Buying a 20' Skippy. What to look for

[Trayscool]

yea? ill find out next week when i take it out

 

[First-light]

yea? ill find out next week when i take it out

what did the guy tell you the top speed would be?

 

[Gil Marlin]

Congrats on the boat,maybe you could name it after her to keep her happy.

 

[Trayscool]

He said top speed for him was 42 didnt feel safe any faster. i plan on not going any faster than 25kts

 

[First-light]

He said top speed for him was 42 didnt feel safe any faster. i plan on not going any faster than 25kts

My 20 w/350/VP tops out at 32kts doesn't matter what prop I run. I'm currently running a 3x16x17, It's slightly too much prop but I never exceed 3200rpm's, anotherwords, I nurse it. I get more range that way. WOT for me brings about 4900rpm's

I seriously doubt that your skippy will do 42kts, don't feel something is wrong when it won't get going faster than 30 kts, it's perfectly normal, the important thing is rpm's @ wide open throttle, make sure and make a note of it and report back, im curious about the performance your going to get, mine is a 79 so our hulls are identical, as well as the outdrive, I want to see if something is wrong with mine. If you pull 42kts with a 302, than I have issues.

Also, you'll hear people dog the fact that the deck is not a scupper type, and yes scuppers are sweet, but our boats are designed beautifully, the water is channeled in a way to prevent any water going where is should not go. you really start to appreciate the boat once you start to remove the hatches and see how the boat is designed, they really are bitchen boats.

 

[Trayscool]

Yea I went out there and washed her today and man what a sweet ride. I found an extra prop, flair gun kit, about 5 fire extinguishers, life jackets, Very well built, I can wait to see how awesome it rides. Going to put a Garmin 540s, extra bilge pump, and trial run next week. Here are a few pics:

Cuddy. Yea its gonna be a tight fit...

Engine. Im going to replace the orig starter. Starts perfect now but sounds like a tractor starter

fish hold. can wait to de-virginize this. Im pretty sure it was never used since all that was in there was a spare prop and a hose. Anyways going to put a pump out on this in the near future

side shot. some guy is coming to buff it out next week. gelcoat is great with only a couple of minor scratches. easy fix

I took the engine cover cushion off. Im sure it doesnt take well to fish blood and lobster guts. going to get some nonskid cleaner for the deck

My other baby from 1981. Long story short my grandma got this new in 81 and parked it in 91. I finally got her to give it up this year. Im ass backwards: Diesel car and gas powered truck and boat

 

[Trayscool]

Picking up tomorrow:

rear railing
stainless steering wheel
bow pulpit
garmin 540s
VHF radio
extra bilge pump

 

[vwlure]

FYI....Garmin has updated the 540s to 541s

 

[Backlash]

Great boats, you're gonna love it.
I just need to get mine out more often.

 

[skipopotamous]

NICE TRAY...

 

[UnReel]

As other skippy owners have said, Welcome to the skipjack club. No better boat for the money IMO and they are proven fish killers. Congrats on finding and getting a very clean one.

Does your still have the back to back fold down chairs ?? First thing I did was pull those out and toss them and replaced them with two captains chairs. Added a ton more room and looked much better IMO. Made cleaning way easier too.

 

[PaDDy Killer']

Congrats on the new ride. Can't wait to see some BLOOD on those decks, Good luck!

 

[marlyn]

Travis that thing appears REALLY clean!what did you pick her up for?Much better choice than the ring...

 

[Tail Chaser 1]

Travis ,congratulations on finding another clean skipjack 20.
heres a 1971 20 flybridge still looking good

 

[Gil Marlin]

That baby looks brand new... you scored big time!!! And as far as the size of the cuddy goes, I've spent plenty of time with past girlfriends in much smaller spaces...

 

[Trayscool]

Great boats, you're gonna love it.
I just need to get mine out more often.

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/500/medium/IMGP2408.JPG[/im[/QUOTE]
sweet Ive never seen a yellow one...

[quote="skipopotamous, post: 1538556"][B][COLOR="Black"]NICE TRAY...[/COLOR][/B][/QUOTE]

thanks man. Mine strives to be like yours.....

 

[Trayscool]

thanks for the kind words!!

As other skippy owners have said, Welcome to the skipjack club. No better boat for the money IMO and they are proven fish killers. Congrats on finding and getting a very clean one.

Does your still have the back to back fold down chairs ?? First thing I did was pull those out and toss them and replaced them with two captains chairs. Added a ton more room and looked much better IMO. Made cleaning way easier too.

yea thats on this list for sure but im not working at the moment so there is no extra cash for this project. Also I saw somewhere on here where you took off that crap under the gunnel. planning on doing that too and adding some racks for brushes, gff, et.Im already in BIG trouble with the g/f. She thinks im flipping it

Travis that thing appears REALLY clean!what did you pick her up for?Much better choice than the ring...

