Intro new to me V20

[step up here]

Welcome to the site, looks like you are doing just fine!

[Cam]

Welcome aboard to the best V20 site there is. Lots of knowledge here and good people. Excellent boat and taking the family out on it is priceless. It's what it is all about.

[Liam]

Welcome,i have the same 165 set up in my 73,nice enclosure for sure you have there

[reelapeelin]

Welcome to the site and thanks for the pictures...you're doing a lot of things RIGHT...kids, dog and boat...they make the best memories for all...

[Crifasinator]

well the last trip I took is a bit of a story I thought I would share. My inexperience I'm sure has a ton to do with the majority of the experience. Surely there is so much more for me to learn and maybe some one else can learn from this as well. So my first mate and I were dying to fish and set a plan Men only we said we needed some time on the water and so I invited along another friend. Well that morning he cancelled and on the fly I called another friend to come along. He jumped out of bed and was at my house, so now we are showing off the V in all its glory to him with its new name? He says" That is bad luck me and my dad renamed our boat and had terrible luck till we put the old name back" WTF?? news to me and I am not buying it. As we're pulling out of the driveway the "Men Only" idea bites us as my old lady is cussing us saying she hopes the river god swallows us all??? REALLY? It gets better but this as a start to what is supposed to be a relaxing and refreshing day isn't looking so good. We pull up to the bait shop and there are some guys outside "did you call ahead" no.. WHY? "no live bait!".....now some guys might have took all this as a sign of things to come as the boat isn't even in the water and there is three strikes. NOT US we load up on frozen bait and we are on the water. The week before we had had some good luck so we motored in that direction. No fish No fish No fish... we keep looking and the water in this area the week before had been glass now the further we went the rougher it got. I think there may have been about 5-6' chop. We push on and get to a place protected and it all calms down. We set the pick. The poles are in the water and a big sturgeon(what we are after) jumps 20' behind the boat. Yeah Baby!! Now things are looking better. While we are out there a friend has said he is going to head out to so we plan to meet later and we do. We tie the boats up together and we are B.S.ing and fishing and just flat out having a good time. The challenges of the morning all seem lost except the fact none of us have even gotten a bite. the sun starts setting and I make the decision we have a bit of a haul back and we head in. Now since getting the boat I have been working to grow confidence in the boat performing and myself as a new captain. This is the furthest I have taken it and it has run like a top. I'm just cruising back in and the sun is on the horizon and it feels like all is well. As we cross under the bridge( about 5 min from the launch) the motor quits. Uh-oh. Now we aren't in a good or safe area and its getting dark and I don't have a kicker and this isn't good. I drop the anchor and Shawn tells me call the Coast Guard and I do. after what seems like a frantic 30 mins..probably 10. We find out the rotor in the distributor broke. Also since we aren't in immediate danger CG isn't coming and vessel assist want 500$ to come get us for a 5 min tow. Can you guys start to see how many valuable lessons I have learned already? Now we broke right in front of a oil refinery ship dock on the edge of a shipping channel the area is usually very rough but now it is calm. The friend we had met earlier says he got a friend to trailer a small boat down to us and they are coming to tow us in. What a relief. We got back to the launch around 11pm. Safe and sound. now every time I have taken the boat out it takes on water. I assumed all boats do but this time after being out for a long period the water just kept coming after pulling the plug. Having other men watching they were amazed and convinced me that was not normal. The boat has been sitting since and I have worked to address all the issues at hand before taking it out again. In hindsight I am very glad the family wasn't out there. If you took the time to read all this THANK YOU. More importantly if there is anything you have to offer I AM ALL EARS. I really love forums and the ability to tap the knowledge and experiences of others. PRICELESS.
Anthony

[billymoca]

Anthony, welcome to the site! I live in the south bay, so it is nice to have some other west coast v20 lovers! Not a common boat in these parts. Nice fish BTW, the most fun to fish and second most fun to catch. Glad to see you enjoying it w your kids!

