Help to Identify 1974 fibreglass Starcraft

[SCNeophyte]

I was just given a 1974 closed bow fibreglass Starcraft w/a locked up 165Mercruiser I/O. All the badges/nameplates/etc. and documentation is missing, but I believe the boat to be the American model. I have the HIN, but can't find anything to decipher the model code. I looked at the 1974 brochures on the Starcraft Owners group on Yahoo, and it looks exactly like the green one at the bottom of the cover pdf. Can anyone decipher the HIN codes so I know exactly what I have? STR23321M74B. I believe it to mean Starcraft, No 233, 21', made in Sept of '74? I actually haven't measured the hull yet, just drug her home last night.

Floor and hull are very solid.. even the upholstery is good. Unfortunately the boat sat for 10 years without being winterized, or even the block drained. I don't see any block cracks, nor is there apparent water in the oil.. but until I get farther into it I can't be sure. Right now the cylinders are soaking in Kroil.
Lets hope for the best. Any advice on restoring this cool old boat to help me avoid making stupid/co$$tly mistakes would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Help to Identify 1974 fibreglass Starcraft

A 1974 American would be a runabout with a V-hull made of fiberglass. The only other fiberglass runabouts they made were the Capris, which were tri-hulls. I don't think anyone would mistake one for the other... Biggest American model they made at that time was the 20-footer. They later made a 25-foot cuddy with the American model name, too...

Check my links for more info on the Americans. You've already found the brochures I scanned in... They are great performers and well worth the time and trouble to return to service.

 

[Kainon]

Re: Help to Identify 1974 fibreglass Starcraft

AUG A SEP B OCT C
NOV D DEC E JAN F
FEB G MAR H APR I
MAY J JUN K JUL L​

*Key to Month of Model Year
Figure 1 - HIN Formats Before August 1, 1984​

The boat manufacturer must display two identical hull identification numbers, no less than one-fourth of an inch high, on each boat hull. The primary HIN must be permanently affixed (so that it can be seen from outside the boat) to the starboard side of the transom within two inches of the top of the transom, gunwale, or hull/deck joint, whichever is lowest. On boats without transoms or on boats on which it would be impractical to the transom, the HIN must be affixed to the starboard outboard side of the hull, aft within one foot of the stern and within two inches of the top of hull side, gunwale, or hull/deck joint, whichever is lowest. The starboard outboard side of the hull aft is the preferred HIN location for many manufacturers. On catamarans and pontoon boats the HIN must be affixed on the aft crossbeam within one foot of the starboard hull attachment.​