Do these V's float when water filled ?
 

V20's and V21's ? I have a V21, wondering if it would float assuming I took on waves sufficient to fill the boat with water.

Not a position to be in - but would be good to know - will it sink to the bottom or float and provide something to cling to in worst case scenario.

Depends on the year of the boat.
My production year did not require it. I believe it was about 1977 or 78 USCG mandated the floatation requirements.
Problem is usually most of the boats roll over when swamped.

I don't know, but here is what I think. On the self bailers I think if the deck filled with water it would turtle because it would then be top heavy = all that water up high and a big void below the floor. Not sure what she'd do - sink or float after turtlage. Now if there was a leak and the below deck filled with water I do believe she may still float upright. Forgot the plug in my old V20 one day. Key word, one day. Only takes once to make you remember that. Anyway water came to the top of the in-deck fish boxes and the transom was about 1" from dipping below the water. She was pretty much slam full and 3 POB. Had to reach down there and screw in the plug, then pump out water for 30 min. Enjoyable! In my defens - that old V had 2 plugs. One was underneath. I assume a PO installed it in order to get every last drop out of the bilge. I only forgot the one I couldn't see. :hide:

mine was a 1976, go here and read, my report is on page 2 http://wellcraftv20.com/community/sh...t=10+foot+wave

That is a good read MJ.


I think the Whalers float upright with rated capacity without the plug. Never tested that claim.

Yeah, from what I've seen the Whalers and most low gunnel boats lend to stay upright when swamped.

Sounds like it may float.....

Now you got me wondering about whether or not to foam fill my V.

The Coast Guard has boats that are self righting. But hull design, watertite doors, and tons of weight down bottom make it so. Its all about center of gravity.

A cubic foot of foam provides 64lbs of bouyancy. 40 cubic feet of foam should keep a V20 afloat if filled with water. ( i wont use the "u" word)

If you take a wave over and fill the cockpit with water, your best bet is probably to get it on plane, and get the scupppers above the waterline. Problem is, these scuppers suck. A squid will clog them. Hell two acorns will almost stop it up.

in 1976 they did not have scuppers in the i/o any way! i just got lucky and stayed up right, the hull had a few air traps in it and it stayed good. that was my last trip in the v20, after 9 years i sold it and got the sea ox! i was ready for a larger boat any way, all the places i was going really called for it..

Pete's pictures here tell the story...this is the '84 hull I am enjoying the hell out of right now...


http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ad.php?t=13565

Reel I didn't know that was the one you got? Had I know that I would've said name it "Seal Deal" instead of "Reel Deal" LOL!!!! That's pretty cool!!

if those dock lines broke that boat would have sank to the bottom. It was in a very deep slip. The diver that went into the water to rig the lift bags was 6'4" and was standing upright on the bottom and there was still a few feet of water above him. I think they add flotation,just enough to keep the coast guard happy. But nowhere near enough to keep the boat floating.

That's an '84...the '95 V-21 I had for a while wasn't any better...I remember installing the capt's chair and built-in tackle drawers in the starboard pedistal...there was some foam under there...but certainly not full or enough to keep the boat afloat...

If they were serious about keepin' these hulls afloat, the gunwales and all hollow spaces between cap and hull would be full of closed cell foam...which could lead to another problem...McKees and Whalers are foam filled and advertised cut in pieces which all float...except over time some seep water into those foam-filled voids and then ya got some REAL problems...water-logged foam is very heavy, will NEVER dry out and imagine separating cap and hull to remove all the wet foam...

Yep. That's what the ol' PD did some 20 odd years ago, minus the seal. The only things keeping her off the bottom were the dock lines.

NEWS FLASH!!
and ya think ya know a guy after all these years...:you:

Keywest boats will. All the dealers get a dvd in the showroom that had the owner of the company in a cc model with the drain plug out riding in a lake and then he stops in the lake and talks to the camera man about how the boat wont sink.

It was before I owned her.


Or she owned me.


One of those. Or both.
:beer:

I seen on Whalers site where they had one of their large boats in the water, no plug, about thirty people on board, and the side door open. Still floated upright with about three inches of water on deck.

I bet ya that was a brand new hull fresh from the factory....had not been sittin around for 20-30 years in a slip or on a trailer like some of our beloved Vs...

And then ya wanna compare price tags...lol!!...

I understand about whalers design. I just thought i would bring that up. Well, i value my V to worth more than any new Whaler. Of course sentimental value doesn't count. The memories i have of my dad make mine worth more to me than any new boat. Besides the reason we bought the V was its an economical rig. And my isn't named "Sledgehammer" like one whaler in town. :you: