Newbie asks: Is this a good deal?

drbabe

drbabe

Member
We have agreed to buy a 1975 v-20 for two thousand dollars. In the few days we have before we pass papers, is there anything we should look at or consider that would make it a bad deal? The boat looks good, has a top, motor is an evinrude 115, rebuilt, with five hours on it. All new wiring, electronics, etc. Three hatch covers need rebuilding/replacing. The hatch to the cuddy needs to be repaired. All of this is work I can do myself. One of the four barstools needs to be re-seated or removed. The trailer is a double-axel 2004, looks essentially new. I've seen the receipt from the work done on the boat's electronics and motor (just over a grand's worth). The hull has evidently been recoated with something that looks like gel-coat, but may be some sort of epoxy paint. In a few places one can see old cracks, but the thing looks cherry; whoever did it was a pro. From reading around in this site, there is a consensus that, with a 115, it's slightly underpowered. Keep in mind that this will mostly be used by the little woman to go fishing with the kids, and we don't need tremendous speed. Occasional water-skiing or tubing is probable.
 
Everyone here is going to tell you to post some pics...:thre:


I would consider that under powered for water skiing. Tubing will be fine for the kids. If the engine is rebuilt and done right sounds like a good figure for the boat. Pics would help.
Good Luck
 
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder......

If she looks good and you like it, I would say it is a good deal. :beer:

welcome to the site
 
Sounds like a good deal to me. The 115 is the minimum hp I think for these boats but should still push her 28-30 mph I would think.
Welcome:beer:
 
Have you wet-tested the boat?...put it in the water and run it around a bit?...heard the motor run?...any of that?...

The 115 will pull kids up on skis and probably a small adult up on two skis, but a large adult on a slalom will be tuff...

Post us up some pictures if ya can, but for 2 grand that includes a good trailer, you can't go too wrong...Enjoy your new "V" and welcome to V-20 World!!...:clap:
 
Images for newbie's hoped for v-20

Hi folks,
thanks for the input. uploading images is giving me fits. I've manged to put a couple in the user section of my profile. If repeated efforts with various sized jpegs seems hit or miss. Any suggestions? Thanks again.
 
drbabe said:
Hi folks,
thanks for the input. uploading images is giving me fits. I've manged to put a couple in the user section of my profile. If repeated efforts with various sized jpegs seems hit or miss. Any suggestions? Thanks again.
Click to expand...


Go to Photobucket.com...download yer pics there, then transfer to here...some new sites have come up lately folks here like better, but it still works for me...
 
Wow...that looks nice!!...and the trailer's in great shape...go for it...have you done transom test?...tilt motor all up...apply your weight to the lower unit gradually and what do you hear?...lots of creakin' and crackin', plan on transom work...no noise is good thing...but for the price, I'd go ahead, regardless...


Try goin' back to P'bucket...click on IMG line, then copy/paste to here...brother, if I can do it, ANYBODY can do it...
 
I know they are the same hull, but for some reason the older V's look like they have more flare. Either way thats a nice boat and if the interior is as nice as the exterior a very good deal for $2000.
 
Looks great!!!
Don't remember the teal color of the decals though.
IMG_1199.jpg

Don't matter, for the floor box covers, spend $400 or so and get some 3/4 Starboard. You'll always find stuff to use it for!!
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=2808&highlight=specs&page=14
And WELCOME TO THE SITE!!!
 
Nice looking boat. Ditto on the transom check. If the boat had been repainted look for blisters around the bunk boards, if they did not use the right paint it may blister in this area.

Either way if the boat, trailer and motor is solid, I dont see where you can go wrong for the price.

I have a 90 merc on my 1984 center console and I can do 28 to 30 mph with just me and 26 with the wife and two kids. I would think a 115 would be even better.

best of luck.

P.S. Half the fun of owning one is tinkering on them.
 
Wow, looks great from the pics you posted.I hope she looks as good up close.
I think you got a good deal there.All older boats need a little something so if a few hatches need work that's no big deal.Good luck.
 
Suggestion on the floor hatches...here's what I did w/mine back in 1999...ZERO maintenance and nearly bullet-proof in every way...3/4" Starboard...under the cuddy, I found a 120 qt cooler (used primarily for fish-box) that fit like a glove, then cut a piece of Starboard to fit remaining opening...the rear hatch lid is hinged in the center to allow access to the two trolling motor batteries in back of the hatch and the onboard charger that keeps them hot in the front...
seats.jpg

IMGP0219.jpg

floor.jpg

Just a suggestion, of course, but it has worked well for a long time...one heads-up...if you go this route, cut small enough to allow for HOT weather E X P A N S I O N...Starboard does expand in hot weather...apologies for dirty boat...at the time it was in the yard under some trees...now it's in a shed full time and looks much...the same...
 
Keep those fixup ideas comin'! Show us your layouts!

Thanks Reel' and Tsubaki, for the Starboard suggestion. We have a distributor nearby. Once it's in the driveway (bless the little lady's heart for anticipating this and having an extra spot paved next to the garage:beer:) I'll begin planning and tinkering in earnest. I'm open to suggestions about what to do for seating. Currently the boat has four pedestals, one of which is loose. Elsewhere on this site I've seen the bench across the back, although it can be a bit noisy there. A couple of back-to-backs up forward is probably better, overall. Any idea where one gets such things without their costing as much again as the boat? I've seen the Florida supply house online. I'm more of a DIY-er when I can be. :sun: I'll have all winter to putter and fix. And in Northeast, that's a good long time. I like the big cooler in the passageway. Seems like a good use of the space.
 
 
As far as the seats go, it depends on what yer gonna use the boat for...since mine gets used for fishing and family boatin', I like the flexibility of the two Captain's Chairs you see in the pictures above, plus two folding padded chairs like this

FoldingBoatChair.jpg


West just ran the SS chairs on special for $99 apiece...the aluminums work well too...if you go this route, keep 'em outta the sun when not in use and they'll last a good long time...
 
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Got a couple of the foling ones myself, I agree there when you need them. And you can take them off very easy when you and a buddy are going fishin. Boat looks very nice good luck.
 
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