1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

[Deadwood]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

I agree with Dozer. I've got the 8hp version of the one you show Jas and I use it for trolling (and emergencies) hooked up with an EZ Steer to the outdrive so I can steer from the helm. She's smooth, quiet, runs 21+ hours on 3 gallons and keeps my 2 batts charged. I interchange using one and then the other throughout the day keeping an eye on the voltmeter for any weird kaka. The seats are pretty cavernous, 2 batts under one and the 3 gal tank for the ob under the other.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Jas, I never have fished the "Big Water" like you gents but I have a bunch of experience with electric trolling motors bass fishing all day. The problem with electrics is weight (3 batteries) and if you are in a strong wind you will run 'em down quick. I like the gas kicker idea due to the fact you can run it all day on little fuel, and it can get you back home where maybe not an electric if you are offshore a ways. Add to that the drag factor on your lower unit with that motor you posted..and I wouldnt have a choice to make. Go with the OB.

Yah, agreed. I can easily be swayed away from that Minn Kota. Gas kicker may be the way to go for me.

nav lights left on by a young bored fisherman.

I'll have those kinds of fisherman aboard, guaranteed.:facepalm:

I agree with Dozer. I've got the 8hp version of the one you show Jas and I use it for trolling (and emergencies) hooked up with an EZ Steer to the outdrive so I can steer from the helm. She's smooth, quiet, runs 21+ hours on 3 gallons and keeps my 2 batts charged. I interchange using one and then the other throughout the day keeping an eye on the voltmeter for any weird kaka. The seats are pretty cavernous, 2 batts under one and the 3 gal tank for the ob under the other.

Yah, I love that Honda you have on there DW, sharp! Good info buddy!

I can't see why you'd more than one battery if you were running a kicker.

Now check it out, I tend to agree with ez here^^^. I'll absolutely have a back up battery source on board (battery jumper/booster deal, or a second battery, or both) mainly because of what Glen mentioned up there. I can absolutely see something like that happening to my day.

But, is there a special reason for me to have two of them hardwired in?

The answer to this ^^^ will definitely impact the way I finish out my deck and build the doghouse.

Whadduyathink?

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

2 switched batteries or 1 battery and a backup would be great. It depends on the boat. For me I run 1 battery and replace it every 3 years. Now something to consider is how do you charge the battery when you are out fishing. For me I run to the fishing grounds with my I/O and the alternator is kicking out 25 to 30 amps. The trip depends but it?s 15 minutes or more. That run time will charge my battery. I then troll on the kicker from 4 to 8 hours. The kicker puts out 3 to 5 amps at best. I then run back on the I/O and top up the battery for the next trip. I have been doing this for 6 years and have never had a problem. My buddy has an OB setup and he finds that his main and his kicker just don?t put out enough amps to keep one battery going. He installed a switch and a second battery. He also tops up the batteries with a charger after a few fishing trips. We both run the same amount of accessories. 2 downriggers, 1 fish finder, 1 GPS, 1 VHF radio.

Another thing that you should consider is peace of mind. I find a relaxed day of fishing with out motor/ battery / bilge pump worries is what it?s all about.

Worst-case scenario is you have a dead battery, then what? Run on the kicker home or till the battery charges and you can start the main.

GLG

 

[Deadwood]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

But, is there a special reason for me to have two of them hardwired in?

Whadduyathink?

I like the idea of them continually being charged by the alternator while cruising or trolling...usually got the XM classic rock goin in the background along with the fish finder, GPS, VHF, DirecTV, etc... (Wonder where I could stick one of those little 1K watt Honda generators????:facepalm

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Jas I know it is another expense but a two bank marine charger is the only way to go. My battery guy explained how these work and I can tell you they are awsome. When I get home from the lake I plug the charger in (it is pemantly mounted in the boat) and walk away till the next time I take the boat out. It completely looks after the batteries for you. Sensing when to charge and how much. They extend the life of the batteries by a long way. On my 16 SS I had a starting battery and two AGM's for trolling motor and accessories, with a three bank charger.
Glen

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

GLG!!!! I totally forgot about running downriggers!! Yah, that'll take some batt power. Thanks for the reminder. The description of how you run your rig is how I'll be running my rig too (all theory at this point though). Great info buddy!

DW - for whatever reason I have in my head that you'd be listening to some SMB out on the water there, classic rock baby...

Dozer - Now that GLG reminded me of my riggers we'll go with two batts, installed, hardwired, with an ACR setup. Yah, the expense doesn't bother me too much, I'll find a good deal on stuff. I am mainly concerned (at this point anyway) about getting the deck built correctly to accommodate more than one batt.

OK, decision made. One starting and one deep cycle battery going in. My plan is to cut a chunk out of my deck and have em sitting down in front of the Merc. I'll need to build the doghouse to go around em too. The cool part is that I can basically build in an extra seat (maybe rod holders too). Well, that is the plan for now anyway. I'll show yah down the road when I get there.

Thanks for chipping in guys!

