Older Starcraft Holiday, Value

[JimS123]

Out fishing in big water I would want a closed bow,ever have a 6 footer crash over a open bow ? No thanks ! Every boat is a money pit, don' care what year it is.

I've been a boater for over 50 years. Back in the old days a closed bow was the norm. I never knew what convenience was until I got my first open bow. My son's cuddy was bought brand new 7 years ago and he finally traded for a new bowrider. Nuff said - its all opinion.

Yes - I have had a 6' wave crash on my closed bow. That's why my bowrider is equipped with a HD bow cover. When we go out in big water we have the cover installed, so that rogue wave is no issue at all. (Go fishing in Lake Erie on a calm day and you might come back saying "I need a bigger boat".....LOL.)

I have I/Os and OBs that are older than my kids and I have no worries about performance. None have given me any grief, nor have been money pits. But then again, they were bought brand new, meticulously maintained and I have the service records to document my efforts. Buying an unknown oldie could be a gem or a money pit. Better be prepared for the worst.

 

[mr 88]

I've been a boater for over 50 years. Back in the old days a closed bow was the norm. I never knew what convenience was until I got my first open bow. My son's cuddy was bought brand new 7 years ago and he finally traded for a new bowrider. Nuff said - its all opinion.

Yes - I have had a 6' wave crash on my closed bow. That's why my bowrider is equipped with a HD bow cover. When we go out in big water we have the cover installed, so that rogue wave is no issue at all. (Go fishing in Lake Erie on a calm day and you might come back saying "I need a bigger boat".....LOL.)

I have I/Os and OBs that are older than my kids and I have no worries about performance. None have given me any grief, nor have been money pits. But then again, they were bought brand new, meticulously maintained and I have the service records to document my efforts. Buying an unknown oldie could be a gem or a money pit. Better be prepared for the worst.

Owned my first motor boat 56 years ago on Lake Erie, about 2 miles from where the Niagara River starts so I am more than aware of what Erie can throw at you,and we had multiple reefs a mile or two from the shoreline that were as nasty as nasty can be when she kicked up. Still wouldnt use a open bow regardless of having a HD cover. Last 4 years have fished Ontario in my 29' rig,and that lake can get nasty as well,have limped homes a few times. A boat that your insuring, fueling,outfitting,maintaining ,docking,storing and entertaining on is a money pit,even if only a few of the above apply. But if you have deep pockets your interpretation of a money pit may be different than others. This off season ,I bought 3 downriggers for 4500, a emergency backup tranny for 2600,( one let go last year in the middle of the season and that's the last time I will be down for a couple weeks waiting for a replacement ) MFD Radar unit for 5,500 and just pulled 2 heads to have rebuilt for a mere 600. None of this is a money pit to me but to the guy looking at a 1300 boat I bet it is. Yes buying a oldie can be expensive but if you do your homework you can minimize your cash outlays... 15' Mid steer Lyman one of my all time favorites, bought the MFG glass copy to restore,sitting in a barn,just don' have the time to get into it.

 

[JimS123]

To me expensive downriggers and radar units are discretionary "luxuries", not typical expenses that one would consider part of usual ownership of a little tinny. If considering an old boat for almost pocket change I don't think the OP would consider these options that would cost 6 times more than the boat cost in the first place. When I said money pit I meant weekly expenses just to keep the old girl running once a week to take the family out.

In my case, my 34 year old "family boat" has cost me less than a buck and a quarter each year for the past 5 years. A couple tubes of grease, 5 quarts of oil, and an oil filter has been all it needed. Of course next year I'll have to splurge for spark plus and maybe a bellows. Its all how and where they are kept.

 

[mr 88]

When your fishing in the area of shipping lanes on Ontario and a fog or heavy duty rain rolls in you best have radar,not a luxury out there. The inside lane is only 2- 3 miles off shore and the number of freighters steaming by is unbelievable. Considerably more than I have ever seen on Erie.

 

[jbcurt00]

Fellas, how does that relate to the OPs original question @ $1300 Starcraft Holiday.

Want to discuss merits/needs of equipment @ big water? Open bow vs closed bow? Start a topic about either....

 

[Stumpalump]

The OP already questioned the closed bow and windshield in the way. Boats in that size are getting rare with a closed bow and he needs to be agile enough to climb over the windshield. No doubt a closed bow is safer in ruff water and you have a great dry place to store gear. The boat is a good deal. The motor and hull are both great. If what you really want is a foggy big water boat then yes a bigger craft with a radar are worth their weight in gold. Since you are deciding and obviously did not know that was a great boat with a great engine I believe it's more than apropriate to discuss the merits of it and what you would get with a larger boat.
Mod EDIT
Buy that boat! I also run a 18' tin and think it's a great all around size that can still be operated and maintained for very little cost. Good luck.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

^^^ " 4 cheap life jackets are going to be 200 bucks" Don't know where you live,but I can buy 4 "cheap"USCG approved jackets for 5-10 per.

Ontario Canada.

