Questions about the V20's

[Rookfish]

Howdy all.

New to the website. I was looking at purchasing a mid 80's 180 Fisherman CC; when doing some research a friend directed me here to find the answers. That 180 was sold, but it got me looking more into trying to find a 180 or V20, either a CC or small cuddy. But, I'm brand new to these boat and would like to learn more about why they are so popular.

What is so special about these boats and their hulls? What years have the "good V20" hull?

Is the 180 Fisherman the same hull design as the V20?

Are the newer Wellcrafts (late 90's and even today's models) the same hull? If not, are they better, worse? I was at the Detroit Boat Show this last weekend looking at the new models.

I'm looking for a good fishing boat that would have some good amenities for a young family. My wife is not much into cuddy cabins (a bit claustrophobic) so the small cuddy on a V20 for storage or a CC would work great.

I also was looking at a Wellcraft 210 Sportsman which is an open bow but with fishing amenities. Any information on the quality of those?

Any information you can share is appreciated. Looking to purchase something this spring / summer for Lake St. Claire by Detroit - looking for a fresh water only boat.

[cfelton]

Hey Rookfish, welcome to the site! The V20 hull makes these boats a very dry ride with the flared bow and they have an exceptional ride. They're great boats for familys with plenty of room. The cuddy, like alot of us have is big enough to cwawl up into but I think most use them for storage. Check out the Gallery, lots of great pics!

[phatdaddy]

welcome. lotta debate over the best years, but i think the mid 80's up are the best. 60 gallon belly tank, higher deck, 25" transom. that being said, they all can have rotted stringers , deck and transoms, so check out carefully. as far as a young family, i got out of a center console to the cuddy for just that reason. lots of room for baby naps and baby bags. that was 22 years ago and i still have the same boat.

good hunting

[Destroyer]

Hi and welcome aboard Rookfish. !996 was the last year they (Wellcraft) made the V20 hull. So the 210 and other newer models are not V20's
What makes them special is the step lift chines & lifting strakes on the bottom of the hull. As the boat goes faster and faster it lifts up on those "steps", creating less drag than a normal boat hull of the same size would do. Couple that with an over-sized "Carolina Flare" bow that pushed the water away from the boat instead of over it and you get a fast, stable, dry ride in most cases. (No hull is 100% wave proof all of the time. Depending on winds, speed, current, etc, there are times when even the driest riding hull will get you wet). But I digress. The V20 steplift was the longest continuously produced hull in history. And for good reason. It just works.

[mawshj]

I bought a 1983 v20 cuddy new, I fished rivers lakes stream puddles oceans backwaters inlets and a lot of other places where a boat should not go. In weather and conditions that have scared the bejesus out of me, often asking "what did Chapman say about this??".
My 3 children and a bunch of friend's children water skied and pulled every kind of pull toy including long tandem strings and home made floats, all day ,every day, summer after summer , boy scout and girl scout jamborees and on and on. We trailered allover the Chesapeake, fishing clamming crabbing camping. When my kids were small and we camped, myself and one of the kids would sleep in the cuddy on the water . I rigged a screen for the cuddy door, that was fun to sleep in the boat in the rain . I guess I am drifting.....
Later we moved to the ocean and my kids were older we ran offshore (watching the weather) up to 40 miles, 3 to 10 miles in sloppy conditions. My sons and grandkids still think this is fun but my old body likes the back bay. My grandkids and Great grandkids still use this v20 for anything you dare to think of.
I have noticed that all the old fishing guys always want to take my v20 when we go fishing the inlet or backbay even though they have newer or center console boats .This boat is on it's 3rd ob motor and still does everything I ever asked it to. sorry for rambling.

[Rookfish]

Is the 180 and 20 foot fisherman center console a V20 hull?