1973 Starcraft

[Isaacm1986]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

Yes the HIN number will help provide info on the model and specs. If you posted it up, We can help you find out more.

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

CMW, from what I have seen in your pics, its a 1963 SC Starchief, 18 1/2 foot. I had a thread in here about the 7th page under 63 Starchief (god help me). Take a look, I think its the same type.

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

It's a 1973, according to the title. The HIN is M12FGB69179.

 

[barato]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

respectfully----no way it's a '63...those still had the curved plexiglass windshields, as does my '64. i think her title might be right. don't think the hull changed much/any in the interim.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

I don't know if that is the HIN. The HIN should be 12 characters long, and that is only 11.

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

It's on the title as the HIN. I checked to see if I made a typo, but there are actually only 11 characters there. Shouldn't that number be on the boat somewhere? When we get it turned right side up again, I'll look for it.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

Take a look at this and see if it makes any sense.

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin.htm

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

We didn't go work on the boat tonight, since it's pouring the rain. I'll look for the HIN on it tomorrow.

 

[TN-25]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

I have to say that your boat looks like it is a 1966 Starchief V, a model that was last produced around 1967. Essentially all the Starcraft aluminum boats from the 1960s & 70s are basically carryover designs, so don't let the idea that it is from the 1960s be of any concern. Those aluminum hulls are quite durable and long lasting. Things like wood on the transom are more of a concern, as well as the wood on the floor. Any boat, even much, much newer boats can have problems with rotting wood. It boils down to what sort of action it has seen it it's lifetime and how estute the owners have been in maintaining it.

Regarding the hull & deck, make sure that all rivets look sound and you should have no troubles.

Here's a picture from the 1966 brochure, courtesy of i-Boats member Huron_Angler:

Your boat sure looks like that model

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

That really does look like it. Is it possible that the title could be wrong? I don't think KY issued titles for boats back then. I'll have to ask the ladies at the courthouse if they can tell me when the first title to it was issued.

By the way, we are not putting the cabin back on our boat. I have a cabin that looks just like the one in that picture sitting in my yard. Is that an item that a person may be able to sell?

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

The boat is still upside down, but I did crawl under it tonight to help with the transom repair project. I looked for a HIN number while I was under there and didn't find anything. Where exactly on the boat would that be located. We're really curious now as to what model it is, and also would like to know if it's not really a 1973 model.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

My HIN tag was mounted on the port side of the outer transom. Most HIN's are on the transom, However if it is pre 1973, it might not have a hin on the boat. It is very possible someone took it off over the years as well.

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

Hmm. That might explain why the number listed on the title as the HIN is not actually a HIN.

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

We've searched every square inch of the boat for a HIN. It's not on it anywhere.

 

[barato]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

BTW, remind your hubby that any woman who will crawl UNDER the inverted boat to help with the resto is a woman worth doing whatever it takes to hold onto and keep happy.....

here's to y'all for resurrecting this fine bit o tin

 

[North Beach]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

CMW,
If your boat was produced after 73, it should have a HIN, which would show up on both the boat plate located near the controls and also on a thin strip of metal on the port stern right up near the top. If it was produced prior to 73 it would just be on the id plate near the controls. If it's 18' then its a cheiftain. Doesn't reall matter whether it is a 60's or a 70's era Cheiftain. They were all almost identical with the exceptions being as barato said earlier, the windhhields were different until the mid 60's, and the insides were outfitted differently from year to year and as newer materials/gizmos were available.

we have absolutely no faith in trying to id 60's era and up to mid 70's according to hin because MOST of the time the numbers meant nothing.

The best way to id an old LARGE hull Starcraft is to look at the stern (deepV, modifiedv, semiv,etc), look at paint scheme (green top/white hulletc.) and interior layout/color.

If you have better exterior pics and possibly some interior pics from before you started the restore I can probably tell you exactly what year it is.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

Your boat sure looks like mine, well except the side windows.
Mine has an ID tag that says 1975

Is your Starcraft emblems like mine?
Your seat hardware looks like mine.

GLG

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: 1973 Starcraft

Here are some photos of it when we first got it. Although it almost looks white in some of these photos, the exterior was green.

There were some cushions, that appear to be original, in the cabin. They were white and dark green.

Here is a front view of the whole boat

The original emblem as it was on the boat:

Here is what the boat looks like right now. My husband says we're going to have it finished by Labor Day.

This is the link to our restoration thread:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=418927