Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

[bam-bam]

Hi all. I'm new here and to Starcraft, but not to boats. After buying an old houseboat a couple of years back, i rarely used my '83 SeaRay 225 cuddy. It's too big for tender duty, and just heavy enough to be a pain to trailer the 25 miles to the lake. Recently a buddy expressed interest in it, so I sold him the 'Ray and went on the hunt for a '60s aluminum runabout

It's been repainted blue from (original?) yellow, and the seats reupholstered, but i think the transom etc is original wood. The guy I got it from said it has been kept inside for the 18 yrs his family had it

I started calling her Sneakysnake yesterday when I came home and found this bonus accessory

This guy had shed his skin sometime in the past day, wasn't there the day before. I believe I must have brought him home with the boat! There were a lot of rat droppings in the boat, i guess he's well fed!

 

[barato2]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

wow. you just proved something equivalent in importance to the search for dark matter: THERE ARE EVEN WORSE THINGS TO FIND UNDER YOUR FLOOR THAN POUR-IN FOAM......

that's the best looking "before" transom i've seen in quite a while. welcome to the mob. nice boat! no resto needed? it ain't fair.....

 

[jbing81]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Big snake, small boat. Yikes! Someone call Samuel L. Jackson!

 

[North Beach]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Here's the boat from the 69 brochure. Looks like the blue is stock. The boat was also identical in 1970. Do you have the specs for it?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

B-B - That's a good looking Jet Star. Welcome to the Tin World. I see the GA numbers on the hull, where are you located? The snake may still be in there living under the floor, he's a biggie.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

You have the shedded skin any Idea what you may find lurking?

B-B - That's a good looking Jet Star. Welcome to the Tin World. I see the GA numbers on the hull, where are you located? The snake may still be in there living under the floor, he's a biggie.

 

[bananaboater]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

I'm imagining being out on the water and that critter crawling out from wherever to get some sun. Abandon Ship!

Oh yeah, welcome to the family. We like newcomers.

 

[bam-bam]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Thanks for the welcome!

North Beach: thanks for the brochure. Was there only one color combo per model year? This thing was most definitely yellow, look closely at edges in the pics above. It looks like even the vinyl in the gunwales was yellow, and the flap over the tank and battery..
I did some research and found that the 50 horse Johnson is definitely a 1971 model. Heck, the boat was advertised on Craigslist as a '63, which piqued my interest because the LazyDays is also a '63.. The registration says 1969, but who knows... is there a registry where you can look up the serial number?

GA_Boater: I live in Marietta, rent a slip at Allatoona Landing. We're on the end of the 4th dock from the rock dam, just look for the floatin' singlewide!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Some, and I to emphasize some, SC s/n's start with the year. For example my Nassau begins with 66 for the year. Do you have a data plate on the starboard inside of the transom or do you have a state issued GAZ HIN?

I'm in Canton and hit Allatoona once or twice a week. I've been planning on dropping in at Blockhouse or McKinney one of these days.

 

[North Beach]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Yes only one color per model year. And I found the yellow Jet Star. They offered several different models in this color beginning in 71.



Man, it's really nice to have my brochures back from storage

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

HAH! BB we have something in common. I too found a skin close to that size in my boat. He/she shed right up through the OMC controls under the gunnel. Freaked out the owners son. I kept telling him it was a non venomous snake and that the snake would be more frighten of you than you are of it. I never did find the snake after I gutted the hull. So I figure it was out before I took her home.

Now back to your boat. That does look like a NICE transom. The boat looks very clean and nice. Very nice pickup and to go a long with a house boat. Big Welcome to the group.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

The name is so appropriate for this boat

FYI, that transom has to have been replaced, Starcraft didn't build em like that from the factory.

Cheers!

 

[bam-bam]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

The name is so appropriate for this boat

FYI, that transom has to have been replaced, Starcraft didn't build em like that from the factory.

Cheers!

Interesting. Please educate me on what to look for.

I haven't looked for an ID plate on the transom , but there is one just forward of the helm. Serial number starts with 102 IIRC. I'll have to look closer when I get home.

 

[bam-bam]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Also, I've noticed a difference in the windshield. On mine the trailing edge of the bubble is a straight line. In those brochures it looks like that edge is curved. Has that been replaced, or is that a clue to year model?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Check, I'm not saying it needs replacing!

I'm just saying it has already been replaced.

All our boats transoms come painted on the one side and bare on the other.

Yours looks like it has been stained and sealed there, it looks great!

 

[bam-bam]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Actually that is bare, and rather dry. I don't mind if it's been replaced, if so it appears well done.

More pics

 

[North Beach]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Also, I've noticed a difference in the windshield. On mine the trailing edge of the bubble is a straight line. In those brochures it looks like that edge is curved. Has that been replaced, or is that a clue to year model?

Generally the best indicators or the year and model are color/measurements/hull configuration. This one looks like a 71 to me but you're right the windshield is different. I have the 69 and71 brochures and then the next is 78, so this isnt exact science. When we talk about the 18 and 22 footers the color and hull type are dead giveaways, especially in the 60's and half of the 70's. In the smaller boats all bets are off. They used the same colors for a couple years running sometimes and that makes it harder.But they always used one color per model per year.
I'd say most likely this is a 71. If the boat has been painted and the vinyl interior replaced, it's possible the windshield was replaced.

 

[barato2]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

i suspect this situ was also complicated by them using up the leftover previous year's color paint on the first few of the next year....no idea if this happened but it sure makes economic sense.

that boat is beautiful! i love the dash....is that walnut or is it just my old eyes acting up?

 

[bam-bam]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

Why yes, I believe it is walnut...








Walnut pattern shelf paper! ;-)

 

[North Beach]

Re: Sneaky Snake- 1969 Jet Star

With probably a beautiful peice of mahogany under it. They loved covering up that beautiful wood with vinyl back then.

Cheaper than sanding/finishing? Or I guess vinyl was the big craze....