Welcome New (and Old) Members!!!

[Pipe_Dream]

Originally Posted by ashokrags

Hi. Ashok here. Got a 1990 V20 last year. My first boat ever in my life. Didn***8217;t even know how to drive boats when I got this one. Just lucked out I guess and I have put on about 100 hours last year on a 1991 yamaha 175 . This forum and THT was instrumental in my choice
Let me see if I link in some pics. Mostly cruising around Narragansett bay last year.

Welcome and we're glad you made it here. Nice boat and good looking crew. Like Blue said, the 175 is a very good match for this hull.

Cheers!

[steplift20]

Ashok welcome to the site.you are now a brother to all of us we are here to answer any questions that you will have and you can also brag about your boat, we love that and what's not to love, it's a great boat. I have a 78 and own her about 25 years and still love that boat . Now that's saying something and also you are building great memories with your children and one day cause it happened to me you will be a passenger in your boat and your kids will be captain ain't it great.

[ashokrags]

Thanks all for thew warm welcome. I am looking to hopefully have a good second season out on the water. Still waiting for the summer decommission and the new trailer to arrive.

[Fireman Steve]

Hi folks,
I just found this page and site, seems like some good folks here, I was just given a 1972 Wellcraft V20 Steplift, had a Johnson V6 GT150 motor, motor is toast, though there are some good parts still on it, I have tried to do some research on the boat but there is not much available, Wellcraft seems to have a loyal following however, I am interested in any manuals, pamphlets, or just solid dope on these boats, so far mine has only required clean-up, it was like a terrarium before from sitting in a woodline in North Carolina for about 7 years uncovered, but the hull and floor is super solid, going to have to refit the control panel and remove the old fuel tanks, not sure why the cuddy area has a live well that extends into it and the anchor locker inside is odd placement as well, be very grateful for any info anyone can provide, Thanks

[SkunkBoat]

Originally Posted by Fireman Steve

Hi folks,
I just found this page and site, seems like some good folks here, I was just given a 1972 Wellcraft V20 Steplift, had a Johnson V6 GT150 motor, motor is toast, though there are some good parts still on it, I have tried to do some research on the boat but there is not much available, Wellcraft seems to have a loyal following however, I am interested in any manuals, pamphlets, or just solid dope on these boats, so far mine has only required clean-up, it was like a terrarium before from sitting in a woodline in North Carolina for about 7 years uncovered, but the hull and floor is super solid, going to have to refit the control panel and remove the old fuel tanks, not sure why the cuddy area has a live well that extends into it and the anchor locker inside is odd placement as well, be very grateful for any info anyone can provide, Thanks

'72 is old! many changes to it in the '80s. Main change was the cap/deck piece and raised deck for overboard drains.
here is a link to manuals...

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/history

[Pipe_Dream]

Originally Posted by Fireman Steve

Hi folks,
I just found this page and site, seems like some good folks here, I was just given a 1972 Wellcraft V20 Steplift, had a Johnson V6 GT150 motor, motor is toast, though there are some good parts still on it, I have tried to do some research on the boat but there is not much available, Wellcraft seems to have a loyal following however, I am interested in any manuals, pamphlets, or just solid dope on these boats, so far mine has only required clean-up, it was like a terrarium before from sitting in a woodline in North Carolina for about 7 years uncovered, but the hull and floor is super solid, going to have to refit the control panel and remove the old fuel tanks, not sure why the cuddy area has a live well that extends into it and the anchor locker inside is odd placement as well, be very grateful for any info anyone can provide, Thanks

Welcome, Steve! We'll help in any way we can!

(by the way, we love pics)

[Fireman Steve]

Thanks for the welcome, I had found that page with the pics of the catalogs and looked at the one for the 72 but that's not my boat, and there are no manuals listed; why do they call it a step-lift? I get the V20, it is a pretty deep V-hull. I will post some before pics and when I get it in better condition I will post that as well!!

[Blue_Runner]

Welcome to the site!!

[Pipe_Dream]

Originally Posted by Fireman Steve

Thanks for the welcome, I had found that page with the pics of the catalogs and looked at the one for the 72 but that's not my boat, and there are no manuals listed; why do they call it a step-lift? I get the V20, it is a pretty deep V-hull. I will post some before pics and when I get it in better condition I will post that as well!!

Someone correct me if I mess this up. The "steps" refer to the strakes running down the hull, which flatten as they go toward the stern. All strakes help to provide stability and throw spray to the side. The V-20 (and others) flatten the strakes, making them "steps," and the flat surface provides more "lift" helping to get the boat up on plane quicker as well as assisting in turns by providing a grip in the water. I think it's also said they have a lower drag to lift ratio. I believe Wellcraft had a patent on the "Step-Lift" hull but that it expired in the '90s.

[Fireman Steve]

Ok, That makes sense, I saw some pics where a gentleman was reinforcing the supports of his woodland stored Wellcraft on this site and this explanation ties it together, I snaked a line camera into hidden spaces in the boat floor and don't see any rotten wood, it all seems to be fiberglass coated, I am impressed how tough the hull is, the person that gave me the boat put it in the inter-coastal waterway here in North Carolina and in the Cape Fear River; which is notorious for underwater logs, but there are only minor scratches,
Thanks for the info, I'm grateful for the help; if anyone has a schematic or breakdown drawings of this boat that would be great, still on the hunt for a owners manual or any place that may have some parts,
Thanks and be safe