New guy with questions!

[Sangster]

Hi, Ryan here. Just picked up a 1983 V20 Fisherman center console with a 2001 Evinrude Ficht Ram 225

Spent all day Sunday out on the local chain of lakes, put almost 40 miles by GPS on her. It was a big choppy but saw a max of 52mph (GPS) but didn't make note of the engine RPM to know if it's propped right.

Couple concerns about the boat:
1. previous owner ran deck drains to the motor well, which has scuppers (flap style). Either the hoses or the motor well thru hulls are leaking into the bilge. Need to either replace hoses or fittings. Will also probably pick up a couple plugs to keep the water out of the motor well when sitting still/anchored/floating.
2. Steering is pretty stiff while under power, particularly when trying to turn right. Turning left is easy, and the boat will make a sharp left turn if i let go of the steering wheel. Going to adjust the motor trim tab to the left.
3. Motor is too low. The plate is under the water when on plane and splashing quite a bit. I think this is also contributing to the lack of difference in boating trim attitude when adjusting the trim/tilt. I also think this contributes to the steering issue. The marina yard where i'm storing the boat is going to raise the motor two holes today. It was set on the lowest setting.
4. Motor tilts over to the side while towing. I think I'm going to pick up some of those steering ram clips that hold the motor straight.
5. No bilge pump. Adding one this weekend. How many GPH do you suggest? Should I pump it up into the baitwell and out the transom scuppers? Or should I drill a hole in the side of the boat and have it pump out there?
6. Boat lists while on plane. This might have something to do with the steering issue, motor height issue, or it could be soaked foam or something heavier on the starboard side. I'll check it with the new motor height and steering issue fixed. Possibly I'll move the batteries from the right rear bilge to the left side inside the console. Shift weight forward and left.

I also want to rewire the boat, move the battery switch to under the console, replace the junk captains chairs with a decent leaning post with cooler underneath. Add a couple extra rod holders, add a mid-ship cleat, reseal the floor and add SeaDeck, add transom tie down eyes (transom was rebuilt prior to me and they didn't add them), touch up a few spots on the outside hull, fix a few things on the trailer, rebuild the front coooler/seat, add a stereo and speakers, add VHF radio, redo switch panel on dash.......blah blah blah.....the list never ends!

Just glad to be back on the water and looking forward to putting some fish in the fish box!

[Sangster]

Here's a quick pic

[Pipe_Dream]

Welcome, Sangster! Pretty boat. And '83 is a great year. ;-)

Sounds like you have issues but you're dealing with them well.

[Sangster]

Thanks!

Big push this weekend to get things sorted!

Fully clean interior, hatches, bilge
Install Bilge pumps
Motor was raised, so good there.
Adjust steering trim tab
clean up helm
reseal all through hulls, hoses, etc
Install Lowrance transducer and chartplotter/fishfinder

Then I'll need to get a VHF radio (which is affordable, simple, yet reliable?)
Need to find a good marine stereo. Don't want to go too over the top, but want bluetooth, and want it to sound good. Any recommendations?

[phatdaddy]

Welcome and congrats on the new project. On the steering issue, disconnect the steering cable from the arm and see if the motor swings freely both ways. If it does then the binding is in the helm or cable, if so then replace with NFB helm and cable. This will also cure the motor leaning over issue also.

Ive had about 4 marine stereo s on my boat, they last about 3or 4 years. Since I Bluetooth music off my phone now, i just got a good quality blue tooth speaker and use that. Might want to try that till u rewire

[Destroyer]

2000 GPH Bilge pump nothing less in IMHO

[Sangster]

Originally Posted by phatdaddy

Welcome and congrats on the new project. On the steering issue, disconnect the steering cable from the arm and see if the motor swings freely both ways. If it does then the binding is in the helm or cable, if so then replace with NFB helm and cable. This will also cure the motor leaning over issue also.

Ive had about 4 marine stereo s on my boat, they last about 3or 4 years. Since I Bluetooth music off my phone now, i just got a good quality blue tooth speaker and use that. Might want to try that till u rewire

There isn't any binding when no throttle. It's only when under power. Sitting on the trailer, i can steer from the wheel with ease, as well as turn the motor side to side by hand from behind the boat. So it's a torque steering issue while on the throttle. This is why I'm thinking it's the tab/fin on the underside of the cavitation plate.

I have a bluetooth speaker that I used over the weekend. I'll definitly wait to put a stereo in it when I rewire. No sense in adding new wires to the existing mess!

[kennethr860]

hi i have hydraulic steering removes the work out of steering well worth it

[Sangster]

This is almost 2 yrs old, lol

Steering was fixed way back then...didn't go hydraulic, but put in new NFB steering and it's all good.

:) Still loving the boat but have a serious case of 6ft-itis. Hoping to get into a 25-27ft walk around in the next year or two. :)

Have had this V20 30 miles offshore both atlantic and gulf coast of Florida bottom fishing for grouper/snapper and trolling for mahi/kingfish/blackfin.

Seems to spend most of it's time on the lake at the local social spots though, lol!

[steplift20]

The wellcraft Steplift is a great boat, cable steering is always harder turning to port cause of the torque of the engine, good luck and by the way what does imho mean?