Starcraft I/O question.

[wvmedic]

Ok so now I have the bug for a Starcraft, thanks to CheapboatKev, North Beach and Andy in NY.

I have read that the 120 HP Mercruiser really sips the gas, I have a 1973 50 hp Evinrude and a 1984 90 hp Yamaha both outboards and they guzzle the gas. Both use three plus gallons on a ten mile round trip mounted on a 15? fiberglass Arima Sea Sprinter that weighs 900 pounds minus the motor.

What can I expect with an 18? to 22? Starcraft with an I/O, and are parts readily available for the late 60?s early 70?s engines and drives?

Thanks Jeff.

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

wvmedic yes they are very fuel efficent as long as you are not wide open. I can not tell you my burn rate per hour but at 3000 rpm I'm doing 26-29 mph depending on conditions.
18 gallon tank in the 18" Holiday 3 people moderate load fishing half the day about 20 miles of travel 5miles of trolling and the cruise about 35 miles and burn about 1/2 tank 9 gallons.

Boat is light for the 120hp not working hard to push it.
I have owned many boats since the mid 70's inboards, outboards , I/O's 12' -30'
and this is the most fuel efficent boat I have owned.

Now with that light aluminum hull comes some cons, rough "chop" water will jar your teeth. Its not heavy enough to cut through the water.

You can't have it both ways !

I would really like to try a Crestliner Sabre around a 23' with a 4.3 Mercruiser and see what the ride and fuel usage is.

Light boat up and out of the water equals fuel effcient ! for a boat.

Feel free to ask any questions you want.

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Hey Apploosa2, thanks for the reply.

I had a 1986 Smoker craft bass catcher, aluminum mod-V and on the river we boat on we get a little chop. Nothing big, less than a foot but man talk about beating you?re teeth out, it felt like we were running across an old wash board. The boat I have now dose real well but it is small, even just for the wife and I it is difficult to fish from and is really sucks the gas. The Arima will top out WOT at 21-22 MPH per GPS with the 50 hp, that is with just the wife and myself. Now with the 90 hp it will scoot I haven?t checked it with GPS but it will move, and I can keep it on plane with 4 on the boat at around half throttle.

Now even with that they both drink the gas, so what I am looking for is a bigger boat. So I can take the kids and grandkids out on for a little fishing and fun, I like the fact that I can get a bigger boat and still be towing around the same weight as my glass boat. I am really interested in the fuel consumption because the wife and I like to fish, and the outboards use so much gas it gets pricy. I also like to fish in Canada and when fishing there I troll for Pike and drift for Walleye, the cost of gas is high in Canada so the easer the boat is on the gas the better also with the I/O I wont have the added cost of two cycle oil.

And man I love the looks of those Star crafts.

Jeff.

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Hey what about engine and drive parts are they easy to get a hold of?

Jeff.

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Yes parts are easy to get. I would look for a 1970 or newer that has the 120 2.5 mercruiser. You can put any Alpha 1 or older unit on.
You can find, but rarer the 140 hp 2.5 in these Starcrafts.
The 2.5 GM engine is just about bullet proof.

What I like is I can tow this boat to the lake with our car 2004 Impala 3.8 v6.
So I save fuel all the way around. My truck is a little over kill for this boat 05 Dodge Ram Dually w/ Cummins " I do a lot of towing and own horses and equipment.

Here I boat on Lake Ontario and bays off of, and she can kick up quite nasty. You can have 6 foot chop or 8 foot rollers when it gets nasty out. Last weekend we had 2-3 foot chop in Sodus Bay " south wind offshore" go out in the lake and 6" ripples. We have had a lot of rain and wind this summer

I think I will install some trim tabs to help with some of the chop and correct the listing while underway. When you have the loads shift "people moving around" in the boat she will list under plane. I hate it when you are unlevel and have one chine lower and in choppy water and it just jars you on that chine " feels like hitting concrete at 25mph.

We fish for large mouth & small mouth bass & pike and trout & salmon. What ever your in the mood for.

In trolling mode this thing sips fuel like a 5hp outboard !

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Thanks for the info, I think I will be on the look out for an 18? Holiday or an 18? SS.

I hope to find one with a good 120 hp 4 cyl and drive on the cheap so I can redo every thing else, I would like to start with a good power plant though.

Jeff.

 

[jack98]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

First timer - hi all... finally I find other Starcraft believers. Have a 1976 22' SuperSport deep V bowrider with Ford V8. Wow, what a boat! Around her in Lake of the Woods, Kenora, ON, you see them selling for $2500-3500 Cdn. I cannot believe the value if the boat has been looked after. The hull is way over-built- I know , I have hit rocks with heavy loads and bounced off with only minor dents.

I rebuilt the V8 20 years ago - rebored, etc. Likes gas, but can run at 3500rpm forever, and is the best boat on the lake for 4' storm waves. I love the OMC shift and throttle.

So now I have a slight knock in one clinder - could it be a connecting rod? My great mechanic who has kept me going for 20+ years says - way over due for re-powering(meaning $$$$$$). I agree but what option:- 1. rebuild again, 2. upgrade to a newer easy fit engine, go to a Merc for the same boat. Are there any other options, what do you think?

