??? V20 Sizes ???
 

I have been researching Wellcraft, Pro Sport, Aquasport and Mako looking to find a good trailer queen family fishing/water sport boat to use mainly on the LI Sound. I have heard rave reviews about the V20 and have pretty much decided that's where I am headed. My question is, what is the largest CC or DC V20 made? I have seen 18s, 20s and 21s but nothing larger than that.

V21 is the largest in the steplift V hull configuration. V20 is actually 20'6" long. V21's are really the same boat (I know, I know, the windshield is different, etc.) But they are still V20 steplift hulls. The reason they are called 21's is because the motor well on the transom adds some extra overall length to the boat. Wellcraft stopped making them in the 90's for some silly reason. :head:

Thanks for the clarification. I was on board a 19' Mako last week and it seemed tiny compared to the V20. Seems as though Wellcraft did very well with the design and layout of the V20. Both boats were CCs.

didn't we have a discusion about a V23 at one time?

The discussion might have been before my time Spare. I'm not aware of a V23, but if there was one I'd be happy to retract my statements and stand corrected. I know there was the pseudo flybridge Wellcraft called the Suncruiser? Is that what you're talking about? I really don't know. I thought that the 21 was the largest steplift V they made. :head:

Yep, and it is RARE. There was one for sale last year down in Ft Myers, I should have bought it just for the rarity of it. Looks exactly like a V-20, except it is extended out just over 2 feet in the middle.

Here's the early V-23; http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/cat_1970/10_G

And the V-24; http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/cat_1971/page018

I want a V24 in a center console!!

Security, you may want to check out the 248/250 Coastals/Sportsman. there are plenty of them around. I know wellcraft was making a 25 center back int he 80's http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/cat_1983/A6
lppk thru the history section on the wellcome page

Spare, I stand corrected.. (Thanks for that info Ferm). I've never seen either of them before (23 or 24) Although I've seen several Airslots in those sizes through the years.
Oh, and it was the Sportsman I was thinking of when I mentioned the Suncruiser? I knew it wasn't the right name, but it was the only one I could recall.
So there you have it Seacurity.. Looks like the largest true steplift V was a V24 (although super rare). :head:

Now that's what I'm talkin about! Its not a V though. What is the major advantage of and what distinguishes a V? Hull?

The V line from WELLCRAFT were called steplift hulls. They were based off of the famous Ray Hunt 24 1/2 degree deep vee hulls that made the FORMULA 233, and most all of the smaller BERTRAM's(20-28 footers) famous. Basically they took the 24 1/2 degree deep vee hull and dropped it back to a 20 degree vee at the transom, but maintained the sharp deep entry and added in a Carolina bow flare to it to keep the spray down. This resulted in a slightly slower hull in a rough sea, but required less HP to push it as deep vee hulls are very power hungry to get on plane even with the 6 lifting strakes. It was basically a compromise hull. The 248 is only a 18 degree deadrise at the transom, and the 228 is only 16. Less transom deadrise means it takes less HP to push it on plane and to speed, but is flatter which results in more of a pounding in a heavy sea under way. BUT a hull with less deadrise and a sharp bow angle tends to be stable at anchor whereas boats with a deep vee can snap from one side to the other while drifting or at anchor.

Personally I feel the best compromise hull design built was the POTTER built SEACRAFTS with the variable deadrise hulls. The 23 SEACRAFT has a sharp entry(even sharper than that of the FORMULA 233 or BERTRAMS), but has a multi-angle deadrise in the transom where the bottom is 24 1/2 degrees and working up to the outside is only 18 degrees of deadrise. But my DREAM boat is a BERTRAM 25 flybridge with a single BRAVO 3 I/O set-up and a small block in front of it.

