Originally Posted by Duke01 (Post 238056)

Hello Dschaffer,

Just saw your post. I purchased a 1978 V20 Cuddy in 2017 and keep it in East Tawas. As expected, my project list is long. My maiden voyage was in Aug of last year. I ran about 40 miles on Lake Huron as was really impressed on how this 20 ft boat handled.

It has a 1980 200hp Merc which ran well at cruising speed, but idled terrible. I purchased a 10hp Tohatsu kicker which seems to be a good fit. I was able to mount in directly on the transom. My biggest concern is that the boat is stern heavy, so I moved my batteries forward. With the kicker was splash well drains were below the water level - pretty surprising. Hopefully this helps.

My list of projects for the spring: New fuel water seperator and in-line filter (there wasn't one); work on the Merc carbs; intstall new Cannon down riggers, tite-lok rod holders (I have a planner board set-up for walleye); new Blue Seas switch board, new deck mounted search light.

Last year I ripped the cuddy carpeting out, put new seats in her, installed a Raymarine Wi-fish set-up, etc...

This year, I hope to start walleye fishing in Saginaw Bay and salmon fish in Northern Lake Huron. May take a trip to Manistique (?).

This is such a great site...good people and a wealth of knowledge.

Originally Posted by scook (Post 238061)

On the subject of kicker motors - a 10 horse is certainly adequate for slow trolling and backup power under normal conditions but I went with a 15 to have some extra juice in case I needed the backup power and had to fight a head wind. Just my opinion but I’m happy with the choic so far.

Originally Posted by scook (Post 238266)

I have an anchor with about 10’ of chain, my tool box and misc. stuff. The tool box is probably a little less than the weight of a battery. I don’t notice the bow riding too high on the troll but if it’s a problem, I know some guys have moved their batteries to the caddy (I run two batteries and that would make a difference). If you do that, be sure to fuse the battery cables right at the batteries (you probably don’t need to be told that but it’s important enough to mention).

Originally Posted by scook (Post 238266)

I have an anchor with about 10***8217; of chain, my tool box and misc. stuff. The tool box is probably a little less than the weight of a battery. I don***8217;t notice the bow riding too high on the troll but if it***8217;s a problem, I know some guys have moved their batteries to the caddy (I run two batteries and that would make a difference). If you do that, be sure to fuse the battery cables right at the batteries (you probably don***8217;t need to be told that but it***8217;s important enough to mention).

Originally Posted by scook (Post 238272)

I think stuff is pretty over-engineered so if I felt like it was solid, I’d probably go with it but I don’t want to be giving you advice that could end up with your new motor on the bottom. Spareparts or Ferm are a lot more technically knowledgeable than I am and have a lot wider experience.

There was a bracket on mine when I got it but a friend took it apart to fix it up and made such a mess of it that I couldn’t figure out how to make it right again, so I saved the stainless bolts and got rid of the rest. A local shop here welds up aluminum box type kicker brackets that make a little sink for hand washing and (for more money) plumb so you can divert the pee stream into the sink and have warm water for cold weather fishing - it’s a really nice feature.

Fishing’s been so lousy here that I haven’t had the boat in the water for a couple of years. I’m hoping for some improvement and trying to get the boat in really top shape,so I can get out in the ocean for some bottom fishing ***127907;.

Originally Posted by Duke01 (Post 238273)

Hi Dschaffer,

Looks like a nice setup, but depending how she sits in the water you may want to give some consideration to moving the batteries forward. My 9.8 hp kicker weighs 90 lbs, plus the old 200hp Merc weighs 365 lbs. Both are mounted directly on the transom. I have moved my 2 batteries forward to mid-ship in a storage compartment next to the helm on my 78' cuddy. I don't have her in the water yet...maybe in 2 weeks. That will be the test. Prior to this, my splash well drains were 2 inches below the water level.

Does the 15hp Honda have electric tilt?

Hoping to start walleye fishing in couple of weeks..if everything goes well at launch. Right now I am waiting for a main jet carburetor plug that I busted off last week while cleaning the carbs on the old (1980) Merc.

Originally Posted by phatdaddy (Post 238275)

Is there a backing plate on the inside with the same footprint (or larger)?