my new starcraft (hopefully)

[NYGiants]

i am looking at this starcraft. planning on buying it this weeknd.
its a 1988 with a 1990 trailer. 2001 mercury 15hp.
$1200, quite a steal for around here.
i love how wide, beamy and just solid in general this boat is.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

Nice-looking Starcraft there NY...you are right when you say these aluminum hulls are solid. The high sides are nice as well for a dry ride.

Looks like a good deal to me, maybe have him run the OB in a barrel or check compression prior to purchase. If not you might knock the price down a bit. Should be a good rig for ya.

Good luck

 

[NYGiants]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

i'm sure he'll run it for me. should i also buy a compression tester?
1200 is the lowest i can get, since hes had so many hits. an outboard of that year and power can get you close to a grand around here.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

It's never a bad idea to check compression. I agree, in this case I'd say the boat and trailer may be worth around $800 and the motor about the same. I'd imagine the guy's gotten a few inquiries

Great deal if you ask me(I'm biased, I love Starcraft aluminum boats).

That rig would be easily restored with some gluvit to seal rivets and seams, and some new plywood sealed with epoxy resin. Sweet stainless steel wheel on her too

Keep in mind that the 15hp may be enough to get around reliably, but probably would not plane out under any circumstances. That said, I've had just as much fun on my little 12' rig with an electric Minn Kota and 5.5hp Johnson as I've had on any boat in the world.

That boat would be better suited with at least 25-40hp in order to get back off the water in a storm more quickly.

Looks like a 16' hull to me, is that right?

 

[NYGiants]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

it's actually a 14' rig.
she dosent leak, at least yet and i suppose gluvit and new plywood can't hurt, as he said that the wood is warped. from what i've read/seen the max hp this boat can take is 25. i was considering buying a 25 mariner for 900 or so
oh and ever since i joined this site ive been biased towards starcraft. we were looking at another aluminum boat, a generation 3 boat and even though it was cheaper, and probably faster i had to do starcraft plus finding them on cl is pretty rare.

 

[lakelover]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

Verrrry nice. You'll need at least a 20 or better yet a 25 on that for some real performance. I have a 20 on my 14 footer. I know what you mean about several inquiries. When I went to look at my project Starcraft that I ended up buying, when I drove up, there were a couple guys there ready to make an offer on it. I only got it because I had called first and the guy knew I was on my way, the other guys had stopped before I arrived. I did get him down a little though.

That'll be a dry ride.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

Can't wait to look at it.
Looking this friday, and hopefully buying sunday.
the guy was real nice about it saying since i emailed first and all i have first dibs essentially. he listed it for 1250 i was able to get down to 1150. then someone went and offered 1200! so now ill have to pay 1200. oh well only 50 bucks
makes my boat/motor/trailer combo way overpriced. (12' lowe 8hp johnson 1993 and galvanized trailer $950) but sold it spent more time taking the people to home depot to buy the right size ball than looking at it!

 

[BWR1953]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

Nice boat. Can't go wrong with a Starcraft. I'd also say to go with a 25hp motor plus add a mini-jacker jackplate. You'll be set for sure then!

Keep us posted!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

Take a look at the 1986 brochure...they had a model called the Seafarer SS 14 that looks like it may be very similar, if not identical to this rig.

Starcraft tended to stick with hulls that worked well over the years

Brochures thread link http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=349830

14'6" length
67" beam(pretty wide boat for a 14)
rated for 35hp and 1020lbs

Great fishing rig

 

[ezmobee]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

Even nicer in these pics than the previous one. Nice galvanized trailer. I think it will do OK with the 15.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

IMHO I would shop around a bit before I spent 900 on a Mariner, It is a less priced Mercury for what reasion I do not know. We Had a bunch of these in the Seattle area that came of off Bayliners.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

i think i will shop around, and i will test out the merc first, and then decided whether or not i need more power. Sure it isnt the prettiest boat, but im just a kid in high school and this is pretty darn good.

 

[Kainon]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

Looks like someone replaced the wood and didn't treat it, too bad. Good luck in your hunt !!!

 

[NYGiants]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

couple more pics

 

[NYGiants]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

good/bad news. he was putting the boat today, and the trailer fell off the side of the ramp, bending the axle. So hes replacing the axle, hubs brackets bearings. So i basically get a whole new underframe. and its an 1800lb capacity trailer, more than plenty for that boat.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

I owned that same hull this past summer only it was a tiller and had a 25 hp Merc. It was an awesome boat but sadly I had to let her go. Bummer! That 25 Merc pushed it along quite well! 30 mph on the GPS, I wouldn't want anything bigger for for that boat, it was a great match.

Good Luck, Cheers!

 

[NYGiants]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

he said hes been looking at the boat and finally just looking at the little things, its got a rotten floor and the transom wood is still ok but its starting to poke out and will need to be replaced. his advice to me was to just stay away and he gave me some information of other people with pretty nice boats.
thoughts?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

I still like the rig and if I were looking for a nice little lightweight fishing boat I'd get it

Being a 14' and not a 16' like I thought from the pic...I retract my previous comment regarding HP. The 15 will push that rig around nicely and wouldn't burn too much fuel either. If you are up for it, replacing the transom and deck could be easily done, maybe $200 in materials and a couple days work. iboats has many threads about this you can peruse for help.

I wouldn't be scared off, he may have another buyer pressuring him to sell but you still have first dibs

 

[NYGiants]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

i'm not sure, i think i'm not going to get it.
just being that my brother and i don't really want a fixer upper. and that i found another one which works. just needs a console. i found a guy willing to sell a 30hp mid 1980s mariner for $750 which was just tuned up and carbs cleaned.
and i think i can get the boat motor trailer on the other for 5-600$

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: my new starcraft (hopefully)

I agree with Huron Angler. He probably has another buyer. I doubt he bent a axel just did not want you to go there. I had a fellow I bought my 22 Ft Holiday cancell the sale as he saiid his kids wanted to water ski that summer, then called me the next day and said he had so many calls that he needed to ask for more than 3500 said if I would go for 4000 that it was mine,.I picked it up the next day,as the boat was in excellent condition, no bad floor no bad transom and a very healthy 200 hp Johnson and a nice trailer also a 9.9 merc kicker and a fish finder and a elect. scotty downrigger still in the box as well as 2 sets of skis and a tube and 6 downrigger weights..Some times it pays to really consider the whole package,before saying to much money. Sounds like you have saved a few bucks and will spend it wisley. Look around and even if you have to drive a hundred miles or so to get a good deal it will be worth it. Also i would not buy a motor then look for a boat that will limit what you can get without a motor on it.