How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

[thebrain]

How much weight can be removed from a 1989 Starcraft MR21?

I?m thinking the starting point is a 900LB hull.

Stuff I was thinking of removing to save weight.
1. front casting deck just extend the floor where it was.

(was planning on adding a aluimin bench type a seat revited
To hull for front surport That the CD provided) this will also be filled w/ foam
And will be the two front seats.
2. rear splash well including wood and metal cover then
reinforce transome w/ additionalle knee bracing and top
of transome end caps, plan on a small plastic SW surrounding
OB.
3. reduce size of center console elimitaing front seat and live well.
4. using a lite weight type of flooring, (any suggestions).

Objective is to have a decent sized all purpose boat that I could have a
Major top speed w/ 150 HP OB.

 

[pckeen]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

I'm not quite sure what you are planning with this. Why are you focussing on saving weight?

My initial reaction is that what you are planning isn't going to make much of a difference to the overall weight of the boat, but I'm not quite sure what you are going to be taking out. Might want to post some pics.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

Because his Firebird is the wrong tow vehicle for the weight of 21' Starcraft Mariner that he might buy. I think that sums it up, doesn't it, Brain.

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

Most of the weight of your boat is in the hull and the engine. What you have planned will not remove much as a percentage of the overall weight.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

You can remove up to 700-800 lbs if the boat has water saturated floatation foam and rotten plywood.

Why don't you swing by where the boat is and hook it up to the little car and see how it pulls and stops it?

The smart thing to do would be to buy a suitable tow vehicle and then buy the boat, I'm kinda surprised someone that calls themself the Brain hasn't figured that out yet.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

You can remove up to 700-800 lbs if the boat has water saturated floatation foam and rotten plywood.

Why don't you swing by where the boat is and hook it up to the little car and see how it pulls and stops it?

The smart thing to do would be to buy a suitable tow vehicle and then buy the boat, I'm kinda surprised someone that calls themself the Brain hasn't figured that out yet.

800mi +/- roundtrip.

I also think that the weight calcs are based on factory spec data, proposed boat mods, and typical required equipment weight (fuel, batteries etc......)

Interesting discussion in TheBrain's Tow w/ my modified Firebird/Trans Am thread:
Will my car tow this 1800LB boat safely class one hitch

Agreed a good tow vehicle is a must. Planning to strip a boat to slip under a max tow rating of any tow vehicle is ill conceived at best...

My Escape is apparently rated for 3500lb towing, has a 3500lb receiver hitch & I recently towed @ 2000lbs w/ it. I don't think I want to tow 2500lbs, let alone 3500.

Just because I can, doesn't mean I should. Like in boating, plan for the worse, hope for the best. During towing when things start to go bad, they can quickly go bad..............

 

[jasoutside]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

Well, if the real objective is to remove overall weight, grub is right. Get rid of all the saturated wood/foam for major weight savings. Of course this assumes that it's all soaked, likely it is.

If the objective is to haul a 21 foot boat with a Firebird, I'd say grab a new tow vehicle and keep the Firebird for being cool.

Objective is to have a decent sized all purpose boat that I could have a
Major top speed w/ 150 HP OB.

Or, if the real objective is to get a super fast boat I'd ditch that 150 and go with something bigger, like 200ish.

So yah, I suppose it all depends on what you are after here eh. Maybe all three?:noidea:

 

[64osby]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

I have a 21' Mariner that is towed with a 93' Caprice wagon, with tow package (and air lift 1000's). TV is rated for 5000#. I would not want to tow 5k with it.

The 21' Mariner is about the maximum load and size I would want to have behind the wagon.

The proposed changes are not going to effect the weight or size enough to help the towability. Get a different TV or a smaller boat.

 

[thebrain]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

Most of the weight of your boat is in the hull and the engine. What you have planned will not remove much as a percentage of the overall weight.

here's a plan image attached.

You can remove up to 700-800 lbs if the boat has water saturated floatation foam and rotten plywood.

Why don't you swing by where the boat is and hook it up to the little car and see how it pulls and stops it?

The smart thing to do would be to buy a suitable tow vehicle and then buy the boat, I'm kinda surprised someone that calls themself the Brain hasn't figured that out yet.

I've been looking for a few years for this desired boat thats kindof close finding these big aluimin boats down here is a hard find. yes I definitly rebuilding the floor and redoing the foam.

Well, if the real objective is to remove overall weight, grub is right. Get rid of all the saturated wood/foam for major weight savings. Of course this assumes that it's all soaked, likely it is.

If the objective is to haul a 21 foot boat with a Firebird, I'd say grab a new tow vehicle and keep the Firebird for being cool.



Or, if the real objective is to get a super fast boat I'd ditch that 150 and go with something bigger, like 200ish.

So yah, I suppose it all depends on what you are after here eh. Maybe all three?:noidea:

eventualley I will have a real tow vehical go back and fully read the other thread. and let me know how the small RV would be as a TV.

can you provide esitimates of weight on the CC, splash well & casting deck? I estimating around a
200LB weight lose.

edit just added another image of homemade splashwell lite weight verision on yellow boat.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

800mi +/- roundtrip.

