Va Beach v20 project


The ole girl is running awesome. I wasnt able to get the top welded up so im just gonna leave it like this till spring. The boat has performed awesome so far. We have black dea bass and tog fishing alot lately.
 
I searched hard for a affordable electronics box for my t-top. So i decided to convert my Smith t-top bag to a cheap functional electronics box. Here is the finish product. It turned out perfect. All i did was build a wood insert for the bag.

 
Kracker Jack,

Terrific post and great looking boat.

So what model year did this boat start out as? I think I read somewhere in this epic that it was a 70's model.


I'm asking because there is a 1974 V-20 cuddy cabin posted on Craigslist for $500 with trailer and 200Hp Johnson. I plan on looking at it this week once the rain quits here. I could only hope to come close to the sweet boat your boat has become if I attempted the same makeover. You've already done the homework and gone thru the learning curve.
 
Red it started life as a 74' cuddy . this boat turned out awesome! I get alot of people that think this boat is a custom carolina boat. When i tell them its a v20 there like "holy ****"! Have also been offered alot of money for it also. Was a really cool experience building it. My buddy laugh when we fish because i cant wipe the smile of my face whenim on it.
 
Kracker , im rebuilding a 76 V and converting to a CC also .. I've used your threads almost like a how to manual .. Your work is awesome ! I have a question for you ..Actually many questions but Im going to hold back .. Did you stick with polyester all the way through your build ? Bedding the stringers , attaching your gunnel ? and if so any issues ? The conflicting opinions on this has got me spinning .

We live in the same area and ill bring you a case of beer for a conversation
 
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I used polyester all the way to the end. The boat was oroginally built with it plus my budget couldnt afford epoxy. Are you in va beach? Would be more than happy ti help you with anything you need help with.
 
Im with ya on the budget ..Im using polyester also ..im buying my materials from Eastern Burlap

I was about to glue and tab down one stringer this weekend but chickened out after reading all the epoxy people say don't do it ..My transom is done (in poly) and it turned out pretty good , couple things Im worried about but I think it will be ok . Anyway ..I live in VB . I've seen your boat from the street on the way to Sandbridge a few times. If your not busy Saturday could I swing by and check her out ?
 
Shep Eastern Burlap are some stand up guys! They helped me out with alot of product info. I have found that alot of p r oblems with guys using poly is lack of prep and not using fresh greenish blue poly resin. Eastern burlaps resin fresh with minimal shelf life. The brown old garbage resins you buy from the box stores is a joke. The most important thing to do with poly is to perform wet on wet applications as much as possible.
 
Well fellas the v is under the knife again. 2 years when i put the t-top on it was temporary meaning i put it on to fish taugs for winter with future plans of removing it and adding a ladder in the rear to allow me to acces the top for sight casting cobia and then powder coating the frame and putting a new top on the frame. Well that time has come. I got a smokin deal on a leaning post livewell so i incorporated my rear ladder/legs to bolts to the livewell/leaning post

Heres what it looks like mocked up and ready to weld.
Im also building my electronics box out of African mahogany! Its gonna be a sweet addition to the boat and look really good mounted on that white powdercoated t-top. Lots of pics soon to come.
 
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Comes a point where you're just showing off man.

J/K!!

She looks great, If I mess around with another one it will be a 70's flat cap center console.

Ps that box looks beautiful.
 


So the new livewell/leaning post is getting a little make over. I cut out and installed a insert for my fire extinguisher. And also cut out a access hatch out of the front of the leaning post for a small storage space. Cant have enough storage on a boat like this.
 
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