Advice on '78 V20

[speedpilot]

Hi Everyone,

New to the forums - great site! Lots of good info. here. I'm looking to maybe move up to a V 20 this spring at some point. I may be going to look at one this week - a 1978 model with a 1988 Mercury 150 h.p. "Black Max" outboard. Anyone have any thoughts/advice on this setup? Also, what's the best way to check out the transom on these boats? Thanks in advance!

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by speedpilot

Hi Everyone,

New to the forums - great site! Lots of good info. here. I'm looking to maybe move up to a V 20 this spring at some point. I may be going to look at one this week - a 1978 model with a 1988 Mercury 150 h.p. "Black Max" outboard. Anyone have any thoughts/advice on this setup? Also, what's the best way to check out the transom on these boats? Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the board, Speedo...one good way to test a transom is to tilt the motor up, then apply your body-weight to the foot of the motor...and LISTEN...if you hear nothing, it's a pretty good indication you got a good tranny...if you hear a bunch of snap,crackle, pop, then chances are good she'll need some work...take a rubber hammer and tap, tap, tap all over tranny and again, listen...should sound roughly the same from side to side and top to bottom...
Only problem w/the '78 is that's the 1st year they went to a belly tank, but it's only a 40 gallon...ok if you got a real fuel-sippin motor and tuned out right that Max should be ok...you just won't have a lotta range unless you carry portables...

[speedpilot]

Thanks reelapeelin!