Great info. Thanks! :clap:

I'd have to second what Ferm said about the 23 SeaCraft, I don't think there is a better 23 hull out there(its a big 23 as well). I've run SeaCrafts, 233 Formulas, Gradys, Contenders, Regulators(pretty nice), and a bunch of other hulls, but I haven't seen a 23 to equal the SeaCaft in ride and efficiency, it can be a bit wet though. I have to one up Ferm on the dream boat though, I want a 26 Bertram, with a pair of outboards on a bracket. The 25 is a better looking boat, but that 26 bertram is a better hull.

So while we are at it and there seems to be some very knowledgeable members responding, how do the following manufacturers compare to Wellcraft in the V20 category;
Mako, Shamrock, Privateer, Aquasport ? ? ?

They all PALE in comparison. :fam:

Hey Seacurity, check out the 1970 catalog. There's the V20, V21, and V23! I just noticed it today...prompted by this post.

1970 V20
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/cat_1970/03_G

1970 V21
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/cat_1970/08_G

1970 V23 - check out that hard top.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/cat_1970/10_G

Twin 120 hp I/O
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/cat_1970/09_G

Pretty darn cool for 1970!

I know people that love the Mako's, I personally don't care for them, once you get one big enough to go offshore, they take big power to push it, the smaller ones are decent inshore boats, their compartment drain system can be a nightmare to repair.
Aqua sports were pretty cool back in their earlier years, I don't like any of them with the high deck(area above the rub rail), they have a history of poor construction in the later years. I recently looked at a 22 with the low deck, its a great looking boat, long and narrow, looks kinda like a panga
Shamrocks are a nitch boat, takes the right person to have one, they are not for every one. That being said, I think they look pretty cool, with a diesel it would be a cool boat to own. The gas inboards drink an obscene amount of fuel. Can't do much in shallow water with them, and regardless of power, they aren't going anywhere fast.
Privateers are comercial boats, very simular to Parkers and C Hawks, Parkers are a bit nicer. Most of them usually have very little dead rise at the stern, makes them ride a bit rough. They are built like a tank. Not many of them around as they are a small manufacture, only have one dealer.

I absolutely LOVE the 26 BERTRAM, but I know it requires a bit more HP to push and there pretty rare. I want a boat with long range to it myself that can cruise pretty economically, AND do a couple overnighters comfortably.

Ferm, I got educated by a guy who had a 26 bertram with a single 225 opti, I told him it was probably a pig, he said it would run 42 mph before he put the tower and bottom painted it, after wards, it ran 37mph, he was able to cruise at 30mph , burning hardley any fuel. I called BS, he assured me that it would do it. I started researching it on line, found a mercruy boat house bullitin where a 26 was run with a pair of 150 V6 back in '76. The boat had a factory hardtop on it and ran close to 60. You figure the old 150's were close to 135(270 total) as rated today, combined with the weight of twins(around 700 lbs) compaired to a 225 Opti (closer to 240 hp), weight of a single (500 lbs), that performce claim of 42 doesn't seem to far off. I've ridden in a couple of 26 bertrams with 4.3 MPI's(220 hp each) that I saw 61 on the GPS at WOT. There are two of the 26's here locally that Cummins has been running, one with twin 1.6L Merc(Isuzu) 135 hp motors, and one with twin Merc(VM) 150 hp engines. Don't know the performance on them, but I know they have run the snot oout of them. I'd love to have a 26 with a pair of 225 Optis or 200 4 strokes

That's odd then as the early 80's 26 foot MOPPIE with a pair of 200's only said to hit the mid 50's to low 60's. I want to build up a single I/O with a BRAVO 3 myself. Something that can have an easy 250-300 miles of range and overnight. I may be broke as a joke right now:nut:, but I can still dream:beer:.

