To buy or not to buy, that is the ?

Hello, my first post been lurking for a month or so. There is a v20 in my neck of the woods just put up for sale, its an '81 with various nicks and dings on the hull and keel. Transom seems solid, floor a little spongy beneath the captain and mate chairs, cuddy is trashed, will need to pull and toss everything in there. The engine is an '80 evinrude sport 200HP, guy says it runs, I have removed the cowling and the plugs are new, fuel line has been re-worked, overall lots of rusted bolts. The central large deck hold is a bit wet, cuddy door is missing so I am thinking that rain is draining through there. Boat is located in Biloxi, MS but this guy says boat has no "katrina damage". He is asking $3200, does that sound like a good deal? Thanks for any input...makoshark

[Stinky_Hooker]

The main thing about it that concerns me is the draining under the deck due to the cuddy door missing. Mine was like that and out in the open when I found it. It was draining under the tank and since almost ALL the v20s dont drain right under there, it was waterlogged. I have since ripped out the foam and tank and I am redoing the drainage, but still its something you have to consider.

[msbhammer]

You Stink, My V-20 "1986" drains under the tank as well. Or at least its suposed to be. I got out my wet vac and sucked out 10 gallons of water. There is no way I think that little drain tube from the cuddy to the bilge area holds that much water. I can only wonder where my water is sitting. Hopefully it is a straight shot and my drain tube isnt broken anywhere.

[Stinky_Hooker]

MS, the problem is that Wellcraft only put the tube on ONE side of the keel not both. Therefore it is going to collect water no matter what. I garantee you it is soaking into the foam. Vac it out one day and then go back the next day or so and try it again. See if you get more out.


Here is a picture of what I done to mine. This picture is old and no updated, but you get the idea. The red line show how the factory 3/4" pvc WAS. The yellow lines show where I will finish out the fiberglass decking over the center of the keel and into the front stringer. The material I used is 1/4 bulletproof woven glass, yeah its overkill but I got it for free from a buddy who installs glass. 1000.00 for a 4x8 sheet. :o

I then just glassed the edges in and now there is a drain underneath the whole width "about 12" and the tank will foam in on top of the "deck" I built.



Looking towards the stern:



Note how when I am done the ONLY way for water to get into the tank area is through the floor hatch or fuel sending unit access. This is why I MUST keep these areas sealed. That little pipe from the factory isnt big enough for any trash to get through anyways and was a doomed failure from the start because as soon as it clogs and backs up it goes into the tank area. :(

These pics and others are in my gallery.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...umName=album75

[chesapeake724]

I'm not getting a good vibe, mako'. I bought a clean '87 with a running motor and a decent trailer for $2600. Motor is too sick to run after three trips, but I was really buying the hull and trailer. There are soft spots on the floor as well, but it doesn't sound as extensive. This boat sounds like an awful lot of work. Just my two cents...