Unknown year v20 re rebuild with 120hp 1.7dti

[Daniel]

So i picked this old wellcraft at an auction that had been converted for shrimping. It had a soft floor and was at the end of its life for the floor and stringers. I kinda went back and forth on how to best power it , i even started an inboard 350 conversion. I ended up finding a 1.7 dti mercruiser with 22 hrs on it. I figure it is a little less than most people run on this hull, but still more than what a lot came with, also the diesel torque should really help get it up loaded.

[Daniel]

A few more pics, new stringers are treated 2x8, deck is 5\8 treated, i coated the stringers and underside of the ply with thinned tar to aid in preservation. All deck seams are caulked and fiberglassed.

[Daniel]

Here is the last set, i should have taken more pics. She is running now but i got the wrong wheel so it cavitates and i can't make over 15kts. It will be really nice to see her run properly when i finally get it propped rite.

[Daniel]

Here are some mostly finished pics, it still has a few bugs and needs tightened up here and there, but overall done. It was a fun project and not all that expensive. There are a few of these units new on ebay for like 6k if anyone is looking for an economical swap.

[Destroyer]

Daniel.... Welcome aboard. This is a great site made great by people just like you. What a treat to see your rescue and conversion of that boat. Thank you for the pics and the descriptions to go with them. Truthfully, I'm a little nervous to see the fuel tank so close to the engine, but that's tempered with the knowledge that it's Diesel fuel in it instead of Gasoline. But in all cases she's a beauty. I hope your cavatation problem is simply a prop change and not a height adjustment. In all cases great job.

[chart]

Nice to see a v20 outside the box, at one time i was looking at doing a diesel conversion on a center engine Four Winns Quest 26' it would have been sweet i think. I also thought of swapping one of my 6 cyl Mercedes diesels into a v20 that had a straight 6 Volvo duo-prop setup in it. that is the only v20 i have seen with Volvo power.

[Daniel]

Thanks, i don't forsee any problems with cavitation due to it being mounted too high, i think it is a couple inches too low actually. Hopefully i can search out a proper wheel in the next few days and give her a proper run. I hope for a 35kt top end and a 20 to 25 kt cruise at 2 to 2.2k rpm, which should keep fuel burn to a gal an hour...as advertised, so we will see how that goes. Hopefully i can post some pics of the removable steps i am redoing that will give easy access to the bow. They came from an old 23 sportsman, and were located as the steps down into the cuddy cabin. Perfect fit.

I love the old mercedes diesels, i daily an 85 300dt. I have been looking at building a small (25) single inboard with a 4 or 5 cyl Mercedes diesel. I think bowman may make marine conversions. There was a steel craft in pencacola that i barely missed, that is one i am really searching for. They are really neat looking boats.

[Daniel]

Some pics of the steps.

[bradford]

Cool Daniel, look forward to hearing your results on the trial run.

Welcome!

[randlemanboater]

Welcome to the site and nice work!

As to the year, mine has the year model as part of the hull ID number, but not sure when that started.