Dissapointed Wellcraft Owner...

cliffpaul2 · #1 06-23-2005, 11:35 PM

On Sunday I took the boat out for it's first trip since buying it and restoring it for four months. *It is a 1980 V-20 with a 305 Chevy I/O and a Volvo Penta outdrive. *I paid $5200 for it and have invested at least that much in repairs and upgrades.

I was disappointed to notice that it pulls to the left A LOT when I'm on plane. *

Now I'll skip ahead about five days. *

I just took it to the mechanic, who determined on the spot *that the outdrive was mounted crooked by the factory in 1980. *To give you an idea, the bottom mounting holes are different distances from the bottom of the transom by 1/2 inch! *Needless to say, I'm extremely disappointed about this news. *

Until now I had heard nothing but great things about the V-20 and about Wellcraft boats. *All I can say is:

*What kind of idiot boat assembly worker could let this happen? *And...
*Where was the attention to detail by Wellcraft, who should have inspected and corrected it before it was ever sold. *And...
*Why didn't the original owner return it to the manufacturer while it was still under warranty? *And...
*How could the second owner have sold this boat to me without revealing such a major defect?

Well I guess that's quite a lot to say, but what the hell, I'm venting.

Besides pulling the motor and altering the transom so that the holes line up, the only fix that the mechanic recommended was to change the rotation of the prop. *This is apparently a fairly easy thing to do to a Volvo outdrive, but I'll have to buy a new prop for $300 and I'm not even sure it will help. *The left hand rotation of the prop is apparently exxagerating the problem. * In theory, reversing it will offset the pull. *

I would appreciate your comments and input, but please don't tell me I should have bought an outboard! >:(

*[s][/s]

reelapeelin · #2 06-23-2005, 11:44 PM

I really understand your problem...and where better to vent re Wellcraft problems, but get over it(we've all had problems with these and other boats) and go out and ENJOY your boat...if it were me, I'd get the problem fixed instead of hopin' reversin' the prop might be a fix...it's a bandaid at best... ;)...

chumbucket · #3 06-24-2005, 12:43 AM

While I was reading your post, I had lots of thoughts, ideas and suggestions..................then I read the last line. ;D
Sorry, couldn't resist. I know it's of no consolation, but as RAP said, we've all been through tough times like this with other boats. Happened to me with a boat that was a hell of a lot more $$$ than a V20. All I'm saying is that you can get the same crappy workers building Mercedes as well as Hyundai. Mass production. It's the only way to be truly profitable. Henry Ford proved that a few years ago. Problem is....mistakes are made during mass production runs.
If you really like the boat, fix it right. Otherwise unload it. :-X :'(

cliffpaul2 · #4 06-24-2005, 01:47 AM

I appreciate your comments and I'm sure that I'll get back to appreciating the boat again, but right now I see it as $10,000 down, and thousands left to go. And I don't have thousands to spare. So I'm going to hope that this "quick fix" will make it better. Otherwise, I'll put it back in the driveway and watch the summer go by while I save my money or learn how to operate on a boat transom.

I didn't mean my last comment as a shot at outboard owners; just to steer responses away from what seems to be a common theme on this board. If I had found a V-20 with an outboard for sale when I was looking, I probably would have bought it. But the motor type is not the reason for this problem. Poor workmanship is.

bigshrimpin · #5 06-24-2005, 03:32 AM

CP - I wouldn't go for the quick fix . . . I doubt it will help.

Trim Tabs should correct/mask the behavior (I have an extra set of bennett accuators and tabs that I can loan you . . . I'll see if I can dig up the pump and lines . . . otherwise we can hit Rancho Marine Recyclers) .

You can try them out before blowing another thousand bucks changing the prop and rotation of the outdrive. The worst thing that might happen is that you drill a few small holes in the transom (we can fix that too with a little epoxy).

bigshrimpin · #6 06-24-2005, 04:38 AM

To make you feel a little better . . . I ran up on a mud flat last weekend in susiun at 40mph ;D.

I got myself off using 3/4 throttle reverse . . . dinged up a my prop a little.

chumbucket · #7 06-24-2005, 07:37 AM

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.................now that's what I'm talkin about! Can't wait to do that to MJ's new prop. ;D

reelapeelin · #8 06-24-2005, 08:51 AM

CP2...you said LEFT-hand rotation of prop?...aren't most single drives RIGHT-hand?...

Is there any way a "shim" can be made to straighten the drive mount...post some pictures showing the problem from several different angles and let's take a look at it... ;)...

Let's look at it and see if there's any way less $$$ can fix your problem... :)...

cliffpaul2 · #9 06-24-2005, 12:34 PM

Apparently the Volvo outdrives come both ways. Mine is left hand, but it will be right hand later today. It's too late to call off the propeller order or to take photos, so I'll hope for the best. I dropped off the boat at the shop yesterday afternoon. My mechanic isn't going to charge me much for the installation and gear change. I'll just have to buy the prop. He's also going to show me how to undo this myself if it doesn't work. I could always sell the new prop and recover some of my losses. But who knows? Maybe it will work! I'll keep you posted.

bigshrimpin · #10 06-24-2005, 12:48 PM

Alright CP . . . if the reverse gearing doesn't fix the issue then you're welcome to try out the tabs.

That's a nice mechanic you have who will swap the outdrive for free.

Have you been to Rancho Marine Recycling? These guys have tons of used parts at decent prices. The majority of the stuff is for I/O's, but they have fuel tanks, trailer parts, cables, harnesses, gauges . . . . they're 1000x's better than shipwreck marine.