1979 Starcraft Holiday my first boat

[TAC]

I just bought my first boat! Was wondering what my first steps should be as far as checking for problems or just routine checks before attempting to put it in water. It has a 1980 mercury 70hp. outboard, alum. hull and is 18 ft. long. Kinda rough around the edges, but got it for 200 dollars with a good trailer. Didn't think i could go wrong, but who knows.

 

[HONKER1]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Holiday my first boat

I think for $200. + a good trailer I would be putting some water in the boat (no higher then the floor) and looking for holes or loose rivets. The second thing would be lookiing for dryrot in the floor or tramson. The motor is a complete story by itself. First make sure the boat will keep flowing while you deal with the motor.
But I have to agree, for $200. I would have grapped it too. The aluminum is worth more then that.

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Holiday my first boat

I don't think you want to put water in the boat unless you remove the foam first.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Holiday my first boat

I would think the 18-foot Holiday with a 70hp would be borderline underpowered. It is rated for up to 140hp. Dry weight without motor is about 1200 lbs. so you're probably going to want to find something with a bit more kick. That old 70 will have to work its guts out to get that boat moving!

- Scott

 

[reelfishin]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Holiday my first boat

I had a 15' Holiday years ago that came to me with a 50 hp on it that did fine, the 15 was rated for a 90HP max, and I eventually found used 70HP Evinrude for it, that made it fly. The 70 was all that boat needed. The 50 did the job and got on plane, but was just slow. The 70 was fast enough that I had some concern with how much the old hull and transome would take, but it held up fine. I sold it years ago in favor then of something larger with power tilt and more fishing room. I actually wish I still had it now with fuel as high as it is. Mine was a '65 model as well.

 

[iwombat]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Holiday my first boat

My 1978 18' SS cruises nicely at 35 (ground speed on the GPS) w/ an 85hp. And, that's with just about all the weight in the back. I'm sure it would do better with a forward tank. 70hp should push that Holiday along okay, especially if you take some care to balance it out a bit.