I dont wanna say but I should be arrested for robbery. Think about how much the motor and drive is worth on craigslist. Thats what I got the boat for....

anyhoo went hoopin tonite and got a couple ill post a report tomorrow

 

[skipopotamous]

Also I saw somewhere on here where you took off that crap under the gunnel. planning on doing that too and adding some racks for brushes, gff, et.Im already in BIG trouble with the g/f. She thinks im flipping it

A must...as was the first order of business on all my skippys.

 

[Albiebac]

Hey Travis,

I'm a little late jumping on this thread, but like everyone else said, "you'll love your boat". Big boat feel in a small boat package. I've had three Skippies, my 3rd one purchased was the 20' open I rebuilt, then when I was done, some friends stepped up and said they wanted it, so I still get to use her. ;-)
The best thing I like is the cabin, and easy access to your stuff at deck level, without having to clutter up the deck.

Let me know if you have any questions, here's some of the stuff I did:

"new" engine
cockpit bait tank
new upholstery
cockpit coaming pads
gps, fishfinder, vhf
new gauges
custom rod holders
bimini and eisenglass
double bilge pumps
trim tabs
rewired engine compartment and stern

Here's some Skipjack porn,

Sorry, sideways shot...

-Eric

 

[UnReel]

Damn, we need to have a skipjack jamboree on the water somehwere so everyone can check out each others rides and what not. Lots of clean looking skips around on BD

 

[skipopotamous]

yes...someone should start a skipjack owners group site

 

[First-light]

here's a pic, I now have a spotting tower on top, looks cool.

Fishpye needs to post some pics of his 24, it's the best looking skipjack refurbish I have seen by far, bar none. He made into a full commercial sword fishing boat, super sick!

 

[ranchero]

- Some really nice skipjack 20's. The 20 FB is really nice. Albiebac- I'm liking the bimini setup...did you make that or buy?

I have 67 skip with the shallow hull- i think 55th skipjack ever built. Has it's cons right? Choppy head seas an issue, but on following seas that's a reverse. I run this boat in and out of the gate in SF and albacore out at 601 from hmb. late summer fall in SD. For up here, it's small. In market for 25 pilot. Have been coming in on days when glassy rolling swells 14- 20ft- and this boat rides them great. Was in a pack with 24-26 farallon and davis and could not figure out why they could not catch me.

So - stability, economy, and a great following sea ride are pro's

On choppy days where more than 2-3 ft chop>>>I just turn around and come home- no BS! No fun!

For down south I can fish 4 guys. It's ultra stable, fishes great! I like having a jig stick on board. Throwing tady 45's are a must and I want deck space. Like bimini because for one there'sno weight up high so the hull stays nice and stable and 2-if I can fold it up and out of way to cast...I like that.

have 4.3 v6 and 2 barrel. It gets 3mpg from around 2700 to 3500 or so. It likes to run it 3500rpm 24.5mph but many times it's too fast for conditions 20-21 around 3000. Alpha 15x16 or 16x15- i forget. Get's on plane effortlessly. Economical and great ride for not a lot of bucks


Travis: that is totally cool on the history - love that! Score on the boat. That's a keeper! To have a hull with handlaid glass that lasts and lasts is pretty awesome. Killer that it was covered up. That makes a big diff.

I get info from my surveyor and mechanic on hulls and engines. Stories the Surveyor- bill Martens -out of richmond ca- told me -one fell of the trailer 55 on the fwy, hit the cement divider, ripped the OD off, and the hull was just fine! Hit a pier or a jetty on the way out and you can still go fishing. Sounds crazy, but that's what another surveyor told me prior to purchase. Said I did not need a survey becauae thay are built like a sidewalk. he told me to just tap out the hull and stringers.

 

[Trayscool]

Thanks for the pics and info. boats are looking great!

Eric,

Next to the battery switch what is the 2 guages?

Also do you have a pic of the whole deck? I wanna see what the bait tank looks like. Thanks!!

Marcus man boat is looking killer! who made your top? what year is that beast?

Just picked up a rear railing, skipjack emblems, 2nd bilge pump, cockpit cover, VHF radio today. Going to minnies tomorrow to score some more stuff for cheap. They have a cool stainless wheel off a cabo and a stainless pulpit for dirt cheap.

anyone wanna sell me a gps/sounder???? cant affod a new one

 

[Gil Marlin]

I have a Lowrance LMS 240 that I'd be willing to part with...