I also think that the weight calcs are based on factory spec data, proposed boat mods, and typical required equipment weight (fuel, batteries etc......)

Interesting discussion in TheBrain's Tow w/ my modified Firebird/Trans Am thread:
Will my car tow this 1800LB boat safely class one hitch

Agreed a good tow vehicle is a must. Planning to strip a boat to slip under a max tow rating of any tow vehicle is ill conceived at best...

My Escape is apparently rated for 3500lb towing, has a 3500lb receiver hitch & I recently towed @ 2000lbs w/ it. I don't think I want to tow 2500lbs, let alone 3500.

Just because I can, doesn't mean I should. Like in boating, plan for the worse, hope for the best. During towing when things start to go bad, they can quickly go bad..............

800 +/- mi. round trip... meh, ya gotta go look at it anyway. I think when he sees the boat IRL and then hooks to it and pulls and tries to stop it he'll see what people have been telling him.

I saw that other thread and I especially liked the reply "He's got the horsepower, hook it up and pull it!" :facepalm: Pulling is only about 1/3 of towing, stopping safely is another 1/3, and handling is the other 1/3. There's also a difference in towing up and down hills and on wet and dry pavement.

Given that the boat is 24 yrs. old, I'd be willing to bet money it's much heavier than it was when it was new and dry... we all know about 20+ yr. old boats and water intrusion and that's why I suggested to hook to it and pull and stop it.

A full size pickup truck would be the minimum I would want to tow a 21' boat to and from Atl./DFWB.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

1990 15' Lowe deep V hull 1996 Rude 25 top speed 45knots.

I'll start taking you seriously when you show this boat ^^^^ going 45 knots or 51.79 MPH on the water. It's going on two years that you have been asking the same questions with the same answer. Why don't you believe us?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

51.79 MPH

Oh man, I completely missed that. A 25hp pushing a 15 foot boat at 50 plus?

Seriously?

My numbers over here don't seem to add up:smash:




OOOoohhhhhhhhhh, wait. That musta been being pulled behind the Firebird! Never mind, got it:car:

 

[snowman48047]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

Must be new math.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

The back of the Firebird is gonna be dragging big time with that thing behind it, so if this IS your desired tow vehicle, I think the transmission will be ruined as well if you just tow leaving that as it is. Those car really weren't designed to tow large weights, the way it would handle driving would be enough to scare the heck out of me. Not a very safe choice, or good long term plan.

 

[Watermann]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

Weigh the boat first off and see how much over factory weight it is. By your questions you know that cars are not designed to tow heavy trailers, you will be a danger to yourself or others not to mention the possibility of causing damage to the car's drive train.

If it were me and I wanted my boat lighter on the water, I would start eating salads after the holidays.

 

[64osby]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

So the plan is a 150hp tiller? Good luck seeing over the bow. I stand or kneel at my CC most of the time.

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

For those of us that live in areas that people burn wood brings this picture to mind.....how many have seen on several occasions a pick up truck fully loaded with wood in the box and the front wheels just dancing on the pavement one tread at a time.......seems that this would be the situation of putting a larger boat behind a small car.

 

[thebrain]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

Oh man, I completely missed that. A 25hp pushing a 15 foot boat at 50 plus?

Seriously?

My numbers over here don't seem to add up:smash:




OOOoohhhhhhhhhh, wait. That musta been being pulled behind the Firebird! Never mind, got it:car:

the 15' boat hull weighs268LBs ....

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

the 15' boat hull weighs268LBs so you {redacted}

^^^ wholly unnecessary....

If you don't agree w/ the answers & replies, please agree to disagree.

Many here have run many different boats w/ many different power train configurations & horsepower motors. In my more then limited but less then extensive experience , I too find it difficult to imagine a 15' aluminum boat being pushed to more then 50mph w/ a 25hp OB.

Perhaps it did, but what did the total boat, gear, fuel & you total to in terms of weight?

We aren't your parents, you certainly don't have to follow the suggestions & recommendations posted. But you did ask for opinions, and you've gotten several, from several different points of view.

How is this different here in this thread as in the last? It should not have been surprising to get similar advice here as in the last.....

If you want to purchase the MR210, please do so. If you want/need to tow it back to your place(s), and choose to do so w/ your current vehicle, please do so safely.

Good luck w/ your project, and again, please tow safely.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: How much weight can be removed from a Starcraft MR21?

the 15' boat hull weighs268LBs EDIT

First of all Brain, when you decide to lower yourself to making uncalled for comments, please direct them to the proper poster. I made the statement questioning the performance of your Lowe. And I like to receive credit when warranted. This was not warranted.

I'll start taking you seriously when you show this boat ^^^^ going 45 knots or 51.79 MPH on the water. It's going on two years that you have been asking the same questions with the same answer. Why don't you believe us?