First Splash
 

Well guys, finally got the 21 in the water at Lake Murray yesterday

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90.../95V-21001.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...lash95V-21.jpg

Can't believe how much more room in this boat...wifey and younguns even commented on it...we hadda big time riding around and visiting all the old fishing haunts from back in the day Murray was the big striper lake...

Mixed reviews on performance...she's stern-heavy/bow light, so I guess the Honda and jack-plate are heavier than the 21 designers counted on...once on plane, she's great, but we need to raise the motor a notch on the jack-plate as the anti-cavitation plate is running too close to the surface...should be about 1/2" above...belly feels slicker on this boat...once up, she seems to run up to speed a little quicker

Anyway, more tweaking to do and more cleanup to be sure...and time to make a striper-boat of her by adding the electric trolling motor to the bow, rod-holders inside and various other goodies...cut-bait season is here, so need to geeter dun!!...:sun:
Hey DAWG...are your thru-hulls under water at rest or do they sit above the water-line?...looks like I gonna have to install back-flow valves after all...http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90.../95V-21003.jpg

nice to have gotten out on your maiden voyage. Glad it worked out well. I recognize your lab in pic #1......is that a jack russell on board as well??

looks good, maybe the addition of the trolling motor will help the trim.. where do you mount the batteries for the trolling motor?

Lookin' good reel!!
Congratulations on the splash!

Dang, now yous gots ta change your signature.

Really looks nice. The lab seems to have taken right to it. I did not realize your new one was dark blue. Is that a paint job or did it come from the factory like that?

Thanks, Nipper!!...my daughter just made the same comment about liking the Midnight Blue...I told her if it had been any other color, I wouldn't have bought it...That Spareparts knows how to find 'em :clap:

It's painted and not too great a job...I'll eventually get around to buffin' it out and see if it improves, but right now I'm concentratin' on gettin' her fish-ready...

Good job you Old Coot, boat looks way to racy for you!!
You get her sorted out so I can come and catch all your Stripes.

Congrats my friend:beer:

Congrats, boat looks nice. Hope you have as much fun with her as I have had with my V-20.

looking good, that blue looks real good. it took me more than one try to find you a good one, but after i saw that one, i knew it was the one for you. As far as the balance goes, where are the batteries in that boat?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90.../95V-21001.jpg

With that big ol dog on the bow not sure how you were still bow light.. Good work...man you're fast. pretty good turn around time I'd say.

Congratulations V looks awesome, Good luck and enjoy!

Cranking and accessories batteries are in stern compartments...two more (biguns for trolling motor) under floor just aft of walk-thru to cuddy...so the bats counter-balance ea/other...

Wilson...there's still LOTS to do...no gauges work and no rod-holders or trollin' motor yet...took the first step toward installin' the trollin motor yesterday...see the center section of the bow-rail...it's GONE now...pics to come...

Looking pretty sweet there Oz. I also like the dark hull. :clap:

Thanks, CB...I just wish you could get down here to go w/me sometime...:beer:

Very nice! I've been waiting for this post. Great job Reel and Spare!

Best I can remember the thru-hulls are right at the water line, maybe under a tad. As long as h2o drains off the deck and out the thru hulls it should be fine though right? I'm sure your hoses are in good shape - didn't you just replace the deck drains? Maybe dump a bucket of water on deck and see if it drains out?

Here's a pic of mine in the water but I think its a bit misleading b/c the kicker motor is on the other side which is tilting the hull to that side. You can see the port side drain is just above the water line. Without the kicker It is likely right at the water line. Hope this helps:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...g?t=1270472705

Excellent news reel. That was pretty quick. :sun:

Awsome!!!!!!

Reel, on my V, i moved the batteries from the rear compartment under the splash well to the fish box area in the floor, behind the tank(about 4 feet fwd)I had to completely refigure the Mckee(haven't even run it since) by moving the tank under the drivers bench, moved the battery under the bench as well, moved the whole bench fwd about 5 inches. It moved a 12 gal tank fwd 24 inches and the battery 36. Get some freinds to stand in different places in the boat while you try it, its easier than moving fixed weight. I've noticed that on a lot of factory bracketed boats, they use transom wedges to tuck the engine under more, might be anotehr idea for you

That Honda must be a PIG!!...then some additional weight of the jack-plate, plus extended out too...I'm thinking of cuttin thru the floor deck ahead of the fuel tank and makin a place there for all 4 batteries...or maybe just take a fat-girl striper fishin w/me and have her sit up front!!...here's one
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...malesmoker.jpg
Sure make me concentrate on FISHIN more!!...

Nope not fat enough. Cute mustache tho:you:

Won't 4 bats fit in the under deck cuddy walkthru spot? Its a pretty big area? Not easy to access tho by no means. I'm always dropping something down there and having to go in head first after it.

As long as the water drains off the deck I think you'll be ok. How far under are the thru hulls at rest with nobody in the boat?

That's a good idea, BR...be a hell uva lot easier than makin a new hatch ahead of the fuel tank...gobs of room under there...that's where I put the two big-@$$ trollin batteries and it'll take the other two as well...gotta feelin i'll be goin out and buyin a million feet of big wire here soon...

We were sittin still out in the big water of Murray, lotta boats, lotta wakes and each time the boat rocked, a little 3-4' geyser shot up thru the drain...while at rest in calm water, the thru-hulls are about 90% submerged...

Spare, doesn't sound like yours is laid out like this one, but we'll work thru it...just glad to have the opportunity...got me all pumped up again!!:sun:

I do not think your lab buddy would let that gal in the boat. Talk about ballast though. Yikes!

Lookin good there... when your ready for that waxing I want to see some you tube movies of it in action .....:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::love::lo ve::love::love::love::love:looks great.

It does sound like it is sitting a little low. I have to work at it to get water to come up through the deck drains. If two people stand and lean into the corner I can get just enough water to come up for my brown pound dog to get a good refreshing drink but otherwise I never see any. I only have 1 regular battery in the rear hatch. The other side houses the washdown pump, racor, and oil injection tank (some of us can't afford 4-strokes). I keep a spare battery in the spot under the floor in the cuddy when I ocean fish.

Hows the fuel tank - did you have to clean it out any or just start using?

Lucked up on the fuel tank...filled and went!!...right now I'd about swap this heavy-@$$ 4-stroke for that 2-stroker you got...

New V looks GREAT! I know you're gonna enjoy it for a long time. You really did a lotta work quick! Its time ta get her BLOODY!! :sun:

Deal - I'll take your 4 + mpg to my 2.5 mpg. When do we swap?