Need Advice
 

Hello everyone,

For those of you who might remember me, I was in the process of changing out my fuel tank several months ago and posted here. I am starting to think that I made a poor choice on buying this boat (I have a 1986 V20) because I have had nothing but problems since I got it. As an update I pulled the tank last season and was able to use the boat for the remainder of the season with a temporary fuel tank until the original yamaha 150 seized from an oil injection failure. I am at the point where I have pulled and sold what was left of the outboard and need to decide between restoring the Wellcraft or buying a new boat. Fortunately I am willing to tackle most work myself as I am very mechanically capable but have never really done fiberglass or paint work before. Where the boat sits it looks like there is solid material in the transom, however it is very brittle and flakey. I am thinking that I should probably rebuild the transom if I am going to keep the boat. In addition, I noticed a cracked chine on the bottom of the boat from contact with the trailer. I have enclosed a few pictures of the damage but would like some advice on the best way to fix it. Unfortunately, its in a spot where I will not be able to access it from the top unless I cut up the cuddy. If I am going to restore the boat I am going to do it right: Fiberglass repair, new tank (which I already have), transom replacement, new outboard, and new paint/gelcoat. I was hoping to get some advice regarding all these repairs and about how much I could expect to spend. As far as an outboard, I will be going with an ETEC 150 if I decide to keep the boat, which I have already priced out at a local dealer. So what does everyone think? Am I in over my head? Is it worth restoring the wellcraft or should I just try and find a nicer boat in the 20-25k range? Thanks in advance.

-Brett

Sorry to hear that it looks like you got into a bad egg there.
If you are truly are willing and able to drop 20-25k to get on the water then ditch the v and go and buy any number of nicer boats.

Option b is find a hull in better condition and repower it.

Last option imo is to repower AND have to rebuild the boat. Unless there is ome sentimental value it just aint worth it.

need bigger pic of the area looks like a minor crack.

Well i guess the only reason i said 20-25k is because between a new outboard and all the work into the hull im thinking i will probably spend at least 15-20k (does this sound about right?). I would prefer to not spend much at all but it is what it is. I look online for used outboards everyday but would like the piece of mind of a new engine and warranty because i will be using the boat often.

The pic i included is two shots. Ur right its basically a long crack. I dont even know if it made it into the fiberglass or not or if its just through the gelcoat. What other angle would u like me to get? if it is just a crack in the gelcoat what is the best way to go about fixing it?

How are the stringers? Whether you like the boat or not should determine if you want to spend the money fixing it up. New motor and new transom and you are already doing better than buying another boat.

The stringers all apear and feel solid and there are no soft spots on the deck. I did note stress cracks to the lower left and lower right of the cuddy door however. My biggest concern is the cracked chine in the hull and how easily this can be fixed. I do like the boat but am wondering if I should just move on. I live in an area where I will be using the boat often and would like something reliable i could go out 7 miles with (great fishing grounds by me) and not have to worry about getting home safely.

If you post the pics on photobucket then paste here, they will be larger. Unless its a tremendous hit, the chine area is probably a gelcoat damage. Seven miles out in a V20 is a piece of cake. I have had my V out 35 miles in the Gulf and never felt unsafe. Where are you located?

I am located near new london ct. Its about a 7 mile hike to "the race" which is arguably the best local fishing grounds (although block island is great too but a little further). The depth goes from over 200 ft to 50 very quickly and the associated currents bring in some serious fish. Its also the point where most of the water flows into long island sound. Im confident that the V is up to the task because neighbors of mine fish out there in their older 19 ft grady, but its definitely not a place to fool around if you don't know what your doing. Its also not a spot I want to be stranded at if something goes wrong. I have a dock with my house and know this is something I enjoy and will probably be doing for life, so I am looking to invest into something that will last me a long time. I will try to post some better pics tonight. If I end up re-doing the V I will definitely document and post up the process for everyones benefit. Thanks for the responses so far.

first thing sand that area or strip it to see what you really have.

Like schools said grind the gell coat off to see what your dealing with.dont grind to deep into the glass,just feather the grinder to get rid of the gellcoat and then asess . I have numerous spots on my bottom that the previous owner repaired that im grinding all down and repairing over just to give me a sense of knowing the repair was done correctly.

send us some more pics of the damaged area before and after you grind it down. any soft spots on the floor? Gellcoat cracks in the cockpit or on the bottom that could give us the assumption that the stringers are flexing due to rot? Not trying to be negative but my transom seem pretty solid but when i cut into her she was SHOT!!! So do a couple test pilot holes with a small drill bit to see what consistency the material is being drilled out is, meaning long dry wood shavings are a good sign and "dirt" or wet material means theres rot.remove some screws and see if any water weeps out of the holes.