 

[paparoof]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Hey Jas! Just got all caught up on your story here and I'm finding it very motivational. I like how the sand/paint thing seems to have worked out for the deck. Have you had your kids barefoot-walk on your test pieces yet? I'm curious how many coats of paint you need above the sand before the kids stop complaining about it hurting?

OK, decision made. One starting and one deep cycle battery going in.

For taking your family out on the Great Lakes? I'd say two batteries is a minimum. My plan (so far) is three: 2 deep cycles and a starter. That extra $75 battery is gonna save my life someday.

I you have the space, put the battery boxes on top of some foam or some such to reduce vibration.

 

[Broadcast]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Put a gas kicker on one of my old boats & loved it! Long shafts handled the swells a little better bro! Those Honda's are super quiet! Eye's will never hear ya com'in!

ALWAYS went with 3 batteries too! Backup safety power was great. And... 3 bank charger! The ONLY way to go. Plug & play & walk away!

 

[Teamster]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

if I just couldn't get slow enough for the 2.5mph the walleye prefer.

Yous must be chasing some fast Walleye,.....................

Most of the time I troll under 1 mph when pulling crawler harness and between 1.5 and 2 mph when pulling cranks,..

I would definately want a kicker if for nothing else than the ability to get back to shore,..

You could also look into a pair of trolling bags to hang off the boat mid ship to slow down and help control the boat on a troll,...Remember, Trolling bags also make great drift socks but drift socks make horrible trolling bags,.....I prefer trolling bags from Amish Outfiters (you can find them online, it's a neat company)

The only time I have ever trolled 2.5 or faster in when trolling for Muskie,...

 

[Teamster]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

But, is there a special reason for me to have two of them hardwired in?

The answer to this ^^^ will definitely impact the way I finish out my deck and build the doghouse.

Whadduyathink?

Bilge pump in case of an all out "Oh Sheyt" kind of moment,...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

I think you need 9 batteries. I mean this is your family we're talking about! No less then 9. What if you only had 8 and they all died? You'd be a sucker for sure then.

 

[paparoof]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Hey I'm just sayin'....

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

EZ has a point . You can just stay with two though. Remember you can run these in sequence so you only need to wire one up and hook the second battery up to the main battery. Be careful doing this or you will get 24 volts.:facepalm: Actually very simple. You can run most lights & electronics all weekend long with no problems. A two bank charger is a must, I have a three bank charger ( 3 batteries) and I love it. Just plug it in and forget it, all three batteries are kept charged all winter and ready anytime of the year.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Teamster - Yah, I often times will just be drifting with crawler harnesses down to the 1mph range. 1.5-2.5 with cranks. 2.5+ for salmon/steelhead. Everything I do is pretty much trial and error though.

Bcast - that boat is a giant!

PR - It's great to have ya back my friend! Man, I have been working hard to get caught up to ya but I'm not quite there! Gimme another two months and we might be even, eh

Yah guys, I don't see how I'd need three batts really. No trolling motor, no livewell, pretty minimal other stuff. I do like being safe and prepared but I'd like to avoid extra weight where I can. What I will do is hard wire 2 batts in and build the rig to accommodate 3. If I feel I need to add the third down the road the space will be there and I'll be ready to roll. If no 3rd batt, I'll have a little extra storage. No biggie either way

Happy Saturday dudes!

Add: Yah fsh, as a matter of practice I do my best not to agree with ez a whole lot. Don't want him to get bored ya know.

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Uhh, its not just EZ my friend. No One gets bored around here as long as your ever present and amazing mind graces these forums.

Did I say that? Dang, this is some goood coffee.

Lets get out there today and rule the world.!!!!!!

Ok fine, how about get something accomplished on da boat? I'm good with that.

 

[Broadcast]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Dang morning people!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Yah fsh - I haven't been able to finish the deck as I don't have the inspection plate from GLS yet. That part needs to be done just right. Even though I have about a million things to to on er I feel like I can't move on to other stuff. It's almost like a mental block or something, akkk! Ah well, I'll get something done today!

Top o' the mornin bcast!! Lookin good as usual buddy!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Well, I got my inspection plate last night...

(along with a few other good pieces of gear from GLS)

...so game on!

This morning I cut access holes for the fishbox drain and inspection plate, sanded and dry fit to make sure nothing silly was happening...

Hauled it in the house and got a coat of epoxy on before I had to take off for school...

(sorry for the phone photos)

I hate making deadlines but I am thinking that I should have the deck on this weekend. I'll be pretty happy about that.

 

[captainQ]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Very cool Jas. The guys are right, multiple batteries is a must have and if you go with ones like Cabela's AGM they are light, no maintance and durable.

For some reason even though I've always wanted an Islander for my trips to lake O the feeling is more intense lately

Keep it up !

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

For some reason even though I've always wanted an Islander for my trips to lake O the feeling is more intense lately

I recommend that everybody own a big metal boat. Combats receding hairline, gives you more energy in the morning, trims your figure, small woodland creatures gather to hang out with you, and your spouse will find you more appealing.

Your results may vary.