What's the V21 rated for - 200 or 225 ?
 

I believe max hp rating for V21 is 200 correct ?

What year? Might help narrowing it down.
I thought they were rated for up to 260hp.

235HP flywheel rating, or 200HP propshaft rating. I belive it was teh same from 85 on. Some said 235HP, but this was for the 235HP OMC that was flywheel rated. Then again you can always put whatever you want on it so long as your not concerned about insurance.

V21 is what I stated - so that means the few years they made the V21 which were identical boats. V20 goes back a long way.......and I figure maybe different hp ratings.

Just out of curiosity, what does your Safety Decal say?

Logical question but my boat's at an indoor shop now so I couldn't check for the plate or decal.

I can't help it wondering.
The 1975 Cuddy was rated for twin 115's!
That much weight on the back I just gotta wonder.

I would put a 225-250 on my 21 in a heart beat if I could and will when I can afford it. I would love to blast accros the lake at 60MPH trying to cool off some of the local ladies :sly:.

Personally I would hesitate with a V-21 after seeing how the bracket extension is built and atatched to the transom. It really wasn't that impressive when I seen one torn apart how WELLCRAFT integrated it in my opinion. Plenty strong enough for a 200, but I wouldn't go more.

I completely agree with Ferm on this one... When I redid the the deck and the foam on my 21 last year I noticed that there was about a 3/4 inch gap between the transom and the bracket stringers(?). We filled the gap with putty and then glassed between the two to reinforce the bracket. Sorry I don't have any "before" pics, but I'll take a few "after" pics so you can see what I'm trying to say. I cannot understand why Wellcraft didn't glass over that gap and strengthen the bracket in the first place. :head:

Yeh, I can't quite figure what you're describing. The way the V21 transom well curves around I can't visualize how it all comes together because wood doesn't just wrap around a curve that way !! If it's not well constructed, then they would break off which I haven't heard or read about. Obviously you improved on it. Get the name of the top manufacturing manager of Wellcraft back in the mid 90's and I'll call him or her for discussion specific to how and why .............

The one I seen had these gaps and more. Towards the rear portion of it in the curve was just glass and resin on the one I seen with the top cut off.

I haven't read about V21 transom's having issues - if done poorly, likely would have been over the years with all those boats out there. Interesting.

Well, as Ferm said:

But I am here to tell you that looking at the well from the inside of the boat, I was shocked to see the gap I described. You can see it also... just open the port side bulkhead hatch on the stern and look inside. You'll clearly see the bracket well and then a 3/4" gap and then the transom stringer. It's that gap we're talking about...

The gap I was talking about wasn't able to be seen without the cap being off. The V-21 I looked at had been stolen, and the transom was trashed. In the very rear of it where the engine mounting portion of it atatches to the sides was full of gaps and voids filled with just resin and some glass.

Ahhh, ok. No, the gap(s) I was talking about are inside the the hull on the stern itself. There is a gap of about 3/4" of an inch between the engine bracket where it comes thru the transom and what I am calling a stringer that is almost against the transom itself. It's only logical to bridge that gap and further strengthen the engine bracket, and yet Wellcraft didn't do it. I'll take a pic of it tomorrow in the light and post it here so you can see what I'm saying. I'm probably not calling it by the right names/terms, but as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let the pic talk tomorrow.

Yes - let's see !!

I don't think I like were this is heading. With a boat that was so Well Crafted why did they miss such an important detail on strength :head::head: :bat:

Who said these V's were so well crafted ?

Of the four boats I've owned, and the many boats I've been on........I'll say this:

The V is a lot of boat for a 21' in that it has lots of room, storage in the cuddy, is very pretty and runs well especially with trim tabs.
Wellcraft COULD have built these to be better crafted, but instead may have been " penny pinching" in certain areas. Therefore, many of these have to get some work to make right.
Example - the floor / deck - underside was not glassed in, so water can infiltrate and cause soft spots.

That said - many builders used wood back in the 80's and 90's so it's common.
Mako for comparison was building very sturdy boats in the 80's and early 90's - beefy construction, thicker, more fiberglass, but still need work today as transoms and such get waterlogged after 15-20 years in the weather.

My V21.....ok, so I'm lucky.

There are a lot of little things that in hindsight I think could have been done better. Things like drains in the rod holders so they don't pour water directly on the compartments under them with foam in them...things like the transom bracket attachment that we're talking about here.... Things like cronic leaking from the front sliding hatch into the cuddy cabin. That doesn't make the 21 a bad boat,... far from it. They are sleek, well crafted boats with a proven hull design that will get you home when a lot of other boats won't. I'm going to sell my V20. But my V21 is here to stay. That should say something.

The boat is better that me in the water that's why I bought it. The hull dessing is second to non I guess that was what I was refering to. I realy don't know if there is a tub out there that is Perfect in every way for the price. But looking at the transom and what you are all talking about scares the S#it out of me. There is no way my 21 is going any where but fishing.

Nah........the transom's fine for holding 150 - 200 hp .....example - mine is a 96' and my transom is fine / zero stress cracks after 16 years. That's SIXTEEN YEARS........
Lots of other boats have failed way before mine......... or yours. We're just talking about how it could be built even better.