1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama? **PICS ADDED!**

[bunker108]

Hello everyone!

I am looking at purchasing a boat. It is a 1969 Seaking Model number 28150. Looks to be similar to a Starcraft Bahama. It is a super clean little boat. 55 Chrysler runs good and the hull looks great...but...the transom has had the fiberglass cut to expose the deck, which appears to be a thin sheet of plywood and some of the foam underneath. Is this a sign bad enough to steer clear of the boat?

There is an aluminum Starcraft in the area too, but needs more work...on the surface. Would aluminum be the route to go?

Thanks in advance.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

I think the aluminum would be easier to work on, and probably hold up better. This isn't really a good forum to be discussing glassers, most of us like our tinnies. I'm sure a lot of people here will give you advice and moral suppor on the starcraft aluminum. Under that thin sheet of plywood, there's apt to be a couple of wooden stringers also. If the fiberglass is cut on the transom, it might need some help too.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Aluminum has stringers made from aluminum. A glass boat can be a LOT of work to restore if the floors are soggy. Floors, stringers and transom, buffing gel coat; buckle the chin strap up, pack a lunch, say a prayer, buy some books....... Just parouse some of the resto's in the glass section. All the guys here except one or two will tell you tinnie.

I have a soft spot for the glassers, and there are some advantages to them (I await my beating). I wouldn't for my first boat though, just my 02 cents. If the glasser does not need any work.............. maybe. I like my tinnie.

OK, just re-read your post. Transom cut? Run, run away unless your a fiberglass man, or willing to invest hundreds of hours learning a new craft. Look at some restos on the glass boats before you consider the glasser.

 

[bunker108]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Thanks for the quick replies!

I think I may have mispoke. The transom hasn't been cut just some of the decking at the stern of the boat. I will post some pics. You can see the area I am talking about in the first pic...it is not a great picture of the area but you get the general location. The bottom right under the gas tank. The carpet ends and that is the exposed deck.

I hope this clears things up...and the question still stands. Should I grab this for my first little family boat...or run like Forrest Gump?

 

[heyyou325]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

My first boat was a 15 foot fiberglass. It left a bad taste in my mouth for fiberglass boats, and I know how to work on them, or used to. They are more work, and the glass will get old and brittle if not redone every so often. It might be a great boat, and have had the needed work done on it. I don't see a problem in your pics, except maybe in the last one. Are those cracks starting in the bow, or just ridges of fiberglass? And has the false bottom (the deck, floor, whatever) been replaced, or taken out and put back in (could mean they fixed something which would be a good thing)? The different color glass in the seam is what I'm seeing. Or did it just come loose, and they just glued it back together, which is not good. For a glass boat that old, what kind of roads has it been on, or will it be on? Look at the hull where it rides on the rollers for cracks or soft spots. They're heavy boats, and I've seen a lot with problems there from bouncing in pot holes. Some people really like glassers, they've been around a long time.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Is the transom solid?

Is the floor solid?

Stringers you can't see but if the other two are gone so are the stringers.

If it's solid why not? Nice looking boat. As long as the price is right that is. What's the tinnie look like? We'll do a comparison.

www.fiberglassics.com glass info here.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CUT AND PASTE Aluminum, OR DESTROY AND REBUILD. Glasser

 

[bunker108]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Ok...so now a 1973 SS has caught my eye. The hull will need paint and bow cushions recovered...but looks like alot more boat for just a bit more money a little farther away. Decisions...decisions...

 

[KellyC]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

There is no question about what I would do, go get the TINNY buddy. I think that would be a nice SS though. I think you would be happier and also on the water quicker with it. I know that I am not one to talk to much as mine has not seen water since I bought it. But as a few can attest from pics mine was a huge mess and I am not real fast either.

Good luck with your decision and hope you are happy with which ever way you go bud.
Kelly

 

[barbosam]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

well if the glasser is solid all around its not a bad little boat but you will have a hell of a time finding parts for that motor.

Also as you said you will be getting a lot more boat with that tinnie. That merc may be troublesome for finding parts as well but it will be much easier than that old chrysler. You still have to watch out for a rotted transom and deck in the tinnie; but these are much more easily replaced in an aluminum boat.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Now you are looking at something more in line with what the other's here have, like, and know about. I can't say the glasser was a bad boat, or the tinnie would be great, but I feel it would be easier to work on, and has more potential.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

That SS will be a MUCH better boat for your family. Having had a small closed bow and then an open bow, the difference is night and day. So much more room, especially if you plan to fish. The motor on that glasser, while mint, is a dinosaur and parts will be difficult to source.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Re: 1969 Seaking/Starcraft Bahama?

Yah, I feel much better now