That is the reason why I did my stringers so simple, and why I didn't put a fuel cell below deck. In my opinion on my boat the plywood on the floor was good enough for a shear brace rather than glassing a bunch cross stringers. I simply wanted the water and moisture to get in and then the water and moisture to get out. I also have over drill every hole on this boat so far then fill with reinforced thickening resin and drilled the hole to size so all my thru-transom penatrations are sealed. My outboard motor bracket holes will be done the same way. There's a lot you can do to prevent rot.

Natty light is alot like making love in a canoe, its f^*k^&% close to water.

Agreed 100 percent. When i pull the liner off the V20 i am looking for soft spots in the stringers. If i find any i will repair them then locate the source of why they rotted. Also i am glassing any open spots to preserve the stringers. I might even pull the tank and get rid of all foam. Kracker has a point, most places do rot due to raw wood and a simple coat of epoxy in holes will prevent that. I purchased West Systems book called Repairing Fiberglass Boats. Best six dollars i have ever spent in my opinion. I learned quite a bit.

The pic above is pretty dramatic proof of the answer whether to foam a tank or not...becomes a no-brainer pretty quickly after that...and I need to pick up on of those books you mention, too...:clap:

If the V20 needs a new tank, i may have to reconsider my not so good opionion on big plastic tanks. Does anyone even make a sixty gallon plastic fuel tank? Are they ok to use? I have always been leery of plastic tanks. But with the corrosion issues of aluminum they may have a benefit. I havent even looked at my fuel tank in about three or four years!

jason, here's one about 50 miles west of you in daphne. pm stuarbc and see if he still has it



http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ad.php?t=15988

Thanks Phatdaddy! :beer: I sent him a pm about it.
:you: Good one Stink :beer:

I got all the liner back into the 18 Fisherman, and got it ready to go on blocks in the yard. Hopefully she wont be sitting around in the yard too long.

Not sure if i am ready to put the V20 in the garage and start cutting, :hide:

Phatdaddy, stuarbc does not have the tank anymore.

BUT, my neighbor gave me a Tempo model TP27S 27 gallon plastic fuel tank with sending unit. 36" long 12" wide and 16" tall. About to see how it fits in the centerconsole and if i can fit two in there. I might just have my fuel issue solved.

I need two more inches of clearance under the forward seat of the center console to get the tank to slide in. I can fit two tanks side by side under the console. Now if my main 60 gallon tank in the V20 is good, that would give me 114 gallons total if i get another 27 gallon tank, or 87 if i just run one extra.

I sat on the seat on the console and it feels low. I think it needs to be raised 3" :sun:

Wellcraft 180 Fisherman trailer bunk question
 

I just bought a 1983 Wellcraft 180 Fisherman in pretty good shape - the transom and stringers are solid as is the floor.

The boat sits on a trailer but the bunks are not adjusted correctly in my opinion. Anyone have a good picture of how the bunks are situated in relation to the keel on their V20 or 180 fisherman? The picture of the rear of the boat sitting on the trailer shows the left bunk outside of the first step going left from the keel. The right bunk is inside the first step going right from the keel. Should both bunks be outside the first step (like the left one) or inside the step (like the right one).

If you set your bunks just outside the step with 1" clearance the step should help center it on the trailer. I brought my 18 home on the V20s trailer and it fit like a glove. Pipe guide-ons help alot.

I have a clear moeller 30 gallon tank was given to me and fits perfect under my console. My forward "foot well" or old foot well when the cuddy was on there witch is now a storage hold also holds my other 30 gallon tempo perfect. so if im taking a trip that needs extra full I can bring it. I can even stuff my 18 gallon tank under my bench seat behind the console if I really needed more gas. My console is low but I kinda like it.

Kracker i might have to find somewhere else to put my tank. I may be installing a small block v8 under the console. Havent made up my mind yet.

WHAT?????? And I thought I was cool doing a steplift conversion!!! So what do ya have kicking around in the old head? A true inboard?

I have been thinking about a jackshafted sterndrive. I have been talking with Ferm about it, because i am new to sterndrives and not sure what can and cant be done.

Very Very cool!!!!:clap: Cant wait to see that build!!!

Dredging up an old thread.
I want to do some inshore fishing this winter while the V is in the garage for a rebuild. I still have the 18 Fisherman. Would yall run this boat in the shape the stringers are in? I will patch the cap to make it structural again. It wont be pretty, I dont care. I have a trailer and I can put the 2.5L Mercury on it, after some cosmetic changes. I need an honest opinion. I just want to get ten gallons of fuel and have my one weekend a month break to go fish. Just a dirt cheap inshore rig.

Looking at the boat today, it wont be too hard to repair the cap. The floor is solid. She has a new transom. I will need to run wiring, hook up the bilge pump from the V20, I can fill the livewell with a bucket. I have to hook up nav liggts. I will not have to purchase alot of items to get her seaworthy and safe. All I need to purchase is a stern light, vhf, throttle and shift cables for the Merc and maybe a tach. What kind of range can I expect on a 200 Mercury 2.5l with 12 gallons of fuel pushing the 18 just on plane?