New to Boating; First V20

XXL · #1 10-31-2018, 11:17 AM

I just brought my second "real" boat and first V20 home last week. Picked it up in Nampa Id. after looking for a long time. It has a 235hp Johnson on the back that ran fine with the muffs on, good compression in all cylinders. It has many little condition issues from not having the love. The canvas top is gnarly and the bows to support it look home made. So, my first request- can someone give me a resource for new bows to go with a new top? I can get a top made somewhere close-by from the pattern of the existing top, but the bows I'm not sure of. Any help appreciated. Once I get the picture orientation thing figured out I'll post pics.

Norm
aka XXL

scook · #2 10-31-2018, 10:33 PM

Welcome to the site - you’ll find a bunch of very good guys here and a lot of good advice. That boat should fly with that sized motor. They’re great boats - you should have lots of fun with it.

I’m out in Oregon, so not much help with your immediate problem. I need a top too and I seem to recall a local top guy I met at a sportsman show did the complete job, both frame and canvas - a little sniffing around your area should give you an idea.

XXL · #3 11-01-2018, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scook

Welcome to the site - you’ll find a bunch of very good guys here and a lot of good advice. That boat should fly with that sized motor. They’re great boats - you should have lots of fun with it.

I’m out in Oregon, so not much help with your immediate problem. I need a top too and I seem to recall a local top guy I met at a sportsman show did the complete job, both frame and canvas - a little sniffing around your area should give you an idea.

Hey Scott, Thanks for the reply. Obviously I need to flesh out my profile soon...I'm in La Grande, so not too far from you. I'm looking forward to learning more about the boat I just got. Hoping to do Buoy 10, Columbia and Snake next year.

I looked on iFish today and got a good lead on a top-maker named Jerry in Boring. We'll see where that goes. Good to meet you, thanks for the welcome.
Norm

3 Squids · #4 11-01-2018, 04:27 AM

Congrats on buying the V. She should fly with a 235. As for the top I don’t know about the west coast but here in Va I frequently see them on Craigslist cheap. Might keep an eye out on there. Other than that any good canvas guy should be able to handle it or know someone who can.

SkunkBoat · #5 11-01-2018, 06:24 AM

If its just the bimini you want, they are pretty generic. Taylor Made makes frames and canvas in various sizes. You just need the width of the windshield and decide how tall and how many cross bars you want. You can get it thru West Marine and other places.

If you also want a clear vinyl enclosure you probably need a canvas shop.

XXL · #6 11-01-2018, 11:56 AM

Sounds like I'm headed to the canvas shop and can let them provide the bows from whatever source they use when making a top. I'm still trying to figure out the picture posting process as the pics I uploaded originally have displayed with the wrong orientation...will keep trying.
XXL

THEFERMANATOR · #7 11-03-2018, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Squids

Congrats on buying the V. She should fly with a 235. As for the top I don’t know about the west coast but here in Va I frequently see them on Craigslist cheap. Might keep an eye out on there. Other than that any good canvas guy should be able to handle it or know someone who can.

Not really. That was a 235hp flywheel rated engine, and they were STRETCHING it to call it a 235. It was later changed to the EVINRUDE XP which was a 175HP rated engine. Problem was, it EARNED the nickname 2 thirsty 5. It was a crossflow engine and only 2.6L to crank out that power. It NEEDED 2 fuel pumps to keep up.

XXL · #8 11-04-2018, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

Not really. That was a 235hp flywheel rated engine, and they were STRETCHING it to call it a 235. It was later changed to the EVINRUDE XP which was a 175HP rated engine. Problem was, it EARNED the nickname 2 thirsty 5. It was a crossflow engine and only 2.6L to crank out that power. It NEEDED 2 fuel pumps to keep up.

Don't even have it in the water yet and it sounds like it's time for a repower. Good thing I'm old and slow too.

XXL · #9 11-04-2018, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

Not really. That was a 235hp flywheel rated engine, and they were STRETCHING it to call it a 235. It was later changed to the EVINRUDE XP which was a 175HP rated engine. Problem was, it EARNED the nickname 2 thirsty 5. It was a crossflow engine and only 2.6L to crank out that power. It NEEDED 2 fuel pumps to keep up.

By the way Mr. Fermanator