New guy here

WiseGuy · #1 04-25-2005, 10:37 PM

Been lurking around and reading. What a great sight and great bunch of folks.
Well - I sold my 29' cruiser, along with some other life changes! Now I'm ready for "plan B" - (not a bad name for the next boat!)
Growing up, my father had a V20 and now I'm looking. I do my fishing/boating on Lake Erie and am familiar with how this boat rides. We took a lot of Walleye on that boat in the eighties.
Anyway, I found an 84 cuddy with the 470 Merc I/O (170hp). Solid hull and engine. It needs cosmetic attention to make it the rig I'd be proud of:
new hardware, canvas, cushions, rod box, intruments, and I'd like to awlgrip it (basically follow the 'Pipe Dream' gallery photo's). It has a single axle EZ loader that also needs cosmetic work.
I'm able (not sure about awlgrip painting!) and willing on the labor.
So - I'm asking what are the expert opinions of value and what I'm in for!?
Thanks in advance

Franco · #2 04-25-2005, 11:29 PM

In my humble opinion - Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. I have an '83 cuddy i/o. Almost sold it when I moved from Virginia to *Florida. Glad I didn't. I have done a ton of work to it. New engine, manifolds and risers, wiring, switches, hardware, rub rail, deck paint and on and on and on. Everybody on this forum is always doing something to thier boats, trying to customize it to thier own likes. GO FOR IT. Share your ideas and questions. We are never short of opinions and advice, good and bad!!!!! But's it a lot of fun.
Good Luck and welcome, FRANCO

CT_V-20 · #3 04-26-2005, 12:59 AM

I would say that if you can buy a hull for <$2,500, assume another $8-10k for a complete repower (either I/O or outboard and NEW not rebuilt or remanufactured), then you know what you are getting into financially. In return you will have a great hull with unbeatable heritage and design as well as reliable power and it will cost you less than half of what an entry level new rig would cost, much less a Ray Hunt hull.

But that excludes all the cosmetic work you are thinking about. If a new looking boat is what you are after foremost, then maybe a new boat would be a better value than a 20 year old used boat.

The good news is, you face a win-win decision.

reelapeelin · #4 04-26-2005, 09:01 AM

WG, I'm like Franco...if the boat suits you, negotiate the best price you can on it and DO IT!...as far as the work goes, you sound capable and willing...it'll be a labor of love you'll be proud of for years...AND you get a great boat in the deal... ;D...

Welcome to the nut-hut board... ::)...

Seacrets · #5 04-26-2005, 12:28 PM

You don't have to spend a ton of money on it. Make it safe and functional. No sense in repowering if there's still life in the engine/outdrive. Use it till it starts to be a problem. If you put an additional 8-10 k in a boat that old, you'll never come close to getting your money out of it if you decide to sell. Good luck and have fun with your project. I've owned two steplifts and my current one is a 1986 package and the 150 hp Merc is running great.

fillet1 · #6 04-26-2005, 02:00 PM

I think 3-4K depending on condition would be an ok deal as long as the engine and outdrive have life in it. If not, then 1500 - 2500 IMO. If the engine/drive is good and the decks/and or transom are soft or rotted then 2k - 3k if you want to do that kind of repair work.

Airborn jarhead on this site has a newer V20 with a 350 I/0 that he listed for sale for around $5500 if i recall. it looked really nice to me. He changed his mind and is keeping it now.
I would have snagged that one up if he was closer to me and was for sale at the time I was shopping.

Stinky_Hooker · #7 04-26-2005, 02:16 PM

WELCOME!!!!

Blue_Runner · #8 04-26-2005, 03:23 PM

Ditto Fillet, Ditto Seacrets, Ditto CT....I don't really see how, but - I agree with all of your statements!!

BUT - and this is a big BUT - after working on my '72 V20, I can say that I've had it with working on boats!! I will not do it again! If I ever own another boat it'll be almost new....and probably won't be a V20 due to price (new one's are $$$$$$$$$$$$).

So, WiseGuy - have you done this type of work before? If so, you're as insane as the rest of us. If not, you're still as insane as the rest of us just for thinking about it!

How far would you have to tow? If long distance, then you might not want the single axle trailer IMHO.

Here's my breakdown on my '72 project:

- $2500 '72 V20 w/ twin 140hp 1989 Johnsons (took one off and powered up with the other)
- $1200 Garmin GPS and Garmin 250 fishfinder
- $500 Rebuilt my trailer
- $500 Hardware (rod holders, cleats, steering wheel, steering cable, etc.)
- $500 Bimini and Curtains

The total comes to around $5200 and countless hours of labor, not to mention I'm having a wiring problem with my controls causing fuses to blow in my engine and also, the guy who rebuilt my transom didn't do it exactly right which is causing me to have to take the motor back off and fix the transom. I've been thinkin real hard about a new Yamaha 150hp for $6800 here in town, but like Seacrets said - if I do that I'd never get your money back out of it I decide to sell.

BUT, I'd likely have the sweetest '72 in the USA :P 8) ;D :D :) ;) AND I doubt I'd ever sell...V20's are just the perfect size and style.

Pipe_Dream · #9 04-26-2005, 03:59 PM

"Insanity" is a relative term ;) heh heh

Welcome to the forum, and while all the above is great advice, what you do depends on what YOU want to get out of your boat. I ran probably the most beat up looking V-20 on the east coast, with an old OMC 155 with more hours on it than anybody's business, and I ran it that way for something like 15 years. But she WAS safe (when that OMC didn't break down) and we had a lot of good times on her. It's pretty safe to say that you will never get out of your boat the $$$ you invest in her. You may come fairly close, or you may be way off. The way I see it, the more money you invest the longer your commitment to keep her -- or loose some of your investment. SO, don't get in over your head. Think about what you want in a boat and how long you can be happy with that boat, and decide accordingly.
Heck, if boats were a good investment we'd all be rich!

reelapeelin · #10 04-26-2005, 04:50 PM

Pipe, you got that right...when I got mine done, one guy asked why I didn't start doin' it and sell 'em...nobody'd pay for what I got in it...much less labor/profit...for me, it's about gettin' a boat the way I want it...anticipating profit would be a waste of time...