 

[briangcc]

IF you're already thinking that you want an open bow, I would pass on this boat. Having had the 15' MFG closed bow in my signature, it is a royal pain to crawl up and over the windshield to get forward access for lines, anchors, etc. And this was when I was in my teens...parents bought it used in '86. Nothing like hearing things pop that shouldn't as you add weight to a closed bow.

As to the $200 comment for life jackets - that same $200 was my Coast Guard kit on my new boat. (4) of those wonderful bright orange life jackets, (2) dock lines, extra line, anchor & line, flares, (2) undersized bumpers, and fire extinguisher. Sure you can drop serious $$ on life jackets - I had to get neoprene ones for the kiddos as the nylon ones scratch them and are uncomfortable to wear. But you can catch deals too. But safety gear is nothing to skimp on so plan accordingly IF you are starting from scratch.

 

[82rude]

I had a beautiful 17 foot cedarstrip boat with a closed bow .Problem was where I boat and fish I had to nudge her nose first on shore then climb out the side and over the front.Twice I found myself laying stuned beside the boat! I now have a 76 starcraft bowrider with a 2011 evinrude 60.I can put the new boat on shore and walk safely out the front now.I have 2 knee replacements that make quick balance at time a problem if you understand what I mean.I do about 50 percent of my fishing on a little northern lake called Superior but I stay within 10 miles of shore and closely watch the weather.Many a time ive hit the boat launch and just turned around and gone home .Flat water or this chicken goes home.Are you really set on a closed bow?Most of the holidays I see have 85 plus hp around here and are mostly camp and dock used.My boat is rated for 85 but the 60 does a good mid 30,s and the etec will still do low 30,s with a very heavy load.Iboats specs show a 77 holiday rated at 140hp! I'm not sure what a 67 would have for a rating, 100? That's a big diff from a 60!

 

[Old Ironmaker]

The open bow vs. closed is the old Ford or Chevy question. I wouldn't have anything other than my StarCraft Superfisherman 190 open bow to fish out of. That is if I were to fish out of a 20' or shorter boat nor could I come up with a reason to drive a Ford. Get up in size to say a 23' cuddy then I would consider a closed bow. I would be tempted to fish rougher water further out and then yes a closed bow may be safer and do what I need it to do to get my fish. My 19'er has more room to fish from than buddies 24' cuddy depending on what and how we are fishing for.

You don't get much here in Canada for 200 bucks when it comes to consumer products, especially Marine related. That is one reason I shop iboats. A $50.00 PFD locally is a no name unless on sale.

 

[Watermann]

It seems the OP has lost interest in his thread and moved on, he hasn't even been here since the day he posted the thread. I wonder if he got his boat...:lol:

 

[Old Ironmaker]

It irks me sometimes when someone asks a question looking for help, people take their time to give good answers, even go so far as to do research for them that they could easily do and never return a reply let alone thank them. I guess it's the nature of the New World Order of social media.

 

[66Holiday924]

Judging by the hundreds of pictures I've looked at of the 65 and 66 Holidays, I would say yours is one or the other. I think the 68 is when they started with the 3 pane window and prior to 65 I think the hull was round bottom. Additionally, I am pretty sure that the 65 and 66 were built with handles where the tow strap padeyes are on the transom. This boat has the tow strap padeyes, so the transom might have been re-done recently which would be a big plus, and earlier in this thread somebody said the interior appears to have been redone, which would be another big plus. So if the engine does run good as the previous owner said, the transom is redone, the interior is redone, and he is throwing in incidental stuff like jackets, electronics, etc. ( like most people do), it's a great deal!.

As far as fishing the bow, you don't necessarily have to be the one to fish up there. Get one of the younger guys or kids to climb up there. I've caught plenty of fish sitting on the bow of the boat with my feet hanging over the side and the bow is a great place to set your beer and worms while you do it. If the water is too rough to send somebody up there to fish, it is probably too rough to be on with an open bow. Just my opinion.

 

[jbcurt00]

It seems the OP has lost interest in his thread and moved on, he hasn't even been here since the day he posted the thread. . I wonder if he got his boat...:lol:

Yep ^^^

 

[inthedirtagain]

My first boat was a 66 Holiday with the original 100hp Evinrude. I loved the sliding doors under the splashwell for hiding batteries, anchors and such. The outboard was tired with only 100 lbs compression in each cylinder, but it got us around the lake all year fishing and pulling the family around on tubes and a kneeboard. With just me and my son on board, I could only muster about 32mph, but me thinks the rivets may have been a little loose because it just seemed harder and harder to hitch up to the truck each progressive trip out. I've owned a few other boats since then, but I loved how much room there was to fish. I wanted to keep it and restore it, but Mama wanted something newer.

 

[daveydoodle]

Clean looking boat , for sure 80s Johnson , better yet with T & T. The floor and soft spots is where Id start. Hopefully vinyl instead of carpet is always my preference.

 

[daveydoodle]

Old Ironmaker, I hope I'm not guilty of that. I try to thank all the guys that help me. That closed bow starcraft looks like it has an added on box under pilots seat, hopefully a livewell. I don't think they came stock with that meyby wrong? Davey. BTW your Chiefton is a beauty, love the video.