Thanks ill give that a try this weekend and take some pics. I dont have any structural cracks on the deck, gunwales, or bow area and no soft spots in the floor. As I had mentioned I do have two structural cracks around the bottom of the cuddy door but thats all i know of. When you say to drill are you talking into the transom or stringers or both?

Do some drill tests in the transom. Drill small holes they don't have to big holes. You fill them with thickened resin after your probe test. I've walked boats in the past flat footed with flip flops and the sole felt fine but then ive kicked my flops off and walked on my heals and found some soft spots.

PLEASE do not buy an ETEC!!!! I have a few buddies with them and they are in the shop all the time for various things. Hell you cant even clean the fuel injectors on em!!!!!

I have a Yamaha 4-stroke and a dealer that does scratch and dents if you want his info. I got a brand new 07 150hp yammy 4-stroke with full warranty shipped to my door for 9k all because the cowling had some scratches on it. Your fuel econ will go up, they are easy to work on and rarely break down.

Good luck with your project!!!

Brett, I have to agree with Ssirefish. I was not going to say anything. But a very good friend of mine just repowered his Simmons Seaskiff with a 60. He has owned it for eight months and it spent five in the shop. Now how does Evinrude keep you on the water longer? His would start missing and sometimes die completely. Towed in twice. Once was the first trip out. Yes the fuel efficiency is outstanding. But they are still working bugs out. The last shop replaced the ECM and if that did not work he would be getting anotger motor. I think they finally got it fixed.
If you can afford it go with an Optimax. They seem to have gotten their bugs worked out and hardly no complaints.

i love the steplift but if your willing to spend you can but a nice v that will be turn key ready for alot less, your in a tough spot, i love my 78 and am willing to do just about anything to keep her, im going to post my next problem that i cant figure out good luck

Some have had great luck with ETec but there are others that have had horror stories!! There are a few here that have them. and they are working alright but some have had problems right out of the gate!
I have heard most problems are from Tec's that don't have there crap together and set them up wrong, this cause the power heads to blow, and a host of other issues. But once they get it right the motors have been great!
Its great that they get them straight and that Evinrude stands behind them, but I for one would rather have a motor that runs and runs then is always at the shop!
I have had Johnson, Evinrude, Yamaha 2 stroke and 4 stroke, and Mercury. I have to say I love my Yamaha's!! bought a 225 4 stroke but it was way to heavy for my boat, so I traded a friend for his 2 stroke HDPI 200, and it is a awesome motor!! I like it better then the 4 stroke and it is just as good on gas as the 4 stroke!
My 2nd best motor has been Mercury, I had a 90 3 cyl and then a 6 cyl 2.4 175, that 175 was great on gas and pushed my heavy boat great!!

I'd bet that you can get a REALLY nice boat in the 21-23 ft range for $20K.

Or you will have a really nice boat if you fix yours and put on new power.

Tough choice, but if you have that to spend, I'd go with another boat.

Thank you all for the replys. I didnt have a chance to work on the boat this weekend but did take some more pics. I will post either later tonight or tomorrow morning. Regarding outboard type, I will consider what everyone said, however the bottom line is every outboard out there has some history of failure. Whether you talk to people or search online, literally every manufacturer has had issues. My neighborhood is a huge boating community and everyone there also has their opinion on what type of outboard I should get. Someone has told me to stay away from every type of outboard including mercurys, yamahas, etecs, optimaxes etc. I would like a four stroke but also know that they are quite heavy outboards for a V. That being said, one outboard I might check out is the new mercury 4 cylinder 4-stroke. Its around 450 lbs and has rave reviews so far. Ill update everyone soon. Thanks again.

Well geographically speaking I know of 6 Etecs and 4 of them have been in and out of the shop. Dont get me wrong I was sold on them for a while until I saw the repairs these guys were doin......

Honestly other than a clogged filter and injectors I havent heard ONE serious problem with the F150's. There are a lot of them here and you just dont see them goin into service very much. After 400hrs all Ive done is changed one filter and cleaned the injectors, lube and oil/foot lube changes. General maintenance stuff......

My Yamaha 4-stroke F150 gets UNREAL gas mileage on my F20 and the added weight WITH the bracket I have lowered the tail end about an inch. At 466lbs I would assume that on a V with the forward cuddy it wouldnt even drop that much......No a bigger engine I have no idea????