[Jhoppy]

I just bout a 1972 star craft tri-hull 15 foot fiberglass with 115 mercury that I got running. My question is how well will this boat ride and handle? I have not had a chance to put it on the water yet and it has gotten to cold here to do so this year. I intend on using it for boating and skiing/tubing (no fishing) on a smaller lake that tends to get choppy and I don’t know if this is the right boat for me. I would like to know how it would compare to a newer v hull boat in ride on choppy water or if I should keep looking for a newer v hull to putt my motor on. If I do keep this boat it will need a floor and transom and I would like do get that done before boating season next year. Or is this hull worth the time, effort, and money to fix? Seems like this forum is the best place to ask for some help on this decision I need to make.

Thanks for any input and opinions in advance.

Jason

[ezmobee]

Bad news for you. You'd have a tough time finding a worse boat for the chop. Tri-hulls, especially small ones, have reputation for beating your fillings out in the chop. One of their good qualities are that they are very stable. But for your usage that doesn't like much a benefit. Sounds like it needs a lot of work and you aren't going to happy with the finished product. Even my 16' V-hull Starcraft got pretty flat near the stern and thus had a pretty harsh ride.

[Jhoppy]

Thanks for the reply I was afraid I was going to hear that but that’s ok to, the roller shorlander trailer the boat is sitting on is worth more than what I paid for the whole boat so I figured I could not get hurt buying it. I think I will look to pull this motor and sell the boat and trailer and find a newer v hull that needs less work. Unfortanatly boating season is over here in central Nebraska and all the boats are put away for the season it has already snowed here a few times.

Jason

[JimbC]

Jhoppy Here are a couple in your state for sale on CL maybe see if you can get them down a bit since the season is over.

http://grandisland.craigslist.org/boa/1435259702.html

http://omaha.craigslist.org/boa/1425416621.html

[Chinewalker]

Also consider that the 15-foot tri-hull Starcrafts are only rated for 85 and you've got about 30% more power than that on there. I would say she'll be a bit on the squirrely side... Make VERY sure the boat is solid - transom and stringers especially!