Regarding the tow weight of boatI would make sure your tow vehicle is rated for at least 4500 lbs.

1950 lbs boat
500 lbs motor
400 lbs full tank of gas
1000 lbs trailer
= 3850 lbs + estimated 500 lbs for batteries, coolers, gear, = 4350 lbs....


That is fully loaded to the gills but you could see it easily. Both vehicles I tow with are rated for 4500 lbs and I consider then both to be "barely" acceptable.

ya good one, ask to see this "certification" and then let us know...

If this is just a sticker from the CG aux, it means it passed a safety inspection for life jackets, fire extinguishers etc. This would have nothing to do with the integrity of the boat. Ask the seller why he made this a selling point.

Sounds like false advertising, if so let the seller know he is a scumbag and walk away.

Destroyer,

Yes, that was what I was trying to say...

The window "mismatch" might just be that the latch was put down before the window was closed and is holding it open a bit. But good eyes! Needs to be checked out for sure.

Please let us know how you made out!!!

rkc

I talked to the seller
 

He said that the transom reinforcement was put on by the person that installed the motor. According to him the transom is sound, but the installer was being overly cautious because of the size of the motor.

Is that possible?

As far as the paint, he said that he bought the boat a few years ago and it was green, so he and a buddy painted it white.

I decided to go look at it anyway, its not far from the house and if he is telling the truth it might be worth exploring.

After reading everyones thoughts on it I wouldn't do anything with out an inspection.

Thank you for all the advice, I'll let you know more after I see it.

Walk all around the cockpit sole of the boat trying to feel for any soft spots. Also, the seller will probably have a cow, but put the motor down and stand on the cavitation plate and bounce up and down to see if you get any flexing or popping sounds from the transom. Pull the lower screw on the lower unit and let a little fluid out. Should be clean and clear. If it is milky looking, you are getting water in the lower unit. If still interested after all of the above, best thing you can do is ask for a sea trial. Boat is not currently on a trailer, but seller is selling it with trailer included, and it should be sitting on a trailer when sold, so he should do it for you and you can then see whether the trailer and the boat mate up well.

Good luck. Will be interested in hearing what you find.

I have a 200HP Johnson on my boat. I put two lengths of 1/2" x 3" alum angle iron on the inside of my transom for exactly the same reason when we went to the larger engine. Seemed like the prudent thing to do because of the extra weight, so yes, to answer your question, it is possible. That doesn't mean that it's the truth, just that it's possible... Check it out.

How old it the engine? Since there is paint on the reinforcement then it means that the plate and engine were put on before the boat was painted a "few years" ago. As to the paint job, if it was green and they painted it then the green paint should be underneath and showing somewhere. Look for it just to verify. (and regardless, it was still a sloppy paint job.)

Let us know how you make out.

Red skys at night :beer:

Take a screw driver and tap the handle all around the transom on the fiberglass. Listen carefully to the sound. If you hear a hollow sound in certain spots and other spots sound hard there may be signifigant transom rot. I'm not sure about that year but if there's a battery hatch in the splashwell you can access the stringers. Each stringer should have a drain hole back toward the transom. On mine I was able to stick my finger in and feel that there was no wood left. I could actually stick my finger though the hole and back into the transom to feel the soft rotted wood. Again this would be an indication of a bad transom/stringers. If in doubt walk away. There are plenty of v20's around to choose from.

two hundred horse power outboard ? band aid on transom! looks like trouble to me! sorry!

I don't think its an 89' its transom splashwell looks like a 78'-81'. If you have a doubt about this boat keep looking, its a buyers market and V-20's are a dime a dozen.

After speaking to the seller again and taking all of your advise into consideration I decided not to bother going out to see it.

The search continues.

Good for you!! This is one time when caution rules the day. Just remember that the V20 is hands down one of the best, if not the best, hull designs that you will ever find in a 20 foot class boat. So keep looking... we're all anxious to see your new Wellcraft V20 and to have you as a permenant part of these forums.

Red Skys at night....:beer: