Starcraft 16' Bahama Fiberglass vs. Starcraft 16' Starmist Aluminum

[Wavelength1964]

Hi, really torn between these 2 boats to move forward with. Fiberglass is less maintenance, but maybe not as heavy or seaworthy. Please feel free to jump in with an opinion so I can make an informed decision. The Fiberglass one has 55hp Johnson, the Aluminum has 33hp Johnson.

Thanks!

 

[mattsteg]

What do you mean by "fiberglass is less maintenance"? well-made aluminum boats of that era and style are about as simple and easy to keep going as anything.

 

[MNhunter1]

Aluminum. Next question?

All joking aside, I think you will find a very biased preference for the older aluminum Starcrafts on this forum. Having never owned a fiberglass boat, I can't really contribute much on their pros and cons, but unless you are talking big glass on big water for a better ride, I'd focus on the tin and never even give that itchy glasser another consideration.

If you could manage to swap the motors around, that would be a bonus as well. More HP always adds a little more to the fun factor.

 

[Wavelength1964]

What do you mean by "fiberglass is less maintenance"? well-made aluminum boats of that era and style are about as simple and easy to keep going as anything.

That's good to hear! The aluminum boat owner coated the hull inside and out with Gluvit, all new foam and plywood floor inside and the hull and decks will be be painted with Interlux Brightside. So I would be starting with a lot of work already done. Thanks for the input.

 

[Wavelength1964]

Aluminum. Next question?

All joking aside, I think you will find a very biased preference for the older aluminum Starcrafts on this forum. Having never owned a fiberglass boat, I can't really contribute much on their pros and cons, but unless you are talking big glass on big water for a better ride, I'd focus on the tin and never even give that itchy glasser another consideration.

If you could manage to swap the motors around, that would be a bonus as well. More HP always adds a little more to the fun factor.

Thanks, good advice and appreciate the input.

 

[Moserkr]

Buy both, swap motors to the 55 on the AL assuming they both are running equally well. Sell the glasser, keep the AL. With that work already done to the AL, it sounds like a sweet deal.

 

[Wavelength1964]

Buy both, swap motors to the 55 on the AL assuming they both are running equally well. Sell the glasser, keep the AL. With that work already done to the AL, it sounds like a sweet deal.

I am thinking about that plan, just don't tell my wife

 

[jbcurt00]

That's good to hear! The aluminum boat owner coated the hull inside and out with Gluvit, all new foam and plywood floor inside and the hull and decks will be be painted with Interlux Brightside. So I would be starting with a lot of work already done. Thanks for the input.

Be aware not all sellers are known for doing good (sufficient?) work on project boats.

What kind of foam?

What kind of plywood deck (floor)?

Sealed the new plywood deck with?

From your initial post: fiberglass not as heavy or seaworthy? The Bahama should outwiegh the aluminum hull by not a small amount. And if both are projects or partial projects, they are both equally unseaworthy until complete. Completed and done right they are essentially the same w regards to seaworthy. HaulOver Inlet, no, but seaworthy....

Done poorly, neither is seaworthy.

 

[mattsteg]

That's good to hear! The aluminum boat owner coated the hull inside and out with Gluvit, all new foam and plywood floor inside and the hull and decks will be be painted with Interlux Brightside. So I would be starting with a lot of work already done. Thanks for the input.

That feels good for 20-40 years depending on quality of work and usage/storage.

Simple aluminum boats last forever. Maybe some rivets loosen after decades or something, but even that's not a big deal. Either let a bilge pump deal with it, or rebuck. Any wood is easily accessible to replace if it eventually rots.

 

[jbcurt00]

Buy both, swap motors to the 55 on the AL assuming they both are running equally well. Sell the glasser, keep the AL. With that work already done to the AL, it sounds like a sweet deal.

And swap the glassers windshield to the aluminum

 

[MNhunter1]

HaulOver Inlet, no, but seaworthy....

Crazy, I was just watching a bunch of videos from that Inlet. Definitely requires a higher standard.

 

[Wavelength1964]

Be aware not all sellers are known for doing good (sufficient?) work on project boats.

What kind of foam?

What kind of plywood deck (floor)?

