Fishwhisperer 180
New member
Boat-ebay $1500/T-top ebay $500/Daughter graduates college $Priceless
Hello V20 owners,
I'm officially announcing the launch of my 86 Wellcraft 18' makeover/resto (Low budget). I'd like to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience the members of this sight have made available to me.
I am very happy with my 18. But as I have gone through the site it is clear that she is not the offshore fishing platform that you V20 skippers justly praise.
The 18 Fisherman @ 14 degrees doesn't have the dead-rise that the V20 has and so the ride suffers as the sea kicks up (pounds at speed). On a positive note Her beam @ 7'9 makes it very stable when drifting or trolling. Her shallow draft @ 16" also lets me get into some pretty short water.
I will use her to dive and fish as well as act as the mothership for the family's other water activities (jet ski, tubes, beach, fireworks).
This is the only forum I am active in and I am new to talking to others over the Internet. I would appreciate any help in making sure I don't step on any toes and any tips on Internet edicate would be well received.
Now down to business.
The first task I am tackling is the trailer (old-school Shorelander). I got it from ebay ($200) and it was originally set up for a sailboat. The frame, suspension and bearings/hubs were sound. It came with two dry tires and a new spare.
At 1st attempt I got the boat to fit, launch and recover. That worked for the 1st season but I to had back too far down the ramp to float the boat (I just about had to sink my truck). The boat was sitting to high.
As luck would have it I found a picture on ebay of the same model trailer set up for a powerboat so I tried to duplicate it as best as possible (without spending money).
1. I shortened the brackets that attached the roller trucks to the frame.
2. I moved the brackets w/rollers back 10.5" on the frame.
3. I switched the brackets to the outside of the frame.
4. I moved the axel/chassis back on the frame 10.5" to correct the tounge weight.
5. I moved the fenders down to the lower set of mounting holes.
6. I replaced the winch mount with a new one (ebay $24.00 w/ship) kicked it back the 10.5" and loaded the spool w/ a new seat belt type of loading strap and hook.
7. Then I adjusted the height and position of the two extra-wide rollers that were formally used to support the massive keel of the sailboat.
I still need two tires, light set (LED), Tongue wheel/lift, Brake work, spare tire mount and loading guides. Then clean and paint.
For now it supports the boat. I mounted up a ball on a retired lawn tractor and can maneuver the boat in and out of my shop to work on at will.
I got her about 6" lower and back about a foot. I hope the pics show the difference. The darker pics are the before and the sunny ones are the after. Sorry to make this so long I just wanted to give the 1st post of this thread an introduction.
stay tuned for bOat WoRkiN to come.
Hello V20 owners,
I'm officially announcing the launch of my 86 Wellcraft 18' makeover/resto (Low budget). I'd like to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience the members of this sight have made available to me.
I am very happy with my 18. But as I have gone through the site it is clear that she is not the offshore fishing platform that you V20 skippers justly praise.
The 18 Fisherman @ 14 degrees doesn't have the dead-rise that the V20 has and so the ride suffers as the sea kicks up (pounds at speed). On a positive note Her beam @ 7'9 makes it very stable when drifting or trolling. Her shallow draft @ 16" also lets me get into some pretty short water.
I will use her to dive and fish as well as act as the mothership for the family's other water activities (jet ski, tubes, beach, fireworks).
This is the only forum I am active in and I am new to talking to others over the Internet. I would appreciate any help in making sure I don't step on any toes and any tips on Internet edicate would be well received.
Now down to business.
The first task I am tackling is the trailer (old-school Shorelander). I got it from ebay ($200) and it was originally set up for a sailboat. The frame, suspension and bearings/hubs were sound. It came with two dry tires and a new spare.At 1st attempt I got the boat to fit, launch and recover. That worked for the 1st season but I to had back too far down the ramp to float the boat (I just about had to sink my truck). The boat was sitting to high.
As luck would have it I found a picture on ebay of the same model trailer set up for a powerboat so I tried to duplicate it as best as possible (without spending money).
1. I shortened the brackets that attached the roller trucks to the frame.
2. I moved the brackets w/rollers back 10.5" on the frame.
3. I switched the brackets to the outside of the frame.
4. I moved the axel/chassis back on the frame 10.5" to correct the tounge weight.
5. I moved the fenders down to the lower set of mounting holes.
6. I replaced the winch mount with a new one (ebay $24.00 w/ship) kicked it back the 10.5" and loaded the spool w/ a new seat belt type of loading strap and hook.
7. Then I adjusted the height and position of the two extra-wide rollers that were formally used to support the massive keel of the sailboat.
I still need two tires, light set (LED), Tongue wheel/lift, Brake work, spare tire mount and loading guides. Then clean and paint.
For now it supports the boat. I mounted up a ball on a retired lawn tractor and can maneuver the boat in and out of my shop to work on at will.
I got her about 6" lower and back about a foot. I hope the pics show the difference. The darker pics are the before and the sunny ones are the after. Sorry to make this so long I just wanted to give the 1st post of this thread an introduction.
stay tuned for bOat WoRkiN to come.
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