inexpensive boats
 

my question is this
why is the 20 v steplift not expensive i see them all the time but there not alot of money,, i love my boat and the lines are great to me its a perfect size but if you see a grady or whaler the same size there like twice the money
so tell me why so cheap?

there are a bunch of them, and most people prefer a center console over the cuddy like a V(compare prices of center console V's to cuddys)

shhhh, don't tell anyone how good of a boat they are, they may want to charge more for them

good question
i would say it is supply & demand, most of these are at least 12 to 20 years old and on the lower end of depreciation cycle. also great starter boat for families, but not all families enjoy boating. the ones who do, probably move on to a more specialized hull, center console, walkaround cuddy, pilot house, etc. One of the reasons i have had mine for 17 years is the versatility of the hull & layout. It is not the best boat for any one activity, but it is 90% for everything we do. I have friends with center consoles that i fish with and think i gotta get another one of these, but they tell me, next time we take you boat so we won't get so wet & beat up. i have friends with walk arounds that say the cabin is too big, just collects junk and the never go in it. they wish it was smaller. i always thought that the v-20 is like taking your mom's station wagon to the prom, not the fastest or the coolest ride, but safe, dependable, and large enough to get the job done.

Might sound like a Yogism, but the more affordable something is, the more people can afford it...I think that's a big part of the "V"s popularity...there's a lot of us who recognize her classic lines and unmistakable seaworthiness...would we all have Grady 33s packin' twin 300 hp Zukes if we could...(or something in the price range)...damn right we would, so now we get the most that we can for the $$ we can or are willing to cough up and for a large number, that adds up to our beloved V-20...and for some of us, 21s:beer:

Why a V20 is cheap? I agree they made a but load of them and they are tried and tested. Great all around boat, dry and versatile. I have had mine since new. It was a college graduation gift from my father. It has been an incredibly good experience with this hull. Scuba diving, fishing, skiing, more beers than I could ever count.............tons of use and been everywhere with her. Comes down to the fact there is enough out there for everyone to enjoy.

i think your right theres alot of them but i have mine for 13 yrs now and bought her from the original owner., and its a 1978 and have no plans on trading her for a bigger or newer boat, i love it great lines never get tired of looking at her i was just wondering why they are not expensive boats, maybe like you said theres a lot of them

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The lines of the V-20, which I find to be as close to "classic" as a glass boat can be, might look somewhat dated to many of today's newer boaters.

I spent a little time walking around the marina last evening, sizing up some of the competition. As was stated by spareparts and phatdaddy, lots of center consoles and walkaround cuddy's, and elevated helms, as opposed to my PD, which looks lower in the water thanks to both its lines and its low top.

Aside from all the V-20s obvious attributes, I really like how the old-timers I run into instantly recognize the boat, despite the fact that I have no decals or markings on her. They'll always say something like, "That's a great hull," or, "good, strong boat," and invariably, "I" or "a friend of mine had one years ago . . . man, that was one tough boat."

That sums it up in one sentence for me. :clap: In the world of trade-off's, which as you know everything about a boat is a trade-off, the V20/21's are right smack dab in the middle. Period.

Any bigger/heavier you couldn't afford to run em or trailer em.
Any smaller and the ride would be crap.
Any wider and the ride would be crap.
Any narrower and she would roll like a dawg.
She's got a windshield to block the wind. Open it up to feel the wind.
Cuddy to sleep in or store all of your gear.
And my personal favorite is the wide open cockpit with plenty of room to fish!!

Good all around hull, inshore superb, light off shore, good sea worthy hull. Build quality was right in the middle of the boat lines new. I love CC's but if I was to have one I would want a 23 footer at least for the slightly drier ride. If I lived in 24/7 hot weather like Fla. I would go with a CC with curtains but up here even in our summers you get cool afternoons and if you are wet to boot fishing becomes more of a endurance test rather than a good day on the water.
After a day on the water I sit down in my helm seat, close the center window and cruise back at 25 mph thru the usual afternoon chop and wind and nary a drop touches me, I don't pound and I talk with my friends who are all sitting comfortably.
Got room for four guys to fish, or the family out on the water for a day.
If I want to run out ten to fifteen to fish a wreck I can do it safely and if it kicks up nasty I know the hull will handle just about all but the most extreme coming back in. I can store what I need in the cuddy and it stays dry.
Good jack of all trades and cause they were made for a long run of years lots of them out there. Well respected by those that spend time on the water. Got news for you concerning the Gradys, they are good boats also but they have all kids of problems as they get older as do others. Plus you look at a 92 Grady 20 footer and I bet you could get it as cheap as a V.
The V's that have been refurbished and with new power in this area will set you bak a pretty penny, look at a boat like Lumbers, if he sold that puppy for less than 14 g's he would be foolish. I have seen two real sweet V's this year that have sold for that much and more.

one other thing to consider is that especially with newer boats, the price of the engines have gone up more than the price of the boats. Any of your newer type boats with big DFI's or $strokes, figure 50-75% of the cost is towards the motor