Took a ride yesterday

W

wellcraftv20step

Senior Member
So in looking at the inaforty rig it had me thinking about the ride I took recently in my 20 ft Pursuit. The thing is built as well or better than any boat I've ever owned and that's a lot of boats! But now let me tell ya about the ride and I won't bore ya with many details,,,, IT AINT NO V 20, I remember just before selling my v I had two guys out for a day of November Bass fishing and it was snotty to say the least ,one guy owned a 23 proline and the other I believe a 20 ft chaparral, I remember them both looking at each other and laughing not being able to believe the way the v20 hull was going through the chop, the Pursuit does it to but I'm soaked and my back is killing me the next day..just can't love this boat !!. As I've mentioned before I'm going to find myself a 22 /23 footer at the end of the season I'm kinda leaning to the aquasports at present, just not sure about how they ride. I owned a coastal I/o 23 for 10 years it too was a very good ride but room for fishing was terrible ..... Maybe a 23 coastal outboard ? Very difficult decision as I want to have this boat for 10 years
 
if build quality is important to you, then take a look at pioneer boats. those boats ooze quality from ever square inch. and while there may be some just ad well built, most of those cost a lot more.
 
Build quality isn't everything.
We have owned a Parker sportcabin. The hull to deck joint is thru bolted with 1/4" bolts every 10" to 12". Built very very well. However it rode like crap.

If you think the Pursuit or Parker is built well look into the Novi hulls.
The Rosborough we owner was thru bolted with 3/8" bolts.
Thing was a tank!


The V 20 hull joint is screwed together without any backing (wood or fiberglass).
With saying that I want to say I am a huge V 20 fan.
The V 20 hull design is what makes the difference.
Heck every person I see on/in/around a V 20 I talk to about their boat.

So when looking at a 23 foot boat maybe look at boats with a hull designed by Ray Hunt or Don Aronow etc. Maybe a 23 Seacraft?

Maybe the Grady Whites with the Sea V2 hull which is designed by Ray Hunt Assc.

I'm sure other guys will have input.

Of course if you have $$$$$$ Contender,Regulator,Yellowfin will be happy to make you a sweet 23' boat.




















Google "Ray Hunt" or "Don Aronow".
The story about Dick Bertram watching Ray Hunt run a boat off Newport RI in some sloppy surf is great. This is beginning of the Bertram "Moppie".
 
Troutkiller2006 said:
if build quality is important to you, then take a look at pioneer boats. those boats ooze quality from ever square inch. and while there may be some just ad well built, most of those cost a lot more.
Click to expand...

Pioneer Boats are built local, met the owner a couple times, real down to earth guy. They make a pretty good boat. If i were in the market for a new boat, Id give a long hard look at their stuff. Pioneer, Scout, Tidewater, Sea Pro, Sportsman, Scout, Key West and Sea Hunt are all local builders, oddly enough, they are all related, by marrage, blood or business partners. They share a lot of sub assembly manufacturing so they all stay busy even when they aren't building boats. Sea Fox is local, but they are on their own, they are the guys who used to build Renken boats(family name). Some of those brands are better than others, but they are all becoming higher quality. The cost of engines are making the buildeers get out of the cheaper market, building higher quality boats usually bring higher percintages.
 
I just looked at the Pioneers . very nice boat... and I love the Dusky. Been a scout fan for many years as the fit and finish has always been super inpressive from what I remember. I was also on a sea hunt recently and was impreesed. I looked at the new Mako 236 or 238 at the local boat show. 'now that's a real beauty . my issue is all the powder coating, I hate it im very meticulous about my boats and I don't want to be a slave to worrying about scratching the powder coat, that could drive me over the edge.
 
This is interesting. Is your V an I0 ?

When I took ownership of my V21, I found the ride quite average, until I added the trim tabs. With the tabs, I'd classify the ride as quite good.

No V hull will cut through head sea like a 23-24 degree deadrise hull, but this type hull will also likely roll on the drift, while the V is stable.

Seacraft's original 21' " cuddy" was and still is an impressive hull. The bow rested 4'-5' off the water surface. It had a very huge, deep entry and then tapered at the back for stability.
For whatever reason, it was discontinued, and only a few remain.

Outboard V20 - V21's ride well....I'd say B-B+.........with tabs.......C without.
 
Youve been drinking the Classic Seacraft Coolaid. Not to knock them. The ride is incredible for the length. BUT They do not have near the room of the V-20. While the picture isn't absolutely conclusive, trust me.. Suwannee Nov. 2013 014.jpg
 
As to ride quality of the V-20. Love it and I second that tabs make a difference. Stuff that sharp entry ento a wave and slice her up... Overall, the 20' Wellcraft is a great riding and behaving hull. Better built boats can be had. LOL! But you get what you pay for. A fully restored Hermco transom bracketed 23' Scepter with a hardtop OR the 27' Tournament with the small cuddy up front and twins.. What a boat, I think Todd finally sold his... I'm a regular over there, hard to argue with something that clearly works.. VDR hulls in gerneral..
 
Having said that, and I haven't been on much so pardon me for running on.. It would take a design change in the hull to make it any better. Either making the deadrise more, making the beam less, or putting two hulls under it like a cat. LOL! Since none of that is cost effective, there are just some things that need compromise. Pick one that you like, use it as often as you can. Key West boats seem to ride very well, for a price point a little under Pioneer I think...
 