I have fished and hunted the bay from a boat for almost 20 years and she can be a fickle mistress.

As for the leakage problems, check your out drive for signs of water intrusion, but also pull a bolt or two and check your transom and check your bilge area stringers. These boats are notorious for rot issues in the structural, and with that type of pounding you may have started a leak because the structural support is gone.

I got an 1980 center console with an outboard from a guy in Oregon, and everything looked good, but on the drive down, we noticed new stress cracks in the well area, and now I am into a complete overhaul and it has not even hit the water yet. The guys on this site are awesome. Full of knowledge and wisdom and wise a$$ery.

Bill

[lathehand]

Welcome I hope your wife can remove the curse about the river gods.Your friend is right about renameing the boat.If it isn't done wright you'll have nothing but bad luck.Follow this method and if done wright it''l be smooth sailing http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm Some may say it'sall a bunch of hooy you be the juge but it's a good opertunity to party

[Destroyer]

Well, glad you're home safe. You've learned a few valuable lessons. Now capitalize on them.

First, buy a membership in Boat US or Sea Tow. The hundred or so you'll spend for the years membership will seem like pennies compaired to the money you'll spend if you have to get towed without it.

Second, Buy/check your bilge pump. Most of us have two (and a few have three) one in the front and one in the back. Set on automatic they will keep the water from spray, etc from overwhelming your boat and possibly sinking it. Do NOT skimp here... I would think that a 1000GPH would be the minimum acceptable size. No 500 or 750's.

Third, apologise to your first mate. (Groveling works well here) Taking others out when she wanted to go fishing is just inviting the water gods to show their displeasure by not allowing fish to bite, engines to quit, no bait to be had, etc. Actually I'm amazed that they (the water gods) didn't contact their brothers (the ground gods) and cause you to have several flats on your trailer. (Perhaps they are saving that for another day?)

Forth, invest in a nice plastic tool box, (no rust that way) and fill it with screwdrivers, adjustible wrenches, a box wrench set, vise grips, a hex key set, and all the normal tools you would use to work on an engine. Include 5 minute epoxy glue, wire nuts, electrical tape, Nylon ties, a spool of 14 gage wire (color not important) some strong string, a small digital electrical tester, an assortment of solderless connectors, some shrink wrap tubing, and a small butane torch. You can add to it later on as you come to find things you could have used but didn't have with you. But that should get you started. (For instance, that 5 minute epoxy glue and the electrical tape might have been able to repair your distributor cap well enough to get you back to shore.) The trick is to have a good assortment of the basic things you would have around the house to repair things.

Fifth, I know there is a lot of superstition about changing the name of a boat. It's just that. Superstition. I cannot begin to count the number of boats that I've renamed without any problems. And, in fact, if you rename your boat with your wifes name, not only will you not incur any bad luck, you'll actually reap good luck and several nice rewards.... like eating home cooked food, being allowed to sleep in the house again after not taking your wife fishing, waking up in the morning, you know.. little things...

[Crifasinator]

thanks guys
billy- yeah it is an awesome boat for the straits near me I'm looking forward to cruising more toward san pablo and chasing some halibut when the come in. I'm not exactly sure how to check the transom and stringers?? they look and feel good/solid. floor feels solid the only access it seems I have is to the bilge around the motor.
Destroyer-thanks for the ideas... putting together a tool box with some spare parts was in the works but you gave me some good ideas.the PO had two pumps a 500 and a 750 auto that quit the last couple trips. I got two 1200's and am putting them in one on a float switch an the other hard wired. I guess they are just gonna go in the bilge by the motor.
P.s. the stuff about the wife and the boat name is a real kick in the pants.

I've been working on her and want to get back in the water soon.

[Kracker Jack]

2 words...... tow insurance!!!!!! we pay 135.00 dollars a year for unlimted with tow boat U.S. it a great investment and security!! good luck on your repairs.