Skipjack 20' history questions

[skelly1]

From what I have heard, read, and experienced, the 6 cylinder chevy is very economical to run in a skippy 20'. Not sure about the V8. I'd like more power but the 165HP in mine, running crappy, felt pretty good on my 20FB. My boat felt ass heavy but I'm moving the bait tank forward and the batteries. I am rebuilding right now to fish this spring. I really don't have any doubts about it. Put me to sleep if I am wrong.Death_To_ Death_To_

[skelly1]

Oh yeah, the clearances in the engine are different in a boat vs. a car engine. Start with a car engine for your rebuild and let your machine shop machine the correct clearances for a boat. They add an extra .001 here and there and it works better in the boat that way. The cam grind is different too, but I'm not sure if that is duration or lift or what yet. I have full confidence in wholesale auto machine in SD to build me the right motor for my 20 FB.

[Penasco]

This is a great thread.

I just bought a '77 Skipjack 20 Open (picking it up on Sunday) and there's lots of great information and ideas here.

[marlyn]

Originally Posted by Afry

Come on you lurkers.........I know BD is the center of the skipjack universe.

Shall I restart this thread....

"Skipjacks SUCK! This French made boat should be banned from our waters"

Don't make me do it.

fuck the french!

[BiggestT]

Originally Posted by UnReel

The opens roll less than the flybridges in a swell under power or anchored as the center of gravity is lower.

Not sure about the beam widths of the 20's and 24's

The opens have way more deck space than the Flybridge models. Here's a pic of the deck space on UnReel (1982 24' Open) with a 50 gln Btank installed as well


Did you notice the engine hatch on the 24's is way shorter than the 20's too. This leaves way more room on each side of the engine hatch to fish. You can even stand and fish on the hatch of a 24 where as the 20's engine hatch goes almost all the way up to the top of the rail.

Also, the fish holds on the opens are where the gas tank is on the Flybridge models that why the flybridge models dont have them. Here's a pic of the hold and it's location on the deck.


As for the hold size, here's a pic of a three 20#+ butts along with a 13# butt in the hold with plenty of room to spare


We've also put 13 albies from 25 to 35 pounds in there at once and it was about half full.

Damn Behdad, that's a fine 'but haul...Bork, bork, bork!

[RobertKnight]

Actually, from what I understand, the 76-77 Wellcraft Skipjacks were made on the east coast, primarily for sales in Europe. Apparently the Wellcraft people partnered with Skipjack and aquired their own set of molds for the boat. There are only minor differences between the models, most notably the porthole windows in the flybridge cabin. Only 2 years of production were ran with Wellcraft and the molds were returned. Not sure if it was poor sales or some other problem.
This was the info I was given from a local Skippy expert. My dad has one of the few east coast 24' fly models out here in California, and we were curious why it seemed to have 2 maufacturers. Not aware of a 20' Wellcraft Skipjack

[MATTY J]

Has anyone installed scuppers on a 20? If so was it difficult?

With gas prices so uncertain, which motor would Skippy owners perfer, a 6 or 8 (excluding deisel). What is cruise and wot average with 20FB w/6 cylinder? Better economy on a 6 vrs 8?

[Outlawman]

Here's the manufacturer's information on the older 20's - LINK

Here's the manufacturer's history info on the other models

Jack Cole, the founder, designer and original builder is not involved in the ownership of the current Skipjack company, Invader Marine LLC in Hesperia. Jack does like to discuss his past in building Skipjacks, doesn't mind answering a question or two, and can be reached at his upholstery shop in Costa Mesa. Long live Jack Cole!!!
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[MATTANZA]

skip jack made a few 17' center consoles too. my buddy matt campbell used to have one.

[teufel]

Here is a skipJack for sale ... Set up well

20' SkipJack fishing Machine

[Trayscool]

Originally Posted by teufel

Here is a skipJack for sale ... Set up well

20' SkipJack fishing Machine

soooooo pimp!

[lokegirl48]

Boat Values, Prices, Evaluations, Used Boat Price Guides - BUCValu If you go to this website you can use the consumer version free and it is like a kelly blue book for boats.