v20 101 - aka help me I'm a newb!

irimi · #1 07-12-2009, 10:49 AM

Hey guys, My wife and I just got our first "real" boat, an 84 v20 Fisherman with an old yamaha 200 outboard. We've had a jetski for about 10 years, so we are somewhat familiar with trailering and launching, etc. Can you guys give me some good reading on v20 101? Like things to look out for with this boat, common issues, cool fixes or add-ons, anything like that? Our boat is overall in very good shape...doesn't appear to have any soft spots or dings anywhere and the transom is good and solid. We are in Charlotte, NC near Lake Wylie, so our primary boating are will be the lake, with the occasional trip to OBX. Any boaters in the same area want to show us the ropes? :) Also is it worth it to get a slip? We have an opportunity to rent a slip for a good price, but I've heard that keeping a boat in the water can make for additional maintenance? Thanks!

RWilson2526 · #2 07-12-2009, 07:34 PM

welcome to the site....! being here in NJ I dont think I will be on lake Wylie anytime soon but there are alot of members from the Carolina's.....as far as good reading for V-20 you just have to put your time in and wade through the 1000's of posts here from people that love there boats and love to customize them to make them their own......Good luck and I'm not sure how long you lurked around here before posting but if you did you would know THAT

RWilson2526 · #3 07-12-2009, 07:37 PM

and about keeping your boat in a slip....keeping in freshwater wont require any additional work other than a good cleaningat the end of the season to get the brown pond scum off of the bottom , but it will come off....if you were to keep in salt water then you would need a protective bottom paint for barnacles and such which would need to be kept up with....

reelapeelin · #4 07-12-2009, 08:04 PM

I have a good friend who lived on Lake Hartwell...put a new 21' Rabalo in and pulled it out from time to time to clean the scum Wilson mentioned, plus algae that will grow...took it out after several years and discovered blisters all over the bottom where water had found it's way thru the gel coat...yeah, you're going to work on it keeping it in the water full time, but it's ALMOST worth it...

I kept mine in a boat shed on the trailer for a couple of years about 1/4 mile from the ramp...bought a years pass to the ramp and that worked out really well...minimal cleanup after using in sweetwater and you can leave everything in the boat cause it's gonna be locked up in the shed...

Good luck either way and welcome to the board...

Blue_Runner · #5 07-13-2009, 11:15 AM

Welcome!

I am in Lexington NC and go to Wylie once or twice per year. While I'd love to have my boat in a slip for the convenience, I'd also worry about it 24 x 7. Heck I worry about it 24 x 7 on the trailer, so I'd be a nervous wreck if it were slipped! It being your first boat I'd shy away from the slip...at least until you get a little more time & confidence under your belt.
If you do decide to go that route it goes without saying that you will want a pair of good bilge pumps with automatic float switches installed. I say a pair because one could go out and allow your baby to hit the bottom. I think the preffered method is to mount one switch a little higher than the other so they both don't run at the same time. The lower switch & pump would handle all the water and the upper switch & pump would be a backup.

Now if you could find a good dryslip w/ a lift that would be the bomb!!

As for good reading, you should be looking in the "modifications" and "repairs" section of this site...there's a culmination of wonderful examples in those topics. It should keep you busy for days, maybe months or years!

Congrats on the V20 fisherman. I don't think we have too many CC members here (mostly cuddy) so its a welcomed addition!

P.S. A heads-up - everybody here wants to see pics!!

Blue

garagenc · #6 07-14-2009, 09:20 AM

welcome to the site, when you get my way (obx) let me know

Cam · #7 07-14-2009, 07:13 PM

If you are able to use the boat frequently, there is nothing better than being in a slip, and being able to literally go out on your boat at a moments notice. Trailering is fine, but becomes a hassle after a while, and you will tend not to use the boat as much (it becomes a job). Either way, boating is great and you will surely enjoy your boat immensely.