New V-20 Owner

T

thewaxmania

New member
I just picked up my first boat on Saturday. I bought a 1985 Wellcraft V-20 with a Merc 470. I haven't had much opportunity to fiddle around with it yet, but I know its going to need a thorough "going through" before it goes anywhere. I bought it from the second owner who's owned it since 1992, but this past winter decided he was going to strip it down and freshen up the cosmetic stuff. Well he never got around to it and all the teak, stainless, and just about every screw and fitting is in a series of boxes. It needs a couple batteries and I'm going to clean it up, change the fluids, tune up, and all the general msc stuff before I try to start it, but is there anything anyone wants to add to my list of things to look at? I have no problem going through the entire vessel, which is how I'm going to learn about the boat and I'll be much more confident in the eventual end product.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and all my future posts; which I imagine will be many!
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Welcome to a world of pain and pleasure. Im sure you'll enjoy the helloutta it....

BTW, these guys can become a rowdy crowd when you dont post any pics...

Welcome!!
 
Welcome to the site! My buddy has the same year boat as you. I just rebuilt his gimble section and have been through mine as you're about to do. If you have any concerns ask away. Spare and Ferm can answer about any of your technical questions. Im sure we'll all be glad to help ya out! Have fun, these are great boats!!
 
Welcome... to V fever and as Redfish says a few pains to go with the pleasure. Especially welcome to the 470 gang.:clap::clap:
 
Thanks!

I have two specific questions. The first is, what are those round black things on the aft deck at the edge of the transom? They look like they're adjustable or spin if you pull a bolt out of the side and there's a threaded hole in the top that looks like it could mount something. I've never seen anything like them before.

The second question is about the lifting eye and cleat on the bow. There's a threaded rod that goes into the cuddy behind a little curtain that snaps in place. It is then attached to a bracket that looks like its bolted to the hull. This metal bracket is toast. Looks like some water would wick down the rod and sit on the bracket and it is just totally rotted on one side. Where do I get one of those and what are they called? I have searched the online shops and honestly, I don't know what its called or if its even available.

I posted a couple pictures from when I first saw the boat a month ago and then on Saturday when I parked it in my yard. Its very exciting.
 
Welcome to the site. The black things are downrigger mounts. The other thing you mentioned I can't be of much help. Enjoy the new rig.
 
Welcome...great choice for your first boat. I diont think you be able to find just the backing plat for the bow eye. If you know anyone at all that has access to sheet metal, just a piece of stainless steel drilled ito match will work fine. If you really really get stuck send me a sketch of the dimensions I'll can make you one up.
 
Welcome - I agree Spareparts & Ferminator are absolutely great resources and very generous guys with good advice.

I have the same boat but it has a 170 - I've never figured out the 470/170 difference, they seem identical to me. A comment on the engine - mine had been owned by a completely non-mechanic guy who changed the oil and didn't know to do anything else. All the rubber from engine to outdrive needed replaced. The flapper that keeps water from getting up into the engine was gone and water had gotten into the back two cylinders. Wasn't too bad but needed the head done - so I recommend that you do a compression check.

My lifting eye was like yours. I just cut out the rod and used a big washer and matching bolt to anchor the deck cleat - it's not a lifting eye any more, but I don't need one. If you want to preserve that function, take Rwilson up on his offer or made it out of steel and get it galvanized (galvanizing usually charges by the pound, so it shouldn't be bad).

If you enjoy working on stuff like I do, you just got yourself a treasure - I think I got about 2 full 5 gallon buckets of abandoned wire out from several generations of electronics.

I'm sure glad I found this site several years ago when I got my V. One of the many great things about the guys here is that they aren't full of crap - you don't get a bunch of know-it-all nonsense - very good bunch of guys.
 
Welcome! Yes as others said lots of other people with prior experience with your hull and engine. Some things are priorities and will save you money and headaches in the future. Go through them first before worrying about cosmetic fluffy stuff.
 
Welcome

Hey, look through my threads. I just redid a 1987 and have some tips in there that I got for the wonderful people here. If you want i can get you my number and I can discuss more in detail.

Steve
 
So I'm confused, do your boats have actual lifting eyes on them? Or are they just a backed bow eye?

As I know them lifting eyes include a big turnbuckle or bolt that attaches the bow eye, to a deck cleat/eye, or just a lifting eye up on the foredeck.

Whalers all have them, i think. Never saw one on a V-20
 
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Yes. At least mine does. Right behind the navigation lights is a ring cleat. That is attached through the deck with a large diameter threaded rod which threads into a steel plate/bracket that is bolted into some captive hardware that I imagine is gelled into the hull. Then there are two stainless bow eyes out on the transom.
 
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