26 minutes ago, UWSkier said:

I wouldn't go any bigger than 14" on that older hull design.

You can probably go up to 14.5" diameter.  Have been running an Acme 1235 (14.5 x 14.25) on our 2000 LSV for 300+ hours, with sufficient clearance and no evidence of gel coat burn.  Would expect the VLX to be similar, but check to be sure, as suggested above. 

On the other hand, an Acme 537 (13.5" x 16") would still be a step in the right direction, and they can be found fairly cheap these days if you keep your eyes open.

1 hour ago, oldjeep said:

That is pretty much why the one time I had to bring the boat in for service at dealer I asked them when they wanted it - told them that if they called me it would be there in 20 minutes and I would pick it up 20 minutes after it was done.  Didn't want it sitting out in their gravel service lot for days getting caked in dirt every time someone drove by.

And they appreciate that.  We would ask when they want to pick up the boat, then wash it the day before,  then the customer would call and say next week, then we would end up washing it again before they arrived.  We would wash a boat several times only to have the customer not show, or keep pushing back.  Finally said its one wash.  It will be clean on the date you originally said you were picking it up.  If you don’t show and it’s a month later, sorry if it got rained on or is not clean anymore.  Can’t keep washing the same boat 4-5 times.  
 

way off topic, but there should be thread for the service side of things.  The stories would be epic.

7 minutes ago, butter71 said:

A little spendy for a dipstick, but here's an option at Bake's...  https://www.bakesonline.com/walters-v-drive-oil-dipstick.html. 

You could also try contacting Walter (company) directly.  See contact info at http://www.waltergear.com/

BTW, looks like you're looking for a dipstick for a Walter V-drive, not a "VelvetDrive".  (Velvet Drive is a common marine transmission, but probably not what's in your boat. You likely have a ZF-Hurth transmission coupled with with a Walter V-drive.  There is a dipstick on each one, but from your images looks like the one on the Walters V-drive is the issue).

Best of luck!

Yup, I believe you're correct; this one has 6 bolts, but the depth of paint/enamel looks right as does the knob, particularly the top of it, where I believe I see "Walter" on it.

At that price, I think a try with JBWeld is in order before coughing up for the (admittedly correct and new) dipstick...

Thanks for the research.  THIS (and the preceding) is why I'm a Chief ☺ - I KNEW y'all would have my solutions.

Thanks to all who've been helping.

As we round third heading to home, getting the boat shiny again was a target.  It spent its summer months in a boat rack outside, and the exterior shows the effects of the sun, as seen in a few snaps.

If you've ever had someone compound and wax the fiberglass and stainless on your boat in the same sort of condition, would you mind sharing what you paid for that privilege (recall ours is a 21' Sunscape)?

My apologies; my computer has lost its mind; just look at the colored fiberglass and ignore that it's inverted, please...

Thanks!

2 hours ago, SkipGundlach said:

Anyone have an idea of where to find a VelvetDrive dipstick replacement?

A little spendy for a dipstick, but here's an option at Bake's...  https://www.bakesonline.com/walters-v-drive-oil-dipstick.html. 

You could also try contacting Walter (company) directly.  See contact info at http://www.waltergear.com/

BTW, looks like you're looking for a dipstick for a Walter V-drive, not a "VelvetDrive".  (Velvet Drive is a common marine transmission, but probably not what's in your boat. You likely have a ZF-Hurth transmission coupled with with a Walter V-drive.  There is a dipstick on each one, but from your images looks like the one on the Walters V-drive is the issue).

Best of luck!