New member...New boat (to us anyway!)

A Lafitte V-20!

Nice boat Coz. Over near Biloxi myself.

I recognize it for what it is. I suspect that boat has spent time in Plaquemines or St. Bernard Parish! Can't run the mouth of the river at all in the spring without radar or some mas cajones!

You should look around for a used arch that you can make fit, unless you know someone that welds. Marine Supply in Gulfport has tons of boat parts from scrapped boats.

Isn't the stern wet on that thing? Never been in an I/O, but my 200 Merc & I swamp the stern deck of my V. I'd think that tail would do the same.

By the way, let those guys laugh at the tail, I trawled opening day in Biloxi, 75 pounds in a morning, but I wish I had your tail!
 
Hi Garbubba!

Yeah, it has spent its life in Destrehan and St. Rose. So that is basically St. Bernard West!

I have not settled on an arch yet, still looking around. I have replaced some wiring and gotten a few of the small things repaired so far.

The stern does stay dry. I'll take some pictures when it is in the water and let you see how she sits and where the water line is. Now I did have more water in the bilge than a couple of wet skiers could account for this weekend. I will keep a closer eye on where it came from. I think it was just from the wash-down pump being played with, but I do want to verify that. Can't have extra water coming in without knowing how it got there.

As far as trawling goes, I am patiently waiting for opening day here. Louisiana should be setting the dates this week. They meet today to discuss it.
 
Posted before I read St. Rose, I have a buddy lives there might take exception to that St. Bernard comment, but he's originally from Washington Parish so we got that on him.

That's great the decks dry, that motor weight being forward is better than me standing in the bow!

Check the hoses for the self bailing scuppers, they'll leak in a bunch of water easy. The seal around the fuel tank can be a source too if you have wet skiers running around.

You'll find this boat sit's a bit bow down so the bilge water is not in the stern unless you are running or parked with the trailer tongue in the air. I plow a bit before getting on plane sometimes & flip on the bilge switch until it's dry. On the trailer I keep it jacked as high as I can.

I think I'd solve the radar mount problem by selling the radar, although they sure can come in handy every now & again.
 
Well, I will probably get her into the water this weekend and check out any possible sources of water.

But after looking around here on the site and again around the boat...This deck drains into the bilge. There are no scuppers to be found. It does have two bilge pumps...one large, one small. Not sure of the ratings. But they do both work (on separate switches...not automatic).

Now, I have added :
second battery
battery switch (b1,b2,b1+b2,off)
on-board dual battery charger
stereo / amp / speakers
stern light and the outlet to plug it into

And I have fixed :
a couple of the lights that were not working...simple re-wiring
a couple of the switches that were not working...just replaced them

I still have to re-wire the blower. The blower is good...the switch is good...the wire connecting them is not. That will happen tomorrow.

I intend to install a set of Bennett hydraulic trim tabs (M120's maybe). But those will wait another payday or two.


Seriously guys, this site has helped tremendously with information about boat repairs in general, and this boat in particular.

Thank you all very much for sharing your knowledge!

Cheers!
 
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