HELP...what year is my v20

[ken]

i just bought my v20 and i am not sure what year it is. the only ser.# i found was on the center console. f120295 i think it is in the 70's please help. any info would be greatly appreciated.
thanks ken

[Seakindly]

Welcome :)

Do you have a hull identification number?
On v20s usually on the outside upper right corner of transom. The last digits will denote the year.

Or you could post a picture and the resident experts from the historical department can tell you. ;D

[bigshrimpin]

Welcome to the board ken!! Was the transom replaced? Does it have a liner?

[ken]

there is no serial # on the transom. as far as the liner i think so or at least i was told it did. the picture of a 1973 that i saw looks almost like mine except that the console was a little different, it did not have the teak or the seat with the flip seat. you have to lift the backrest off thanks ken

[chumbucket]

If there's no serial number stamped into the transom as Seakindly mentioned, it could be older than a 1973. It was right around this time that it was mandatory for the manufacturers to start serializing boats.
Was the boat ever titled?

[ken]

i bought the boat from a marinea. he said he would get me the title, but now he said he would have to file for a lost title. i only paid 200.00 for it. it's going to need a lot of work. but my son works for a boat rebuilder, he's going to help me. i enjoy a challenge. well anyway i thank you for all the help. allso if anyone has any suggestion that will help. thanks again ken

[Seakindly]

Ken, Make sure you can register this boat, before you put any more time or money into it.

I don't know where you are located, but I hear it is not so easy to register a boat as homemade, anymore. To do so you have to jump through all kinds of hoops like having the boat Coast Guard inspected for flotation and horsepower rating etc.

Your son can probably advise you better about this as he is in the boat-rebuilding trade. Good luck.

[ken]

thanks for all the info.... i will check into it....will keep you posted ken

[ken]

well guys here's the update. it's a 1971 it's about 10 yrs. older then i thought. oh well....... anyway this is what i do know......the transom is gone will have to be rebuilt, the floor is like a sponge and so is the deck....
here is the deal i made, i traded a 1990 harley davidson tool box for this package. 1971 v20, 1995 duel axel trailer ( like new no rust ) 1993 150 force (merc) just rebuilt less then 10 hrs. on it.... the only thing that scares me is the motor, i've heard a ton of horror stories about the force......
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2203438599&ca tegory=423 ,It looks like the center console was first offerd in 1971 .
i sure wish you guys were a little closer to me, you sound like a great bunch.. ( seakindly, chumbuchet. bigshrimpin,etc....i live northeast ill. chain o lakes area.
i'm going to start on the bost 1st part of dec. will try to get some pics........... have a great turkey day
ken

[Seakindly]

Yeah Ken, WE REALLY ARE GREAT :). It is a good thing that you are in Illinois,or we would be over there rebuilding your v20 right now. ;)

Check out 70wellcraft's gallery and posts for a look into your future.

[chumbucket]

You got all that for a toolbox? Nice work! ;D Actually the Force motors aren't as bad as they used to be after 1992 I think. It was about this time that Mercury Marine took over the controls of their operation even though they were a subsidiary before that time. Run the motor until it dies would be my feeling. If the dck needs complete recoring, you may as well either pull the top cap or cut the whole deck off. Then you can get at the stringers and the transom work will be a lot easier.
Keep us posted. I like this kind of stuff.

[Seakindly]

Check out www.iboats.com . They have an entire forum for force engines. It is full of info. I checked it out when I was contemplating purchasing a v20 with a force on it.
Best post was about the force 150s with the shooting flywheels. :o

[ken]

UPDATE......
well it's finally in the shop we will be starting on it this week. they still tell me it will be ready the 1st of april......some bad news or it may be good news, he said the main liner it gone would be to costly to repair, so they are talking about cutting the floor out of the liner and replacing it with wood and sealing it with resin...then carpet the floor......i was thinking of doing that anyway....it's going to be used mainly for pleasure and freah water fishing......
i hear alot about the use of a bracket on this site. do you think i need a bracket if i will be useing it on fresh water lakes maybe once or twice a year on lake michigan???????also i just aquired a bennett pump for trim taps. is there anyplace that i can get used trim tabs and wire harness?????????
ken

[chumbucket]

Glad to hear it's finally get worked on. Brackets are nice, butfor what you're going to be doing with the boat, I don't think I'd bother. It would require the transom to be all redone. Add the expense of that coupled with the cost of a bracket, then all new control cables, steering cable, gas line hose, and possibly wiring (depending on if they'll reach or not) and I don't think it'd be worth it. If you were redoing a former I/O like macojoe did, then I'd say go for it because all that has to be done anyways.
As far as finding just the tabs and cylinders, check Ebay. You might find something there.

[Seakindly]

Ken,

What does it mean when you say -"the main liner is gone"?

When I used to build glass over wood boats, I would build a self bailing floor (washdeck) out of plywood. I would cover the plywood with a layer or 2 of ounce and a half matt and topcoat that with a pigment coat of resin in very light gray.

Carpeting ???

Maybe if I were trolling for bikini tuna. :P

[macojoe]

Well I would never put carpet in a boat!! Hard to clean, stink, and you will be doing another floor in the furture!! It is going to hold all moister!! and rot it out!

If you have a out board all ready stay that way!! If you want to convert from I/O then a bracket is a great way to go.
But I did all me work my self!! if you have to pay for it it is going tp cost you $$$$$$

[ken]

( seakindly ) the floor is all stressed cracked and chipped real bad,and the wood under it is all soft so it has to be replaced anyway. they are going to do the glass and resin thing.
i think i might try trollllllin for them bikini tuna........ ;D
( maco ) me and a buddy had a 18ft sylvan fishing boat for 14yrs that had carpet and no problem, in fact its still in use. decisions, decisions, decisions. ???