New member to this site

mauryc · #1 05-26-2005, 01:47 PM

Hey guys,

This is my first post to this great website. I am a previous V-20 owner - a 75' model with twin 115 omc's. I'll try to find some old pics to share. Had to sell her for financial reasons. This was about 5 years ago. The wife and I were talking a few weeks back and we think its time to start think about another. Contemplated the CC and DC models, but I think the V-20 is the way to go. Perfect for the river, lake or offshore here in Louisiana fishing for tuna and snapper. Anyway, I would like to know how often do you see the full transom models with the sea drives come available? I would like to go with a full transom and a bracket and it seems to me putting an Armstrong (or similar) bracket on a seadrive boat would be a better fit (cleaner) than on an I/O model and definately easier than building up an inboard transom. When you remove the seadrive unit, what type of hole is remaining on the transom, if any at all? Is my thinking sound?

Thanks in advance for any feedback. Again, Great site.

Flounder,
Baton Rouge, LA

macojoe · #2 05-26-2005, 05:06 PM

Welcome to the site!

There are a few brackets here, and I am one of them. I have done over a I/O 1975

If you look here you will see CT has just finished a seadrive conversion, and this is the hole it leaves behind.

also check out the boats in the gallery, there are pleanty of great boats that people have fixed up here!!

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/...num=1116711585

reelapeelin · #3 05-26-2005, 05:31 PM

Flounder, welcome to the board...I've been watchin' all these full transoms w/ brackets...don't have one, but looks like a great way to go w/ either sea-drive or I/O...but w/ both you gonna have a hole to fill...just a matter of how big....I/O you'll have the motor-cover to leave and use as MJ did or re-floor, but my bet is the I/O will be easier to find... ;) :D...

Who was that got 'em a V20 w/ twin 115s...was that flounder's old one...how many could there have been?... ??? ::)...

Franco · #4 05-26-2005, 05:37 PM

WELCOME FLOUNDER, MJ KNOWS HIS STUFF ABOUT THE BRACKET BOATS. I HAVE A 1/O CUDDY - WHEN IT COMES TIME TO REPOWER AGAIN, I'M GONNA LOOK NORTH AND FOLLOW HIS ADVICE.

mauryc · #5 05-26-2005, 07:01 PM

As a follow-up, anyone know when the v-20 went from saddle tanks to the in hull tank?

phatdaddy · #6 05-27-2005, 02:19 AM

There's a duel console w/ seadrive for sale down the street from me in Panama City , Fl. I could get info if you need it.

reelapeelin · #7 05-27-2005, 09:14 AM

Flounder, I think '78 or '79 went to belly tank, but IMHO, not big enough at first...if I was lookin' again, I'd be lookin' around 1st yr 60 gal tank was available... ;)...might have been '80 or so... :)

mauryc · #8 05-27-2005, 10:44 AM

Phatdaddy,

I would be very interested in the boat. Any info you could get I would appreciate. You can post it here or send it to me directly @ [email protected].

reelapeelin,

Thanks for the info. Just what I needed to know.

CT_V-20 · #9 05-27-2005, 11:13 AM

welcome flounder. as macojoe said, I just finished a Sea Drive conversion and can give you any info you like. i've posted pics in a couple of posts and there are also some in my gallery (i need to update the gallery with the new pics). i just brought the new setup home yesterday so i haven't had a chance yet to post the most recent pics. before the cost of a new motor, in CT the labor and bracket ($1,100 from Armstrong w/no platforms) is about $2,000.

the best thing i found about buying a Sea Drive equipped boat if you can find one is the price. nobody wants a Sea Drive so the boats tend to sell for less.

existing pictures of the conversion of my boat are in the modifications section titled "before pics" and "first after pics" and you already saw the holes in the post macojoe sent you.

good luck!

mauryc · #10 05-27-2005, 11:42 AM

CT_V-20,

I saw your boat pics and thats what started me thinking about a sea drive conversion instead of an I/O or transom rebuild. Less effort involved. I'm sure they are getting harder and harder to find. I fished a 75' with no bracket and I didn't complain. A big belly tank and bracket would be nicer though. I would prefer to get a fixer upper and take my time with it. My luck, I'll find a CC or DC (Phatdaddy is getting me info on one now), and my wife will say she has to have the cuddy for a potty! We had a marine head in my old boat which was very nice.
We'll see what happens.