You would have to re-engineer the hull to make it any better. LOL! More deadrise, less beam, cat hull. LOL! I haven't been on the board in a while, feeling frisky today. Pardon me for ramblin':beer:
ANd you know I was just joshing you Bgreene. I like coolaid and the CSC coolaid is good stuff..
 
bgreene, yes it was an I/0 as someone in our little v20 family once told a critic on another forum " the v20 is not a magic carpet it's a great boat and like any other it has its limitations!!! That's actually the single thread that brought me over to this board years ago.. Anyway I have spent the day looking at boats, I am so confused ,I'm finding it difficult finding one that I'm certain I'm not going to find fault with somewhere along the next ten years,, I pretty much see this as my last boat..one thing I think I'm sure of is that I have grown very fond of the outboards, the I/o's are out ,to much trouble and maintainance...
 
RidgeRunner said:
Youve been drinking the Classic Seacraft Coolaid. Not to knock them. The ride is incredible for the length. BUT They do not have near the room of the V-20. While the picture isn't absolutely conclusive, trust me.. View attachment 6480
Click to expand...

Actually no cool aide.....I wasn't referring to the 20' Seacraft.... I was referring to the original Mosely 21', and now the 23 Scepter which has a huge open cockpit.

We know what we have in the V's.....and it's a good thing.
 
wellcraftv20step said:
bgreene, yes it was an I/0 as someone in our little v20 family once told a critic on another forum " the v20 is not a magic carpet it's a great boat and like any other it has its limitations!!! That's actually the single thread that brought me over to this board years ago.. Anyway I have spent the day looking at boats, I am so confused ,I'm finding it difficult finding one that I'm certain I'm not going to find fault with somewhere along the next ten years,, I pretty much see this as my last boat..one thing I think I'm sure of is that I have grown very fond of the outboards, the I/o's are out ,to much trouble and maintainance...
Click to expand...

It's tough to find a 20 -30 year old boat that hasn't been degraded by water saturation...
Fully restored can be found, and a couple of freaks now and then that were kept on trailer, such as mine but it's a hard find.
There's no such thing as a perfect boat, just what's best for you at the time.
 
I'm actually thinking of going new... But that freak boat you mention recently came and slipped through my fingers, a24 Rampage, it had been for sale months ago .i called on it but the owner informed that he decided to take it off the market, he did however promis me that when / if he put it back on he would contact me immediately and he did.the boat had never been fished on ,just taken across the bay for dinner and drinks and kept out of water behind his home . As it turns out he got fed up with the craigslist guys not showing up and decided to use it for trade on a new 30 ft luxury boat but wasn't happy with what the dealer offered on trade.he then put it back on Craig's list the day before his new boat was to arrive and at 3000.00 lower than the original asking price ,and as he promisd he contacted me .i had a commitment the next morning but told him I would be their at lunch time with asking price in hand! He called me at 10 am to tell me the boat was sold.. I can only imagine what that buyer paid for the boat with owner being under the gun time wise , That was my freak boat.
 
Agree with Ridge, for the money hard to find something better or more versatile. If I ever get caught up with all the small projects I'm gonna drink the trim tab cool aide and put them on mine.

Bgreene, those old 21' Moesley hulls are the chit. Almost had one for free that was laying in the dirt behind an old house about 20 miles from me, was too late with the phone call.

Wellcraftv20step, I've learned there's always another boat, another deal or steal. Keep your eyes peeled and your ear to the ground and be ready to move when the time comes.
 
Pardon me Bgreene, you are so right, the Moesely 21 Cuddy is a beast. What a vessel that is. Lot of talk about someone over there making theirs a plug for some molds to be made. That would be a winner for a 21' but so rare a find. I have been on three Rampage boats of larger size and was not impressed. Wallering pigs. No experience with the 24' these were 30' or larger sportfish type vessels. Things happen for a reason sometimes....might have just won the lottery when that deal fell through. Who ever knows for sure, right???
 
wellcraftv20step said:
I'm actually thinking of going new... But that freak boat you mention recently came and slipped through my fingers, a24 Rampage, it had been for sale months ago .i called on it but the owner informed that he decided to take it off the market, he did however promis me that when / if he put it back on he would contact me immediately and he did.the boat had never been fished on ,just taken across the bay for dinner and drinks and kept out of water behind his home . As it turns out he got fed up with the craigslist guys not showing up and decided to use it for trade on a new 30 ft luxury boat but wasn't happy with what the dealer offered on trade.he then put it back on Craig's list the day before his new boat was to arrive and at 3000.00 lower than the original asking price ,and as he promisd he contacted me .i had a commitment the next morning but told him I would be their at lunch time with asking price in hand! He called me at 10 am to tell me the boat was sold.. I can only imagine what that buyer paid for the boat with owner being under the gun time wise , That was my freak boat.
Click to expand...

Been there more or less....you'll find another.
 
bradford said:
Agree with Ridge, for the money hard to find something better or more versatile. If I ever get caught up with all the small projects I'm gonna drink the trim tab cool aide and put them on mine.

Bgreene, those old 21' Moesley hulls are the chit. Almost had one for free that was laying in the dirt behind an old house about 20 miles from me, was too late with the phone call.

Wellcraftv20step, I've learned there's always another boat, another deal or steal. Keep your eyes peeled and your ear to the ground and be ready to move when the time comes.
Click to expand...

21' Moesley.....I encouraged owner who re did one on SeaCraft web site to take video running in rough seas. I like the idea of that hull, re did today as overbuilt tank to fill a void - for the hard core offshore fisherman. A beast.
 
If you are looking new, have you tried a Cat? Partner of mine chartered out of Venice LA in a 26 glacier bay. Takes some getting used to but it beats anything I've been on in rough seas and talk about room!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top