So, what makes you like these old boats?

[eight]

I've been thinking of picking up one of these for a while and decided to try to look up some information on them. Didn't expect to find such an active message board devoted to them. What makes these boats better than other old v-hulls?

The one I've been thinking of getting is a center console with twins. Originally had 70s but that was changed to 140s about 2 years ago. It was always slow with the 70s and they were troublesome. It sat for a few years until the 140s came along and was used once then put away. It is faster with just 1 140 on now than it ever was with both 70s. With both 140s on, you could say it is fast.

[csvencer]

I love the bow flare and the layout of the cuddy is perfect for me. They're old and built well but also simple so if something goes you can fix it easily. I think they just look very unique, I can spot a V from a mile away.

-Svence

[randlemanboater]

Welcome to the site 8.

I love my V-20 because:

My wife likes it
It has a nice sharp V up front for a smooth ride
It has plenty of room for fishing
It is large enough to go offshore (on nice days)
It is small enough to only need one 140 o/b (and you dont need a big diesel pickup to tow it)
I can waterski behind it
Mine has a cabin to store stuff in, or for the kids to nap in
Being old, it didn't cost much to buy
Being old, I don't sweat it when I rub a dock or pull up on the beach
It looks better than CTT (and he is a good looking man)


You won't be dissapointed with a V-20. I bet that baby will scoot with twin 140's, I'd pull one off and keep it as a spare.

[Seacrets]

I'll start the ball rolling here and probably open up a can of worms. I wouldn't let my insurance company know I've got 280 hp hanging on the transom. These boats are not rated for 280 outboard hp (200-235 in outboard configuration). I know, some guys will say their insurance company will write a policy, but just don't file a claim. Just my $.02 but with fuel costs, I'd run one 140 (4 cylinders would do well on gas) and have a great spare. The V20 is a great boat and you'll love it. There's tons of knowledge on this site and there's nothing somebody hasn't fixed, tried or done to them. Can't find a better site and bunch of guys.

[parishht]

All of the above and someone once said:

" when it's raining, I can use the flare as an umbrella"

That flare keeps you nice and dry on choppy days.

And welcome to the site.

[charlie_the_tuna]

oh crap! he got to another one.

hey, can somebody finish changing the sheets so we can get randle back in bed.

i like my V because it was a good deal. they are so plentiful that there is always a good deal around the corner.
it is extremely seaworthy. i have no problem taking my kids outside in it.
built well.
plenty of storage (not really but it sounded good).
large cockpit. plenty of fishing room. (a hardtop actually reduces some room but offers alot of shade).

[randlemanboater]

hey, can somebody finish changing the sheets so we can get randle back in bed.



Headed that way now CTT, got called out @ 0100 on a fatality.

Car hit a tree so hard that the engine and transmission completely left the car and landed 30 feet away.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Headed that way now CTT, got called out @ 0100 on a fatality.

Car hit a tree so hard that the engine and transmission completely left the car and landed 30 feet away.

I know that feeling, I was in a car when the engine and tranny got pushed out of it underneath from the impact.

[cterrebonne]

price...thats about it for right now.

[tsubaki]

I've been thinking of picking up one of these for a while and decided to try to look up some information on them. Didn't expect to find such an active message board devoted to them. What makes these boats better than other old v-hulls?

The one I've been thinking of getting is a center console with twins. Originally had 70s but that was changed to 140s about 2 years ago. It was always slow with the 70s and they were troublesome. It sat for a few years until the 140s came along and was used once then put away. It is faster with just 1 140 on now than it ever was with both 70s. With both 140s on, you could say it is fast.
It's a V thing, you wouldn't understand.:fam:

[Stillrunning]

Well I'll have to say when I purchased the boat I really did not know very much about the boat. What I did know is that my buddy one month earlier spent $7,500 on a new motor and now would sell me the boat, motor, and trailer for $8,000. Thats what friends do when their friends are having financial problems. That was in 08/96 and was one of my best purchases I have ever made. Its just a great all around boat sking, fishing, or just taking a cruise its a great boat. Yes there are better boats but for the money and ride you will not find one in its class. I was looking hard for a little bigger walk around but with a new born and the price of gas I'm keeping my baby for another year. If I do decide to buy a bigger boat I have to fishing buddies already fighting over who will by my V20 because they have spent allot of hours on the boiat and know how great they are.

[bradford]

I like mine for all the reasons posted above. I also like her because a new boat with similar attributes would cost up to 30-50 grand or more. It's a cool feeling pulling up along side someone who just second mortgaged their house to get on the water and knowing my boat is more seaworthy, rides better, and even looks better (besides a couple of character lines on the old lass). Not to mention I've talked to a couple of guys who sold their V-20s to "move up" and tell me the always regreted it.

[nipper]

Because they have their own website.

[TunaHead]

This is THE all around boat. I bought my V20 on Ebay last year and had it hauled west to Northern CA from Jersey. I've had up to 6 guys in it free diving for abalone without feeling cramped for space. I fish with it avidly and with the new Suzuki 140 4-stroke and a 60 gallon tank I'll have the range to get out 40 miles or so this year to get to the tuna.

Also... it's a sexy looking hull!

[eight]

Insure an old boat?