Sealed the new plywood deck with?

From your initial post: fiberglass not as heavy or seaworthy? The Bahama should outwiegh the aluminum hull by not a small amount. And if both are projects or partial projects, they are both equally unseaworthy until complete. Completed and done right they are essentially the same w regards to seaworthy. HaulOver Inlet, no, but seaworthy....

Done poorly, neither is seaworthy.

All good points. Believe it was spray in urethane foam. First he put rigid plastic sheeting down to allow water flow though horizontal stringers, then foam, then 3/4 plywood sealed with epoxy both sides (CSE?) Then indoor outdoor carpet. Interesting that the fiberglass one would be heavier. Plan to stay away from Haulover, but I do enjoy those videos

 

[jbcurt00]

All good points. Believe it was spray in urethane foam. First he put rigid plastic sheeting down to allow water flow though horizontal stringers, then foam, then 3/4 plywood sealed with epoxy both sides (CSE?)

Hate to be the barer of bad news, but the plastic sheet down 1st, is likely to be substantially worse for the boat hull then spraying the foam directly on the hull.......

And specifically what type of plywood was used?

 

[Wavelength1964]

Hate to be the barer of bad news, but the plastic sheet down 1st, is likely to be substantially worse for the boat hull then spraying the foam directly on the hull.......

And specifically what type of plywood was used?

I will find out. Won't spraying foam directly on the inside hull block the limber holes? How can thin rigid plastic harm aluminum? It is not visqueen but flat rigid plastic panels

 

[jbcurt00]

If the plastic sheets dont contact the hull, and run across the top of the rubs, thats different, and likely not bad. But how do you confirm the plastic remained in place and didnt deflect? Maybe it did as he intended....

Visqueen is what most are referring to when they discribe placing 'plastic' in the hull and then foam over it. That'd still trap water between the plastic and the hull, nearly the same as between the hull and pour/spray in foam, only worse since its not actually sealed against the hull like the foam would be.

 

[Wavelength1964]

If the plastic sheets dont contact the hull, and run across the top of the rubs, thats different, and likely not bad. But how do you confirm the plastic remained in place and didnt deflect? Maybe it did as he intended....

Visqueen is what most are referring to when they discribe placing 'plastic' in the hull and then foam over it. That'd still trap water between the plastic and the hull, nearly the same as between the hull and pour/spray in foam, only worse since its not actually sealed against the hull like the foam would be.

The seller is quite smart, a mechanic and did his homework. Pretty sure he did it right. However as a Starcraft newbie I appreciate all of your input. Thanks!

 

[ShoestringMariner]

I’d go Starcraft because I boat in rocky waters and I can repair aluminum. But that glass boat looks very nice and cool retro. If both were total projects, I’d be about the tin 100% because the restoration methods suit me.

I think it’s a shame that many classic glass boats meet the crusher due to the above, and some could still be quite beautiful and usable. There’s a partially sunken run out/ski boat in a pond near me with the coolest split windshield. If the water evaporates enough and comes back to floating again, I might have a look and offer to drag it away for free. Problems with free boats is they can become the most expensive boats....

 

[DLNorth]

I'd pass on both of them.

As has been stated, glass in general is heavier and requires more maintenance then aluminum.

It's hard to beat the SS 16, and there are so many out there.

Dan

 

[Fisherman Pete]

I’d go Starcraft because I boat in rocky waters and I can repair aluminum. But that glass boat looks very nice and cool retro. If both were total projects, I’d be about the tin 100% because the restoration methods suit me.

I think it’s a shame that many classic glass boats meet the crusher due to the above, and some could still be quite beautiful and usable. There’s a partially sunken run out/ski boat in a pond near me with the coolest split windshield. If the water evaporates enough and comes back to floating again, I might have a look and offer to drag it away for free. Problems with free boats is they can become the most expensive boats....

Reading this takes me to this question. so if you want a sub floor on aluminum can you put liquid foam? or should you not use foam period?
talk to me boss

 

[GA_Boater]

Reading this takes me to this question. so if you want a sub floor on aluminum can you put liquid foam? or should you not use foam period?
talk to me boss

This completely off topic. You should start your own thread.