First season on my V-20

D

Dr. Hook

New member
I must say I really, really like this boat. Although I've been spending most of my time working on getting it set up the way I want it this season, I have had it out for a few good fishing trips and family beach- hopping excursions.

I really like that its enough boat to handle some rough conditions, yet I can still pull right in close to a beach and let my wife and kids out easily. I can also launch/ load it just fine by myself. We are using it on Georgian bay (Lake Huron). Conditions can get really nasty here but we feel comfortable in the V-20.


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Great pics! Love that clear Michigan water. I was up that way in July (Gaylord, Elk Rapids) and had a great time swimming in the lakes and bays and catching a few fish.
 
Yup....classic timeless lines ...looks like a boat, not a plastic mold.
Enjoy....don’t know if you have tabs but if not, I’ve found the trim tabs greatly improve ride to keep the bow down to cut through when choppy.
 
Thanks all, just thought I’d pleasure your eyeballs a bit, since forums are always better with pictures :sun:

Yes it has tabs and I do indeed find them greatly beneficial to cut the chop. It’s been a comfortable ride most times, except one time when the chop was 3-4’, that was not too fun.
 
Great pics, I too am in my rookie year with my V-20 on Lake Huron at East Tawas. I have a Chris Craft moored there and I am going through a series of projects getting ready for 2019 salmon and walleye. It is a fun boat, but my 1978 needed a little love this season. I put 20 miles on her 2 weeks ago. Ran great..but more prep work to do.

Thanks, Duke
 
Duke, I hear ya, there sure is a lot to get prepared on a new boat, especially to set it up for fishing. I too am eagerly anticipating next season when its time to put it all to good use!

Phat, the rocks are a bit of a shame really, but thats Georgian bay. I don't know why, but the dry land is all sand then nothing but stones in the water! I guess God thought they looked pretty there and I must agree. The bonus is that it keeps most other boaters out of these beaches. To get in I stand right up on my seat, head poking up through the zippered opening thats in my canvas for a birds' eye view. Then very carefully weave my way in through all the boulders and little rock shoals. I'd love a bigger boat for rough days, but surely not for this delicate beaching operation!
 
In florida, We see that many round rocks in a pile, we think ballast stones.

When i got my V it had the style top yours has, first thing i did was put a Bimini on it. Opens a lot more useable real estate, but little more exposed to the elements.
They are great boats for families.
 
Phat, indeed if I were in Florida I would likely go with a bimini top too. In the heat you have down there the airflow would be most welcome. Up here in Canada on the great lakes we have some heat waves, but also some chilly winds and rains as well. The added shelter is nice at these times. Everything is a tradeoff it seems. The top is a bit restrictive and I can't fully stand up, however I like the aerodynamic profile of it and the look. There is also side and rear curtains that I can put on to have a full mooring cover. I hate leaving an open boat stored out in the rain.
 
I've got a question for you all, is that four foot pole that my GPS antenna is on necessary? The previous owner installed it but I'm not sure if it gains me any better satellite signal than just having the antenna head itself mounted on the deck. I'd sooner go without it.
On my other boat I just used the internal antenna in my Lowrance HDS unit. Does an external antenna gain much?
 
Shouldn t matter, does your gps have an internal antenna? Some don t. You can just remove the pole and mount the mushroom on the antenna mount.
 
phatdaddy said:
Shouldn t matter, does your gps have an internal antenna? Some don t. You can just remove the pole and mount the mushroom on the antenna mount.
Click to expand...

X2 Was about to say the same thing. Sats are a hundred miles up... lowering the mushroom 3 feet won't hurt a thing. :head:
 
Thanks guys thats what I figured. That pole just looks ugly and gets in the way so its going to go! The plotter unit is an older standard horizon cp175c, not sure if it has its own internal antenna.
 
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