New member...New boat (to us anyway!)
 

1986 Wellcraft V20 Cuddy Inboard/Outboard
350 Chevy engine (I think) with Mercruiser outdrive
huge fantail
radar
setup for trawling

In 1999 the previous owner removed the cap and replaced all of the wood. I could not find ANY soft spots in the floor. It is solid as can be. It does need a little work here and there, has a few dings and dents.

It even came with the shop manual, the receipts when the boat was originally purchased, all of the books that came with it originally.

Bought it Tuesday. Took it out twice so far. Runs great.

So, I'm a Nawthren boy, just what am I looking at? I can see an interestingly rigged radome, what appear to be port and starboard bicycle lock posts and the worlds biggest casting deck? Are the bicycle thingies for outriggers? And, is the big deck for hauling in nets?
Don't get me wrong, I think it's pretty cool, I've just never seen anything like it before.
And, as an aside, :happy: Welcome to the Group!

Thanks!
 

Thanks!

Yeah, I was not too thrilled with the radar installation. I think I will look for a better solution than that mast. (any suggestions?)

Those posts are for the lines for the trawl. It was a large net behind the boat instead of the wing nets on either side. The deck was for retrieving the net and the boards that hold it open.

I have used it as a casting deck as you suggested. Also it was a good place for my son to put on the water skis before departing the boat the first time.

Hi Coz. Glad to see you finally made it. Welcome aboard. :beer:

You have some really interesting things there.
That may be unique to this site. If you ever get the chance, Could you please make a copy of the manual and post it to this site so it won't be lost to posterity?

This is just a guess, but I think the poles on the sides are for support of a crossbar that held a reel that the net was wrapped around. The netter would stand on the rear deck, the reel would winch in the net and the fish would be dragged up onto that deck where they would be removed. Anyways, that's just my theory based on how I see things arraigned on the boat. But you can see that the PO was a practical man not interested in looks, just function. And as Engineers all know, form follows function. He needed radar.. up went the mast. Wanted shade, up went his version of a bimini. Needed a place to land the fish.. rear deck. Way to haul in hundreds of pounds of fish and a place to store the net..? Put up a reel. See? Anyways, that's my fantasy of how he placed things and why.

As to the radar mast, you can put up an arch or switch out that 2x4 for a Fiberglass or Stainless Steel pole. If it were me I'd go with some form of an arch.

Welcome Coz! That's an interesting V you have there. It looks to be in great shape. Never seen one set up quite like that, neat! I've always wanted to try pulling a small shrimp net in the sound, never got around to it. Good luck with your V!

Got a laugh out of that....exactly what I was thinking. No doubt "function" is the key on that baby. Welcome to the site.

Those posts and deck were mostly likely used for hauling a trawl net. That big deck with heavy posts screams out shrimp trawling to me. As well as the fact the deck is long enough to get back behind the prop as to not tangle the nets in the prop when hauling. You can even see the rope guide i nthe bottom right of the 3rd pic.

Yep! Shrimp trawling is what it was doing. Southeastern Louisiana here.

I will look for some type of arch to replace that aluminum mast. Would that be something for me to custom-make, or can you guys recommend a commercial product?

Hi Destroyer! Thanks!

I will see about firing up the scanner and getting the manual loaded.

Looks familiar:head: I think I saw it posted here before?

sometimes you can find a radar arch on craigslist that will fit

Hi Skunkboat!

I have no idea if it was shown here by the previous owner or not. Maybe? I'll look around and see if I can find it though.

I just bought it a week ago from someone in St. Rose, Louisiana.

Welcome aboard. You can also check out atlantic towers. They have a tower in a box kit. There's also another site that has arches a little cheaper.http://www.fishonsports.com/fiar.html I have no experience with either one. Enjoy your new ride.

Cool rig man. I could tell where that boat was from before I even looked at your location!! Had Louisana written all over it. Best of luck convertin it back to what you will use it for and welcome to the site.

Necessity is the mother of all invention right!!!! Its previous owner was certainly a go-getter, haha

Worth every penny!
 

He's got it now...

Welcome to the site. For the uninitiated nothern brothers that looks like a 4x4 mast post to me. LOL! Thumbs up on the ingenuity. The way it is rigged to the anchor pulpit looks functional too. That V-20 has a shrimp boat for a momma, Ray Hunt was the daddy...

Skunk, this might be the one you seen.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ad.php?t=16320

Welcome to the site Coz!

Thanks! That pedigree sounds about right!

Thanks!

Yours looks a lot better Coz. Thought of starting a parasail business?

Ha! No parasailing business for me. That usually equates to drunk tourists. I have enough of those on dry land!

That's a multiple supermodel deck!

A Lafitte V-20!
 

Nice boat Coz. Over near Biloxi myself.

I recognize it for what it is. I suspect that boat has spent time in Plaquemines or St. Bernard Parish! Can't run the mouth of the river at all in the spring without radar or some mas cajones!

You should look around for a used arch that you can make fit, unless you know someone that welds. Marine Supply in Gulfport has tons of boat parts from scrapped boats.

Isn't the stern wet on that thing? Never been in an I/O, but my 200 Merc & I swamp the stern deck of my V. I'd think that tail would do the same.

By the way, let those guys laugh at the tail, I trawled opening day in Biloxi, 75 pounds in a morning, but I wish I had your tail!

Hi Garbubba!

Yeah, it has spent its life in Destrehan and St. Rose. So that is basically St. Bernard West!

I have not settled on an arch yet, still looking around. I have replaced some wiring and gotten a few of the small things repaired so far.

The stern does stay dry. I'll take some pictures when it is in the water and let you see how she sits and where the water line is. Now I did have more water in the bilge than a couple of wet skiers could account for this weekend. I will keep a closer eye on where it came from. I think it was just from the wash-down pump being played with, but I do want to verify that. Can't have extra water coming in without knowing how it got there.

As far as trawling goes, I am patiently waiting for opening day here. Louisiana should be setting the dates this week. They meet today to discuss it.

Posted before I read St. Rose, I have a buddy lives there might take exception to that St. Bernard comment, but he's originally from Washington Parish so we got that on him.

That's great the decks dry, that motor weight being forward is better than me standing in the bow!

Check the hoses for the self bailing scuppers, they'll leak in a bunch of water easy. The seal around the fuel tank can be a source too if you have wet skiers running around.

You'll find this boat sit's a bit bow down so the bilge water is not in the stern unless you are running or parked with the trailer tongue in the air. I plow a bit before getting on plane sometimes & flip on the bilge switch until it's dry. On the trailer I keep it jacked as high as I can.

I think I'd solve the radar mount problem by selling the radar, although they sure can come in handy every now & again.

Thanks!

I will check all of the hoses and make sure that they are not leaking.

Well, I will probably get her into the water this weekend and check out any possible sources of water.

But after looking around here on the site and again around the boat...This deck drains into the bilge. There are no scuppers to be found. It does have two bilge pumps...one large, one small. Not sure of the ratings. But they do both work (on separate switches...not automatic).

Now, I have added :
second battery
battery switch (b1,b2,b1+b2,off)
on-board dual battery charger
stereo / amp / speakers
stern light and the outlet to plug it into

And I have fixed :
a couple of the lights that were not working...simple re-wiring
a couple of the switches that were not working...just replaced them

I still have to re-wire the blower. The blower is good...the switch is good...the wire connecting them is not. That will happen tomorrow.

I intend to install a set of Bennett hydraulic trim tabs (M120's maybe). But those will wait another payday or two.


Seriously guys, this site has helped tremendously with information about boat repairs in general, and this boat in particular.

Thank you all very much for sharing your knowledge!

Cheers!