Classic BW CC Design versus Classic Wellcaft CC Design

[rrichar1]

I've owned a 83 Wellcraft 18 Fisherman CC for a few years and love the design but always liked the classic 80's Boston Whaler CC design as well. I think the Wellcraft is just as good but wonder why everybody thinks that the Wellcrafts design (including V20's design) are so great?

Just wondering if an 18 BW CC would outperform my 18 Wellcraft CC. I've searched and searched here but haven't found specific threads as to WHY you guys all love the Wellcraft design so much.

I've been a member here for awhile and love the site.

[bradford]

Comparing the two is like apples and oranges I think. For me the Wellcrafts provide a great deep V design that can be picked up for little money. You can't find a similar hull produced today without spending $30-40 grand. The Wellcrafts, while having a decent name for themselves, don't have the automatic premium on price like Whalers and some other manufacturers do. For what it's worth, Ray Hunt designed the V20 Hull and the original Whaler 13.

[Destroyer]

Like Bradford said, it's really an apples/oranges kinda thing. But for what it's worth, I like the ride that my V gives me over the ride that my friends BW gives him... I think the Whaler tends to pound more, and is a wetter ride than the Wellcraft. The extended Carolina Flare on the Wellcraft, as well as the deep V make for a really good ride most times. That, to me, is one of the reasons I love my V... plus, she just looks mean....They have a look, a style, that you just don't see in boats now days... And they tend to turn a lot of heads for just that reason... Just my 2 pennies worth.

[spareparts]

You will not find a boat that will do what V20 will for the money they sell for. There are plenty of better boats, but none that can compare with the value of the V for the money. I like SeaCrafts, they bring a premium now a days and most need transoms. They do ride better than a V20, but they are a bit smaller(20SC) than a V. A Mako rides better than a V, but they are heavy and tend to run slow. They take bigger motors to achieve what a V will do with the smaller engines. I think the V rides better than a 20 Whaler Outrage, but they are different type of boats, the whaler was the original bay boat with low sides. Whalers are the boat of choice for the flip artist. You won't find a 20 whaler ready for the water for under $5000. If you do, tell me about it and i'll sell it to the whaler fanatics for $10000

[Kracker Jack]

As being mentioned before the boat has minimal weight,its wide,easily customized,can use minimal H.P. to aquire effective speed,rides awesome!!! My opinion is, if I olive drabbed my v20 I could duck hunt in it one day then fish 25 to 30 miles off the beach the next day and then easily trailer it to eastern shore the day after that to go wreck fishing and still have on of the nicest looking factory "Custom Carolina" looking hulls ever to be produced. The V's are very versitle boats,and thats why I've always loved the v20. Thats my .02

[RidgeRunner]

At 18' I don't know what Whaler makes. The 17' Montauk is a great hull. The Unsinkable Legend with the cathedral hull is stable at rest for its beam. The sacrifice is the pounding. In 20' the cost of the Whaler eclipses the V-20. I love the 20' Wellcraft for ride and function. Did I mention I have a Whaler FOR SALE... Neither a classic nor under 20'.
I really like the old large Whalers, like the 27' Full Cabin. Put a couple outboards on a bracket and that would make a serious Grouper Boat, if we were allowed to keep Grouper that is. Interesting thread.