1969 islander-questions

[Dick Fin]

I am looking at buying a 1969 starcraft islander. It has a rebuilt 4 cyl and I was wandering if anyone can tell me how it will go with a full(4 adults and gear)load. I will be in the salt water(puget sound) and would like any pointers on upkeep of the boat and motor because of the salt. Thanks ****

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

What length?

 

[Dick Fin]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

22'

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

Hello D> F I fish the salt out of Anacortes all the time. My 22ft Holiday has a 200 O/B . I flush the motor ( both ) and the entire boat as well as wipe down the interior. Real important to wash the hull down as the salt gets into everything. Where in the area do you live I have a home in Mt Vernon. Also I fish the Skagit when the fish are there. The big boat is a bit much but really enjoy the room. My friend a couple of blocks away has a 22 Islander with a O/B and always fishes the San Juan Island areas. Have to check the anodes every once in a while and wash down the external parts of your motor and out drive.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

I think it may be a bit a pig with a full load. If you could hit 30MPH I think you'd be doing real well. My buddy just got a 21' Chieftain with only a 90 on it. We're interested to see how that does this Spring but we fear it will also be a bit pokey.

 

[Dick Fin]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

Thanks-I am in the san juans-****

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

I have some good input for you. My ss is a 21 foot Cheiftain, very similar to an islander. I have a 3.0 chevy 135hp I/O (2007 motor), the old 140 ran the same top end speed. I fish in Oregon saltwater and most of the time always have 4 pobs on board. All of us are 200lbs +/-, fishing gear, halibut weights, 25hp kicker motor, 6 gallon gas can, 32 gallons of gas. The boats top speed is 26-27 mph @ about 3900 rpms. If I change the prop pitch I can get a couple more mph but the rpms are lower, if I go the other way I gain rpms but do not gain mph. The 135hp is a great motor for fishing if you are not a speed demon. I find my self cruising on nice days at 20 mph @ about 2800 - 3000 rpm, or most days I can only go 10-15 mph because of rough weather. I do not like to run the motor above 3000, and I am normally under power for 5-20 miles at a time. Hope this info helps. I would not want a bigger motor unless I wanted to ski with the boat. A bigger motor would burn more fuel and take up more room in the boat. There are a few days 1 or 2 a year I would like to cruise at 28-30mph, but a fisherman should never be in that big of a hurry.

 

[Gnarly]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

I'm running a 22 foot islander in the salt in BC (1988) with the 170hp 3.7 litre, 14x17 prop gives me 33.7 mph @ 4400 and it cruises between 21 and 24 mph 3100-3350 rpm (full fuel downriggers , fishing gear and 3 200 plus pound guys aboard. I should prop it for more speed but it trolls good now and I dont want to put a kicker on it if I dont have too ( cheap!!!)

If your motor will pull the same rpm with the same prop/final gear ratio I imagine it will go the same speed

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

Gnarly! Thats a very nice looking Starcraft and looks very well cared for. I can run up to about 50 mph but who would want to beat a boat to pieces. Sides the Ocean is not calm to many times to race around. Now going up The Skagit by MT Vernon is another story. I will run about 30 35 if there is not muh boat traffic. Thats about 4200 -4800 rpm. Again thats a nice boat. You sure have a nice launch area.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

?? did you buy the Starcraft there or take it up on the inside passage to Prince Rupert yourself. Had a chance two years ago to go to Juno with a friend who bought a 31 ft aluminum in Tacoma. Could not make it but my Brother in Law did and really had a great trip. 3 days and they were there Fellow was a Alaska F/G and B. I.L .is F/G State of Idaho they went to school together. I have fished out of Juno once and went to Tracy Arms with Erve Beock the fishery guy. Nice area

 

[Gnarly]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

Thankyou Pugetsound ,I bought the boat in Portland Oregon actually off an old fellow that had owned it since new with just over 574 hours showing on the hour meter. It had all the factory documentation , 1988 starcraft brochure , manuals etc and Im very happy with it after repairing the transom corrosion caused by sitting in the columbia too long with a stainless swim step and zincs installed ( I posted the repair on a thread here http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=350280&highlight=transom+repair) The motor is flawless and I get what I consider to be great gas mileage for a boat this size and its not hurting for power either.
I trailered it up and dont think I would have tried the inside passage anyways (lack of experience) , there are plenty of days here where you dont leave the harbour when the wind is blowing , thats rushbrook launch here in Rupert and the fishin's great!

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

Nice looking 22 foot islander, Mine was not that well cared for when I got it.
1986 Cheiftain, but I still catch fish and enjoy getting to take it out in the ocean.

 

[Kainon]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

If this guy doesn't post pictures, can we kick him ??

elkhunter338- Can you please post some pics ?

Thanks, I need some pics, cabin, dash, engine, boat.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

I will try and get some cabin and other pictures posted.
Didn't you see the picture of the boat in the water and a box of fish.
Attached are a few more pictures. I will get a couple more of the boat a few years back when I replaced the floor and picture of the engine. I am still working on the inside of the cabin painting everything white, removed the old ugly wood grain wall off the seat supports inside the cab.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

Looks very nice. Very white and bright. Best keep a damp rag to wipe it down as it gets dirty LOL - really looking good .

 

[Kainon]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

I thought I recognised the name, he's posted pics before. ..
Is it an 18' like this ???

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

Yep looks like the 18' in the borchur but is a 21foot model and came with different interior with the fuel tanks under the driver/passenger seat. I rebuilt the inside and build new seat supports with storage from the back side and kept the fuel tanks in the orginal location 2-18gallon that are long and flat.

 

[Kainon]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

I had 2 18g's behind the side boards, both were rusting, one had a bolt and nut and epoxy as a hole fix, instead of cleaning and sealing the insides, about 200-250 for chemicals, I decided to get a Moeller Tank 40g, and drop in the belly, now I have single fill, single withdraw, single sender, 4 more gallons overall add to that about 4-6 more gallons of usable fuel. and the weight is down low, and dont have to worry about using 1 tank before the other and I gain space behind the side boards for more stuff..

Very nice boat you have, here's to a good year and boating season in 2010 !!!

 

[Gnarly]

Re: 1969 islander-questions

Interesting , mine's got a single 51 gallon tank in front of the motor between the big beams, its even got another pickup to plumb a kicker in if I had one.