1974 V20 cuddy console modification

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shep65

New member
Hello V20 gods ... I was given a 1976 V20 Cuddy back in August and planning on restoring her .. I like the whole set of this boat except the height of the steering wheel . I've searched this site and cant find where anyone has done this or even complains about the height of the wheel . I've always owned center consoles and like to stand when i drive ..To make this modification i would need to move the wheel back about a foot so i wouldnt be eating the windshield . Anyone ever seen something like this done ?


PS ...I've never been on a V20 Cuddy before .... Is it comfortable with the set up as is ?
 
ask and you shall receive! lol

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MJ , I like that seat ... dont you have to lean forward to steer ? That exact seat or something very close is what i'm after but what about how close your face is to the top of the wind shield when standing ?

PS... These decisions are a long way off for me .. I just demo'd the transom and floor and will begin rebuilding hopefully during the winter months .. (in garage)

This site is awesome and I've been looking at this "boat porn" just about every night .. I pretty much have a blank slate sitting there and have a lot of decisions to make .. Even thought about using Kracker Jacks site as a "how too" and replicating his boat ... That dude is a craftsman !
 
When standing I am taller then the windshield, seat moves back for more room, but i normally have it turned away and lean on the back of seat. I loved it, wish I had a tilt steering wheel, would have made it so much better.
 
go to teh next boat show in your area and start looking at how different boat manufactures have their seats and helm arranged, it will give you some good ideas, don't just look at fishing boats either, some of the plush ski boats(Sea Ray, Chapparal, etc..) have some nice set ups at the helm
 
yea i've been walking around the docks looking at some boats for ideas ..my problem is going to be in building it .. I want to make something like the helm on a center console but want to keep it simple and not some huge overbuilt console ..The only thing i dont like about this boat is the steering wheel height and where the windshield is when you lean forward to steer.so i'm thinking if i move it back a foot or so and mount the steering wheel at an angle the whole boat will be more comfortable. i fish in the Chesapeake bay and sitting while cruising on chop is tough on an already sore back . It's one of the older steplifts that the cap lifts off.. Not the whole floor like on more recent models .. i want to still be able to take the cap off.if necessary . i'll be thinking more about it once i get the cap back on ..was hoping someone has already don this so i could start thinking about it ..I might even convert it to a CC.
 
shep65 said:
yea i've been walking around the docks looking at some boats for ideas ..my problem is going to be in building it .. I want to make something like the helm on a center console but want to keep it simple and not some huge overbuilt console ..The only thing i dont like about this boat is the steering wheel height and where the windshield is when you lean forward to steer.so i'm thinking if i move it back a foot or so and mount the steering wheel at an angle the whole boat will be more comfortable. i fish in the Chesapeake bay and sitting while cruising on chop is tough on an already sore back . It's one of the older steplifts that the cap lifts off.. Not the whole floor like on more recent models .. i want to still be able to take the cap off.if necessary . i'll be thinking more about it once i get the cap back on ..was hoping someone has already don this so i could start thinking about it ..I might even convert it to a CC.
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When you say your face is too close to the windshield, I can only picture the TOP'S clear front curtain being too close...I had a '74 and and had a top w/full enclosure made and foresaw the problem you are having...I had the top-maker angle the front clear curtain so instead of following the line of the boat's glass windshield, it angled toward the bow and allowed more room when standing...at 6'4" reaching the wheel was not a problem, but if you are talking about the front clear curtain that's attached to the top, I understand what you are saying...



With this angle, I didn't have the problem you're talking about...but like said, I'm only guessing you're talking about the front curtain and not the boat's actual windshield...
Show us some pics of your boat when you can...
 
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:head::head: you are losing me with the steering wheel height and windshield ??? I have a cuddy and I always stand. just hold the wheel, no problem. no need to change it.
 
shep65 said:
MJ , I like that seat ... dont you have to lean forward to steer ? That exact seat or something very close is what i'm after but what about how close your face is to the top of the wind shield when standing ?

PS... These decisions are a long way off for me .. I just demo'd the transom and floor and will begin rebuilding hopefully during the winter months .. (in garage)

This site is awesome and I've been looking at this "boat porn" just about every night .. I pretty much have a blank slate sitting there and have a lot of decisions to make .. Even thought about using Kracker Jacks site as a "how too" and replicating his boat ... That dude is a craftsman !
Click to expand...

Don't take this the wrong way, but you would have to be like 5'4" or something for the windshield to be in your face. I'm 5'11" and am very clear of the windshield when standing. With a fold down seat like that, or a flip-up bolster, it will put you far enough back so that you may not even need to slide the seat back on the pedestal.
 
SkunkBoat said:
:head::head: you are losing me with the steering wheel height and windshield ??? I have a cuddy and I always stand. just hold the wheel, no problem. no need to change it.
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Skunk he's right...IF he's talkin' about the top's clear front curtain as being "windshield"...I've had both '74 & '84 and the earlier doesn't have the built-out dash of the later model...he got the boat apparently w/a top and curtains already made and sounds like the clear curtain follows the same angle of the boat's windshield, which in the earlier models would be the problem he's describing...
 
Reel , You got it .... The steering wheel is only tilted about 10 deg. and if you hung a plum down from the top of the windshield its directly under it .. It looks like on the newer models they are moved out about 6-10 inches. The set up now just feels small .. There is plenty of room in the back of the boat so i'm not worried about moving the helm station back about a foot ..I'm jsut trying to figure out how i'm going to do it ... i'm gettin ahead of myself here because its going to be a while before i get to that point. I just demoed the transom and floor ..Now Little League baseball is getting in the way .
 
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