets but not the still $2.05 per gal gas!!

[bigshrimpin]

CP2 - The years are 1970 to 1996.

We've got about half of the original catalogs scanned in and available under the history and vintage photos link.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/album01

The i/o in anaheim doesn't look bad at all!!! Although it's hard to say for sure without a close inspection. You'd just need an engine bracket (about $1200) and an outboard.

[reelapeelin]

CP2...you were talkin' about a V-20...I said '77 was first year for floor tank and best I can tell that is correct...HOWEVER, lookin' thru the old catalogs in the gallery, looks like '81 was year they went to 60 gal floor tank...earlier were 40 & 46...if I was gonna do it again, that's the one I;d be lookin' for...

[cliffpaul2]

I'm intrigued by the conversion idea, but what would it really cost? Does $1,200 include installation? I have no experience with fiberglass repair. What happens with the area left behind after I remove the I/O motor cover? I looked at some conversion examples in the gallery and noticed that it moves the motor fairly far back. What is the result of this on power & planing. You guys have been very halpful. Thanks again.

PS - Hey Bigshripmin - What kind of fish is that in your photo? In your gallery photos you have a diagram of an outboard bracket. Is that for a conversion?

[macojoe]

A bracket with platform like mine is near $1500 you can get one with out the swim platform for around $800

http://www.stainlessmarine.com/single.html

I did the fiberglass myself and it was pretty easy!! But I had got a price of around $700 if they did not run into any problems?? Like a rotted transom.

As for te space were the I/O was I have added a 25 gal gas tank to mine to give me 65 gal total now.
The cover is a nice bait station and sit and jig place also!!

$1500 + $700=$2200 unless you went with the cheaper bracket which would be more like $800 making it more like $1600

But look around for a bracket in your local paper, want advertiser, trader, and local mariner for a take off!! There are lots around for a fraction of the price!

[cliffpaul2]

I think the best plan might be to search for a boat that's set up for an outboard already. Are they generally more expensive?

[bigshrimpin]

CP2 - Outboard v20's are usually around the same price. I suspect that it'll take some time to find one out here, but you have another boat. Take your time and be selective . . . I wish I had ;)