If I get it I'll probably run the 140s through this season and then repower with a single ~150 hp fuel injected motor or a pair of Tohatsu TLDIs for next season.


I'll start the ball rolling here and probably open up a can of worms. I wouldn't let my insurance company know I've got 280 hp hanging on the transom. These boats are not rated for 280 outboard hp (200-235 in outboard configuration). I know, some guys will say their insurance company will write a policy, but just don't file a claim. Just my $.02 but with fuel costs, I'd run one 140 (4 cylinders would do well on gas) and have a great spare. The V20 is a great boat and you'll love it. There's tons of knowledge on this site and there's nothing somebody hasn't fixed, tried or done to them. Can't find a better site and bunch of guys.

[fishingwithblue]

I'm only 32 years old but I have an old soul. I like old music, old boats and curvy women. I believe they put more thought into the functionality of a boat back in the day. Now they cram boats full of "options" because new boat owners want what they think is more for their dollar when in fact they have been "optioned" out of all their fishing and boating room! I bought a brand new Key West when I was 24. It had a bilge leak from the factory and the livewell never functiones properly. The second day I bought it I chipped the casting deck gelcoat with a flouder gig and shook the GPS loose off the dash in a light 2-3 foot chop. I sold it 3 months later when the new trailer lights burned out. I love all boats, but from now on, for all day fishing, I'll have an old V20 with new power! .02

[randlemanboater]

Insure an old boat?



I have insurance on mine......if it were to be stolen or, heaven forbid, sink, I couldn't afford to get another one without insurance.

Plus I have tow coverage with the insurance as well.

[bcmarinamanager]

It's the closest thing I'll ever get to a custom Carolina boat. It looks like a beautiful curvy woman. I just wish they built them with some tumble home.

[Sean]

Plain and simple,
I loved/miss my V for its stability and plenty of fishing room

[csvencer]

The more I use mine the more I love it. It's weird, with my last boat, 19' CC, I was constantly looking for something else to buy, craigslist, boat trader, THT, etc. Since I got the V I don't think I have looked at a single new boat. There isn't anything I can not do in my V. Its a cruiser, fish platform, dive boat, ski boat, and whatever you want to do, and it only cost me $5500.

-Svence

[steplift20]

its a beutiful looking and handling boat
i own her now about 13 years and still love her lines the only reason i would ever sell her is to get a bigger boat but i dont see that happening anytime soon
i fish with my three sons and me thats 4 people and am comfortable no need to get a bigger one and besides i have more fishing room then most of the bigger boats up to 24 feet
its just a great looking boat
great lines
and lookm at how many of us loves them
her own website cool
i used to have a 16 foot cobia tri hull and when i saw the steplift out there i said thats the next boat i own and didnt look at any other boats because they didnt look good to me
but there are a lot of great boats out there gradys, makos, bu5t i still am happy
hey look at my screen name

[jjjtronics]

For me, a boat, or a car, or a bike, is just A TOOL !!!
An older boat is simply easy to keep ready, fixable by simple methods, and easier going on the pocket. Also, you don`t have to suffer when scratches, bounces, spilled drinks or food, people stomach backfires, etc, etc, jejejejeje. I just enjoy the rides.
I remember one time, this guy asked me to install a GOOD fish finder on his Brand Spanking New Wellcraft. I told him, that for BEST depth operation, a good thru-hull transducer was the way to go, but that I needed to drill a big hole on his new boat. He said he could not handle it, that he would have to get a few drinks to relax. We planned for a saturday at 7:00am at his house, and when I arrived that day, he was so drunk already that he actually celebrated and enjoyed the moment !!! He kept the hull round piece I removed and later made a plaque from it for his office. jejejejeje
An older boat, no problem with drilling jejejejeje !!!!!
Juan

[Seacrets]

Eight, I'm not concerned about my boat, but the liability issue. Have an accident involving another boat, damage another boat while docking or have somebody get injured on your boat. That's what I'm talking about. Insurance companies look for reasons not to pay and they will send a claims adjuster for a visit. With that said, enjoy your boat and use this site for great entertainment, projects, repairs and don't be afraid to pick everybody's brains. Oh by the way if it hasn't been said yet, we go nuts for pictures.

[eight]

I should be able to get some pics of it next weekend. It's sitting in a barn hooked to the old f350 that put it there.

Here's some pics of my other past and current boats.

First one was a 12' inflatable with a 10hp motor. I still have it but haven't blown it up in a few years. I had forgotten how ugly it was.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/ryankopecki/misc/Boat41.jpg

Then it was a 20' homemade boat with a 70hp motor. Many fish caught out of this one. Just sold it about 2 months ago.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/ryankopecki/misc/orig.jpg

And now I have the largest bay boat. 25' cat with a bracket. Over 200 sq ft of fishing room. It takes 3s just like 1s but is wet at anything over 1s. I had it in 5s a few weekends ago. Fished 7 people out of it last weekend without being crowded. Its got a couple little issues I need to fix and then I'll put it up for sale or trade for a deep V. I want something that will slice through waves and ride dry. The V20 seems like it should work.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/ryankopecki/misc/c198_1.jpg

[reelapeelin]

If you appreciate the lines of a classic hull, ya can't help but like the V-20...about as versatile as a 20 footer can be... tows good and at home in any kind of water...salt or fresh...:happy: