Can you Tell Me About This Boat?

chackett · #1 05-30-2013, 04:46 PM

Hi All,

I started contemplating getting this boat back in March of 2012 (even started a thread here about the internal gas tank back then). Well, this past spring break, I finally went down and picked up the boat and hauled it back to Atlanta (Alpharetta to be exact) from Bluffton, SC.

The HullID marked it as a "F20" .. if I can I'll post a pic. I had to do all sorts of work on it to get it operational. I rebuilt the carbs on the Suzuki DT200 that's on it, replaced most of the fuel lines under the cowling, new plugs, batteries, etc. But I think I have it mostly running now, with the possible exception that I think water might be getting into the internal gas tank.

I believe someone told me previously that this hull had a metal gas tank. If that's true, then a previous owner replaced the tank with a plastic one. There's a porthole in the floor that provides access to the sending unit, and the tank is clearly plastic (brownish plastic).

While I was working on the boat over the course of 4 or 5 weeks, I was working off a small external gas tank. One of the first things I did when I got the boat home was to siphon off as much gas from the internal tank as I could. There was a lot of water in the tank, but that wasn't too surprising to me since it has previously sat uncovered for at least a year.

Anyway, once things were running, I added 20 gallons of fresh fuel to the internal tank and headed to the lake. I should have tried siphoning the internal tank again first, because after I got towed back to the ramp, the following day I siphoned about 6 liters of water off the internal tank.

It's definitely possible that the first time I siphoned gas out of the internal tank, I didn't get all the water. Since that time, I have also cleaned and sealed the sending unit area with silicon.

Is water getting into the internal tanks a common issue with this hull? Any suggestions as to where to start with figuring this out? There is a large cutout area on the floor that I am assuming provides access to the tank, but getting to it will require removing the leaning post, and at least unbolting and moving the center console, which is a colossal PITA. So I thought I would ask for suggestions first.

macojoe · #2 05-30-2013, 06:37 PM

Well it is possible you did not get all the water the first time?
Also it might have been getting in the sending unit hole?? was there a gasket on it before you sealed it?
On mine, (1975) it was the vents being to low on the sides and when going thur the water the splash would push water in the vents. Just relocated them no more problems!
Could be a cracked gas tank or someone screwed something to the deck and into the tank? Been done before!

But I would check all other stuff before you have to get to the tank as you said its going to be a PIA!!

Good Luck

chackett · #3 05-30-2013, 07:17 PM

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it. Do you know anything about this hull? It's stamped with "F20" but there's not much information that I have been able to find on it.

As for the water, it's definitely possible that I didn't get all the water the first time. I really hope that's what it is. Where the sending unit is, there was no gasket, either when I removed it or when I replaced it. When I removed it, there were bits of caulk and stuff on the bottom of the face of the sending unit that I figured was no good. I cleaned it up really well, making for a nice smooth contact surface. I screwed it back on, and sealed it up with a good amount of silicon. Hopefully the lack of a gasket will be overcome with the silicon. If not, I can remove it and add some sort of gasket.

I can see what you mean about the vent being placed in such a way that water could splash up and get in there. I can also see how it could be possible that someone put a screw into the floor that punctured / pierced the tank. Particularly where the leaning post is attached, that is something I'll need to check for sure.

Thanks for the ideas... I'll keep you posted.

Chris

P.S. Here is a link to a (large) picture of the hullID

colinm · #4 05-30-2013, 08:09 PM

The Boat is a V20 Fisherman,,,,,,
I have an '82.

chumbucket · #5 05-30-2013, 10:12 PM

The "F20" designation was assigned by Wellcraft showing that it was built as a V20 Fisherman model. I had a 1987 with the same F20 designation and still had the fisherman tag on the side of the hull as well as the original brochures and owners manual. They came from the factory with aluminum tanks (or at least mine did).

reelapeelin · #6 05-31-2013, 04:25 AM

I may have missed it but I didn't see mention of a water separator...hope you have a fresh one in the fuel line...when I got the hull I have now, there were concerns about water in the tank...w/Spareparts help, we worked through it w/out having to remove the tank...hopefully he will see this cuz he circulated and filtered the gas in/out of my tank over time w/a pump/filter gizmo he put together that did the trick...water being heavier than gas will sink to the bottom, so if you can pull from the dead bottom of the tank, it may be possible to clear all the water out, then treat what remains w/a fuel/water treatment...there are several on the market...

Sounds like you might be doing a little striper fishing on Lanier...

chackett · #7 05-31-2013, 09:20 AM

Thanks for all the info ya'll.

Reelapeelin - definitely looking to do some striper fishing on lanier this summer season. My dad and I bought this boat from a fellow at BaldRidge about 2001 ish. We fished the lake for about 4 seasons and then my dad dragged the boat to Bluffton SC when they moved there. It was mostly neglected until this past spring break when I brought it back up here and started getting it back into shape.

Also .. there is a water separator in the fuel line, but I'm 100% sure it needs to be replaced. Also, here are some pictures of the "gas" I siphoned off the tank just before I took it out for a spin this past Wednesday.

Chumbucket .. thanks for that explanation of the "F10" designation. I wondered why everyone calls it a "V20 Fisherman" when it clearly is stamped "F20" and the sliding window on the console says "Fisherman" on it. Do you know any resources where I could figure out the year from the HullID?

Here is the "gas" I siphoned:

Jar1 (all water with sliver of gas at top):

Jar2 (little less than 50/50):

Jar3 (all gas with sliver of water at bottom):

chumbucket · #8 05-31-2013, 10:13 AM

The last two numbers of your hull ID designate the year of build.

Here's a link to our site history section.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/history

Destroyer · #9 05-31-2013, 11:01 AM

Chumbucket beat me to it, the last two numbers of your hull VIN number are what designates the year. So according to your photo, your boat is an 89. Nice looking boat. I'd look at the vents personally. I've had similar experience with another V where the water was coming it that way. Moved them and the problem went away.

RidgeRunner · #10 05-31-2013, 01:37 PM

Welcome aboard.

I have a 1983 F20. All info here is spot on.
I see your Mason jar of water/gas. Even the third one with a sliver of water is way too much. The pick-up tube that goes in the top of the tank extends down near the bottom so that little sliver will be the first thing to be sucked up. Once the water makes its way in the carbs, well you got a little more work to do. Carb cleaning will be in order if the boat has sat for 2 years anyway.
Reel has a point, even the pickup tube does not make its way to the dead bottom of the tank. That is where you need to go to get all the water out.