I would have never belived those kind of speeds out of a 26 with that power if I hadn't ridden in one with the V6's and seen it my self. I've ridden in teh 25's with various power and was never that impresses with the numbers(I do like the look of the 25 better), I've ridden in several 28's and was allways dissapointed with the speed. The 31 will run well with a pair of big blokcs, but it will suck some fuel down. I'm over the whole sterndrive thing, I'm all about the new forestrokes(just can't afford them)

See I already have that and wanting what you guys have... grass is always greener. I own a wonderfful 2003 Rinker 270 with a single mercruiser 350 MAG MPI. She is perfect for the ocassional overnighter with the wife and kids and is good on fuel. She only runs 40 at WOT but hey, that's part of the fuel savings. My only complaint is that although she is trailerable she weights in at around 8300 with some fuel and water and it would be a nice chunk of chance to trade in the Chevy Equinox for a Dodge 1500 HEMI and a tri~axle trailer to make her into the trailer queen I want her to be!

Hence my search for a V20 . . . . . .

To be honest, I think as far as CC's go I have one of the better ones made in my 97 HydraSport 2250 Vestor but as far as I am concerned none of these type boats give me what I want. None of them really ride that well, none of them really are dry.I have been on the Contenders, the Formulas, and even a small Bertram, Good boats, but what I want is something like these two.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1985.../United-States

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1979.../United-States

You see I want the ability to cruise comfortably in pretty much anything, the ability to stay on the water for weekends with friends fishing or family or a crew of super models.
The ability to run off shore and stay over night in good weather windows and with a fishing crew that will help split the fuel. Someday convert to diesels if it is in the cards otherwise stick with good gas engines, preferably Crusaders.

I am tired of the go fast type of thing, a 20 mph cruise is more than enough for me. Actually if I could find the right Trawler that I could afford that would be even better. Otherwise I would take either of these puppies and just cruise them at 12 knots and use little fuel and still have the giddy up I may want for bad weather or to get back to the dock quick for some reason.
I want a place to go on the water, I don't have a vacation home, this would be like a little get away place and a fishing boat in one. If I had any faith that our country would be getting back on its feet any time soon I would have bought one of these in stead of FishBones.

Stick w the Egg. That's my dream boat as well. For now my Rinker serves all purposes but as soon as my young ones decide that they no longer want the water sports and go fast ability, I will sell it and go for the larger Egg! A true home away from home type ship!

I hear you. Both nice looking boats, very desireable to me. I also have a thing for the Down East style picnic boats, like Fortier, Wasque and a host of others. A lot of our boating time is spent at low speed, drifting and at anchor. The extra room would be nice. That being said, the cheapest boat is that one you own outright, and that'd be the sweet P.D.

I hear that! I am fortunate to own my Rinker 270 and my Thompson 290 outright. Before the economy got so ****ty I did pretty well. Now, I can't even afford a $1500 V20!! :cen:

I gotta agree with you Willy.. I've always loved the true trawler design. Something with a reliable engine and a midships sail. Give me enough food and water and I'll see you in the Mediterranean along the French and Spanish Riveras. I have no need to go fast.. it's fun for a while, yes, but only for a while... the beating you take is exhausting.. But a nice cruise at 15-25 is relaxing, and 6 knots under sail will eventually get you just about everywhere. Pipe dreams for sure, but it's nice to dream....ahhhhhhh.. I'd be like a kid with a new toy :train:

Now that does sound nice Destroyer!!! :clap:

Lookey here;

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/2042932177.html

I bet if every forum member put $200 in the pot we can have a great community mobile vacation home!! :love:

If it has been maintained well that is a sweet deal. I was on one in Barnegat Bay. You can go 12-14 mph tops, cruise is around 10 mph.
Those Lehmans burn about 3 gallons per HOUR. Run forever. The one I was on was an older boat like this and had over 3000 hrs.
Will sleep four adults comfortable or more if it has the bunk arrangement some have.
Love it.

Home ported in New Jersey of course.....:hide:

That works for me! Actually she could be ported throughout the east coat starting in NY in May and work south. Kind of a roaming vacation water front.

heres one for you guys. A fiend of mine built this a while back
http://www.seaislandboatworks.com/boats/commuter36.htm
http://www.seaislandboatworks.com/bo...commuer-36.jpg

single Suzuki four stroke, shallow draft, great fuel economy

That's tremendous! A South Carolina picnic boat!

That's COOL!!! Nice photo album of the construction, too.