83 V20 and Hello

[Gfunk]

Been lurking for quite awhile. I gotta say, the loyal fans of this boat on this site greatly influenced my decision to go ahead and buy this boat, even considering it's age.

Got mine a few weeks ago after a very bad aluminum deckboat experience left me with a Merc 150 Otimax and no boat for it. Found this one with a blown powerhead on a 200hp Mariner. The original motor was a 25" shaft and so is the Opti, the hull is a 20" though, PO said that as far as he know the 25" Mariner had always been on the boat and that it had always worked flawlessly for him set in the highest position. He had it for about 8 years when the motor blew. Worst of all for him, he had just replaced the tilt and trim unit and the lower unit when the top end went, guess he'd had enough at that point, so I've got a great source for parts or a possible rebuild in the future.
Transom seems good (bounce test), although it does seem a bit open, might have to box it in with some starboard or Avek material. The floor has a few spots that could be stiffer, sounds like a next winter fix. PO was meticulous about wiring, redid all of it, looks like factory but all new. He also gave me a store bought cover for it that fits like a glove, not sure of the manufacturer, but I'll post it and the model number (and some pics) as soon as it thaws enough to move it.
I like to fish mainly for stripers at Lake Cumberland and make the occasional trip to Lake Erie, so I'll be adding a 60" IPilot on the front similar to RAP's and a downrigger board with rodholders in the back. (If anyone has a pic of their downrigger setup, I'd appreciate seeing them, like to make it removable, thinking of installing a few recessed rodholders and sliding the board poles down into them) Also gotta figure out where to put the trolling batteries. Seems to be a good spot right between the passenger and drivers seat in the hold. Also adding a full enclosure this winter, homemade on an industrial machine in my basement, it will be my third one in the last few years, not professional quality, but durable and better than the $1600 pricetag from the canvas shops. Also adding a humminbird 998 SI fishfinder/GPS, and a Raymarine Sportpilot Wheel pilot for the main motor I picked up recently. Going to swith the bottom paint to black (rolling it myself in the driveway) and get rid of the ugly brown stripes that are on there now.
Thanks again for all the info this site has provided.

[Destroyer]

Hi GFunk. Welcome to the site. Nice looking boat for sure. Impressive that you make your own enclosures...Not a lot of ppl would try something like that. Any idea what year that Mariner is? Curious as to what you plan to do with it. I've been looking for a 25" lower end for a 20" 1991 Merc 200 that I have. Just a thought. In all cases, welcome to the sight... looking forward to more posts from you.

[Road King Cole]

Congrats! Welcome to the site!!!!

Good luck with you new toy!

rkc

[Gfunk]

Thanks for the welcome. I'm notoriously cheap and hard headed, so a few years ago, I sat down and used an existing bimini as a pattern and about a week of spare time later, I had a new one. I dumpster dived after hours at the canvas shop and found enough of 1 color for the fabric, ordered the zippers on-line, and bought upholstery thread from JoAnne fabrics, bought a household sewing machine at a yard sale, and I was in business. Cheapest I found up to that point was $1,600. (That's more than I paid for this boat!) Seams weren't always straight and the zippers could be a little fussy in cold weather, but it never leaked or fell apart in 4 years of usage. I sold the boat earlier this spring and the guy I sold it to is still using it.
The motor is a 1983 model. The PO said it should fit my Optimax also, but I'm not sure it will. He bought it from SEI products in FL in May of last year (I have the receipt) and it still has about 2.5 years left on the warranty. It was part number 90-206-A25. (845$). He told me he had just changed the lower unit and was running on the muffs in his driveway when the top end went, so this has never even been in the water. Let me know if you're interested and I'm sure we can work something out.
Thanks
Gary

[lathehand]

Welcome to the site.Good luck with the boat.

[reelapeelin]

Welcome to the crazy place...That Ipilot yer talkin'a bout is the BOMB...if it works as advertised, you won't be luggin' that anchor up and down any more...
Striper fish Cumberland!!...been wantin to do that since early 90s...there are some LARGE stripes in that lake...do ya'll live bait 'em or what??

If it were me, Id' build the front wall of the splashwell taller rather than trying to raise the transom...assuming it's as strong as you indicate...if you ever have to rebuild, you can go back w/25"er then...I agree that center hatch would be good for batteries...suggest a pair of 21s to operate that Minn Kota...they are GREAT, but will not tolerate low voltage, so you want big batts...also suggest an onboard charger Guest 2611 is good to keep those batteries HOT all the time...just leave plugged in 24/7 ...SO easy...if the MK ever starts acting up, check all connections and battery levels first..you chose an EXCELLENT big lake boat to striper fish and once you get her dialed in, the Optimax will be perfect motor...great fuel economy and possibly one of the most powerful 150s around!!...

[Gfunk]

Thanks Reel,
I had this IPilot setup on a previous boat (the turd as we now call it). I've had a few of the autopilots and knew when I got this one that I needed to have the most power I could get, so I went with the 27 series, more than enough to keep me out there most days. I have a Basspro shops 3 bank 15 amp charger maintaining them and my starting battery. I hate when things don't run or start, so I tend to overkill. PO was the same way and has the boat already wired for 2 main batteries, although I did have to move them around a bit in the rear hold to make room for the Opti's oil tank. Tight fit, but I got it all in there.
Good advice on the splashwell, I'm pretty sure the transom is in good shape, but you never know. It was one of the things I spent the most time on before I bought it, especially after reading the horror stories on here about replacing them. The PO thought I was nuts when I practically crawled into the hold with a flashlight in my mouth, but it seems to have paid off, the inside of this one looks factory new, no telltale black mold or anything I can see, at least in the transom. The floor however will need some attention at some point in the future. Both seats move a bit with weight on them.
Now for the important part, Cumberland. Been going there for the last 19 years in the spring, mid March usually and the occasional fall trip. Started going with one other guy, but now we have a whole caravan of folks, about 10 of us in 4 boats. We usually catch shad by throwing cast nets and then drag the baits around behind planer boards without any weight with our trolling motors. The slower the better. Usually the bigger the shad the bigger the bite. 10-12" shad for bait are not uncommon. Cumberland's down about 50 feet while they repair the dam but it's still my favorite place to fish hands down and the fishing can be amazing. In one 2 hour stretch this fall, we landed 10 keepers (over 24") with 4 of them being doubles on an umbrella rig. If you get bored trolling, you can bottom fish with live shad tail hooked with a circle hook. My best is a 29 pound female (Pictured) I caught a few years ago, but I've hooked two bigger that were in no mood to even turn around towards the boat. One of them straightened one side of a treble hook. They will definetley tell you where the weakest part of your tackle is.
Thanks for the advice, I've read alot of your posts because it sounds like we fish mostly the same way. I was really encouraged to see how you mounted your trolling motor. I wasn't sure mine would work till I saw yours. Mine's a 54" but the MK rep works just down the street from me and said it would only cost about 125$ to extend it out to 60". I haven't mounted it yet to see if it will work as it is, but I may do it just for some insurance on choppy days.

[randlemanboater]

Welcome to the site and congrats on the boat!

[Road King Cole]

Nice look'n fish in that picture, but what is that "fish" on the wall?

rkc

[Gfunk]

Taxidermist's place, small male, about 15#'s. He had about 10 of them all over his garage, not sure if they were his or folks that only thought it was a good idea to stuff a fish and then changed their minds.