1965 Starcraft Dart 14' Runabout Weight Capacity

Fish042099

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I scored a '65 Starcraft runabout 14' long for $300. Stable floors and solid hull, just no motor, seats, or electronics. Bare hull. Anyway, I was planning on putting in 2 back to back jump seats and a bench along the back if space allows. This could seat 7 people hopefully. The problem, is I am unsure about weight capacity. Can it hold up 300 lbs of seats plus another 7 people? Maybe 1300 lbs together? What do you guys think about this? Btw....I should've mentioned the plaque that lists coast guard limits is rusted over... Been in the water for almost 50 years.
 

jbcurt00

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14ft'r? 7people? Yeah NO

You're over on both, either of which could get you sited, 850lb capacity, including EVERYTHING, gear motor, people, coolers & etc etc
4843078209_f322250772_b.jpg

4 people max capacity, whether they are 50lbs each or 175lbs each, but still shouldn't go over 850lbs
 

Fish042099

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14ft'r? 7people? Yeah NO

You're over on both, either of which could get you sited, 850lb capacity, including EVERYTHING, gear motor, people, coolers & etc etc
4843078209_f322250772_b.jpg

4 people max capacity, whether they are 50lbs each or 175lbs each, but still shouldn't go over 850lbs
I wasn't thinking to put them in the boat, i was thinking what i would LIKE to do. In case you didn't read my post well, theres a difference. Anyway, thanks for the chart. I couldn't find one anywhere online since there wasn't any internet at the time.
 

jbcurt00

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Fish042099;n8256214c said:
Anyway, I was planning on putting in 2 back to back jump seats and a bench along the back if space allows. This could seat 7 people hopefully. The problem, is I am unsure about weight capacity. Can it hold up 300 lbs of seats plus another 7 people? Maybe 1300 lbs together? What do you guys think about this?.
yeah cant imagine why .... You specifially asked about 1300lbs.. Perhaps you should proof read your own posts better
 

Fish042099

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yeah cant imagine why .... You specifially asked about 1300lbs.. Perhaps you should proof read your own posts better
FYI, this boat can hold 1050 lbs…says so on the manufacturers plate. SO your rude response was for no good reason, as this boat could still take 5 people.
 

jbcurt00

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FYI, this boat can hold 1050 lbs¦says so on the manufacturers plate. SO your rude response was for no good reason, as this boat could still take 5 people.
So the rusted over capacity plate IS legible and reads 1050lb max? 1300lbs is higher then 1050lbs where I learned math....................;)

And unless it isn't actually a 1965 Dart, which is possible (we'll come back to this, but it's the info you provided) the Starcraft data shows that model as having a weight limit of 850 and having 2 back to back seats w/ 4 people max. So again, whether you go over the shown weight capacity regardless of the number of people, OR over the number of people capacity regardless of their weights, you are OVER the rated limits of your boat. Depending on where and how you boat, being over the limit may cause unwanted attention and possible fines. The same goes for mounting an outboard that is over the rated limit as well. In the case of a 1965 SC Sea Dart that's a 45hp max.

BTW: For the purposes of weight limits, the USCG uses an estimated per person weight of 150lbs to allow for the weight of gear, outboard and EVERYTHING else that's in the boat: Flip flops, gas, coolers, towels, everything................

If your data plate shows 1050lbs AND shows that it's a Starcraft Dart (probably a Sea Dart, as there's no 1965 SC Dart shown) then it is possible that any paper work you got w/ the boat, title, registration, etc, is incorrect. It does happen, and happens fairly frequently with many different makers, not just Starcraft.

This is an aluminum boat, correct? Does it look like this 1965 Sea Dart (bottom center yellow boat)
4843071189_434a10cf7d_b.jpg


If it is 'just' a Dart, it's possibly a 1964:
3879217131_ebe97efc58_o.jpg


A 1963:
3918378204_eee90e9c56_o.jpg


Or a 1962:
4252539562_b7d49cf3b4_b.jpg


You might dig around and see if you can find any indication of the original color of the bow on your boat. Sometimes that's the only way to judge an SC's year, typically, they only used 1 color each year for a specific model and changed it w/ each new model year.

Also notice how the side splash rail on the 1962 & 63 runs much straighter up to the box, and doesn't have nearly the curving up sweep that the 1964 & 65 splash rail does. How does the splash rail on yours run?

All of these new Dart's show seating for 4, so I suspect they are all about the same weight, people & OB max capacities as the 1965 data sheet that I provided shows.


You asked for an opinion, and to support my opinion, I provided facts, backed by proof from Starcraft. If you took offense, or just didn't like the answers, well, that's unfortunate.

Boat & boat rehab safely
 

Fish042099

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So the rusted over capacity plate IS legible and reads 1050lb max? 1300lbs is higher then 1050lbs where I learned math....................;)

And unless it isn't actually a 1965 Dart, which is possible (we'll come back to this, but it's the info you provided) the Starcraft data shows that model as having a weight limit of 850 and having 2 back to back seats w/ 4 people max. So again, whether you go over the shown weight capacity regardless of the number of people, OR over the number of people capacity regardless of their weights, you are OVER the rated limits of your boat. Depending on where and how you boat, being over the limit may cause unwanted attention and possible fines. The same goes for mounting an outboard that is over the rated limit as well. In the case of a 1965 SC Sea Dart that's a 45hp max.

BTW: For the purposes of weight limits, the USCG uses an estimated per person weight of 150lbs to allow for the weight of gear, outboard and EVERYTHING else that's in the boat: Flip flops, gas, coolers, towels, everything................

If your data plate shows 1050lbs AND shows that it's a Starcraft Dart (probably a Sea Dart, as there's no 1965 SC Dart shown) then it is possible that any paper work you got w/ the boat, title, registration, etc, is incorrect. It does happen, and happens fairly frequently with many different makers, not just Starcraft.

This is an aluminum boat, correct? Does it look like this 1965 Sea Dart (bottom center yellow boat)
4843071189_434a10cf7d_b.jpg


If it is 'just' a Dart, it's possibly a 1964:
3879217131_ebe97efc58_o.jpg


A 1963:
3918378204_eee90e9c56_o.jpg


Or a 1962:
4252539562_b7d49cf3b4_b.jpg


You might dig around and see if you can find any indication of the original color of the bow on your boat. Sometimes that's the only way to judge an SC's year, typically, they only used 1 color each year for a specific model and changed it w/ each new model year.

Also notice how the side splash rail on the 1962 & 63 runs much straighter up to the box, and doesn't have nearly the curving up sweep that the 1964 & 65 splash rail does. How does the splash rail on yours run?

All of these new Dart's show seating for 4, so I suspect they are all about the same weight, people & OB max capacities as the 1965 data sheet that I provided shows.


You asked for an opinion, and to support my opinion, I provided facts, backed by proof from Starcraft. If you took offense, or just didn't like the answers, well, that's unfortunate.

Boat & boat rehab safely
Dart is aluminum. This boat is fiberglass. I learned a trick where you can clean the rust off. Which turned out to work. I read the 1050 and its still a heck of a lot more than your 850. The plate isn't lying.
 

Fish042099

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The boat looks like an arrow, since it is fiberglass, has a similar weight capacity, and has the same dimensions, not to mention has only 3 "strips" on the stern, the dart has four
 

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