3 questions from a newb/ non-owner/ owner 2 be?

[bradford]

I think Wellcraft has gone the way of American auto manufacturers. Selling chinsy plastic looking crap with options like lighted cup holders to the boat show crowd instead of building solid no frills well designed fishing/diving hulls.

Any boat is gonna cost you money. You can get a V20 in good shape for less than the first years depreciation on a new boat. Plus your V20 will turn heads of those who know and those that don't, unlike all those new boats that come out looking like some 3 year old kid's bath tub toy.

I don't have any regrets about buying my old girl, though I think it's good you're not in a rush. Look on here at what different people have and think about what you're really looking for. My next V20 will be an old 1960's Alim hull with an enclosed transom or a Sea-drive model from Wellcraft. Not really a regret, just something I would have done different.

[Blue_Runner]

I would not own another boat in the 20/21 ft size range. For the money it is the best value in my opinion. Plus you have your very own support team online! Can't beat it.

Like they've said, any boat is a hole in the water to throw money into. Its a matter of how much you want to throw. You'd be very lucky to own any boat for more than a couple years and never have to B-O-A-T (bust out another thousand).

As you said, be patient, check those floors and transoms religiously. If you are smart with it you can't go wrong.

[macojoe]

They disconnected the hull and tried to re introduce it in 03 I think?? But it failed as the only thing that the new bloat had in common was the name.
Like stated above they went for the plastic look and it really turned out bad with that ero-transom.
i don't think they could make it the old way, with new looks, with out pricing them selfs out of the market ?

Used boats are a hole in the water, Hmm they all are new or old!! But if you look around and get a good hull you will b e fine. Its not the boat but the motor is were the money starts piling up!
A new power is going to be $10K to $15K+ and plenty of maintenance! And thats the case new or used.

Regrets, I had my boat 9 years and added a lot of cash because of power. As far as the boat goes it was a great boat been many places that other 20 footers would not dare to go! Took a 10 foot wave and stayed a float and made it home!!
The only reason I sold it was I just out grew it, I commercial fish and bigger, if I was to ever down size I would buy another with out a problem.

[Blue_Runner]

Yep the motor is where the money is. I like to fish in the ocean so in '05 I installed a brand new 150 yamaha which I got as a leftover 2004 model for $7500. Best thing I ever did. Had I just needed the boat for the lake any old motor would have worked fine.

[reelapeelin]

IMO, MJ touched on the reason Wellcraft dropped V-20 production...some faggot came up w/the eurotransom and some other faggot at Wellcraft said, "We gotta have it to sell boats"...

Buy a new boat and every month you'll walk out to the dock and dump a monthly payment into the water...or buy a used boat and do the same, only it won't be as much money and it'll be spread around the boating community instead of goin' into some fat-@$$ banker's pockets...you won't pay as much tax on it either..

I've never regretted buying my V...

The cost/benefit question makes you sound like a bean-counter...don't go into it believing you'll sell it for what you put into it...it can happen, but typically doesn't...and BR's right...the money is in the motor...as it should be, cause that's the part that leaves you drifting or gets you home...

Welcome to the forum...glad to have you and stay patient in your search...

[Chomper]

I am going on my second year owning the V and I have loved every minute, I have absolutely no regrets. As far as owning a boat they are all holes in the water to throw money into new or used that is just boating. The cost/benefit for me is the time spent with family and friends and it is worth every penny and then some.

Another thing I like is I don't have a payment to worry about. If I were to loose my job I just pull it home and put the cover on until I can get it back in the water and then the fun will start all over again without worry.

[kraken]

Lol, bought mine last week, ask me in a year.....

[Shawsee]

This is my third year with the V and I still do not have one regret. I almost bought a Starcraft Islander but I chose the V and so glad I did. My wife asked me a few months ago (when Powerball was up around 200 million) if we won Powerball, would I get rid of the V-20 and my other two boats to buy a nice shiney new boat with the winnings. My answer was so fast and it was "no way". I told her I would hire the best boat rebuilder to retore the old girl back to her newborn glory like she just came out of the showroom. Then I would put a brand spankin new E-Tec on the transom for a re-power, and watch folks drool! I love everything about the V-20 and wouldn't trade it for nothing.