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

I run a 21 starcraft cheiftan (cuddy cabin) 1986 she is loaded with fishing gear, 25hp kicker, halibut weights, and most of the time 3-4 pobs. Over the 4th I ran approx. 30 miles on about 10 gallons. This is ocean running and I run the 3.0l chevy 140 hp at about 2600 rpm and 19 mph.
Halibut fishing was about 40 miles on approx 14 gallons. Fuel consumption is not bad I am happy. The little 4 cylinder chevy motors are not bullet proof, I lost a timing gear on my chevy (1970) 2 years ago. I replaced the motor with a new 135hp 3.0 chevy 4 cylinder. I think the new motor burns less gas, I had to lean the carb to prevent from sooting the plugs on the new motor. I just lost my outdrive merc. 140 last year and replaced it with a sei 106, so far I have 35 hours on it and it runs great. I generally never run the rpms above 3,000; I would say it is easy on the fuel for a 21 foot boat. My boat weights 4,000 lbs on the trailer not including tounge weight.

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

elkhunter338 37 years and the timing gear went ! Thats not bullet proof ?
Your a tough customer. 21' cuddy cabin model should have a small V-6 IMO.

Sound like you are laboring your engine.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Always obliged to spread the starcraft flu! There is only one cure..

18 feet of tin!!!

Go get one!

Apps made a great point on towing the tinny...My 07 Nissan Frontier towed my boat (been only a one way ride home 35 miles thus far...) like it wasn't even there...In fact, I bet our other car, Dianes V6 Rodeo could tow the bejeezers outta that tin can too!

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Elkhunter338, thanks for the info.

I?ll bet that 338 kicks on both ends.

Jeff.

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Apploosa2, I agree about the 2.5 GM. being reliable. I?ve never ran the marine motor but have had a couple S-10?s with the 2.5?s very strong and reliable motors, the only problem I knew of with them is for the automotive motors the EGR would malfunction and burn a hole in the number one piston. The 1990 I had burnt the number three, but number one was typical. I rebuilt the 1990 2.5 and was getting 27 and 28 mpg around town with that truck, and that little motor had plenty of power.

Jeff.

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Hey Kev, I had an 80 something Starcraft glass boat it had the Olds 3.8 and OMC Cobra drive in it. My S-10 didn?t like it strapped to its back but a friend was over and I used her Amigo to move it around, believe it or not I couldn?t even tell it was behind the Amigo.

And yes thanks for the flu, cough sniffle, sniffle.

I am on the hunt for an 18? with the 2.5l.

But I will have to make it a cheap boat Jeff project, I spent a lot of my play money on getting another boat that I took the 1984 Yamaha 90 hp off of for my Arima.

Unfortunately it had a overheat problem and I spent a few dollars on head gasket and other gaskets, thermostat, rebuilding the carbs. I completely tore it down and located the source of the overheat problem, (disintegrated impeller) a couple of the vanes got lodged in the very top of the water pickup tube just under the exhaust plate. I think I might order the gasket set in the morning to put it back together and hang it on the boat, because I have also spent a few dollars on the 50 hp Evinrude in electrical. I replaced the timing base, new coil, new rectifier, also a new power pack this season and new starter last season with a new solenoid as well , it ran ok after I found a hot wire that was bare and grounding out but the last time out it started acting up again.

So I think I am done with the rude, and if I put the Yamaha back together and get it back on the boat I can sell the Arima to help fund my Starcraft project.

Sorry for being so winded!!!

Jeff.

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Jeff they are out there. Try Craigslist. I just read a post a guy picked up same boat as mine except 2 years newer for $800.00 with trailer and it runs.
Heck sounds like you spent that in fuel last year...

Good luck, I'll keep my eyes open.
Heck ask BobVt if he knows of one cheap, he is always finding cheap Starcrafts around his neck of the woods !

 

[jumboshrimp]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

I have the bug, 18 1/2' S/C Chieftan Cuddy 120 MerC i/o Just finished the fuel pump, carb rebulid, bellows, and now the water pump tonite and I have two thousand into her on a trailer w/kicker it is possible to get a whole lot of boat on a budget. Good luck in you search my maiden voyage tommorow!

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Yeah Appaloosa I believe that would be a good est. to the fuel and oil I used last season.

I have looked around CL to what?s out there, I have a few things to square away and then I will be on the hunt real hard.

Jeff.

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Hey jumboshrimp congrats on the boat and good luck on you?re maiden voyage.

Jeff.

 

[wvmedic]

Re: Starcraft I/O question.

Hey Appaloosa, you said a 1972 or newer I can use any alpha1 or older drive. Did you mean alpha1 or newer?

I have located a 1972 with a 2.5 and I?m wondering about the sterndrive and getting parts, I know that I can get a SE106 but they are for 1973 to 1990.

The motor I will be ok with it is the sterndrive that worries me, I just want to make sure I can get a new one if need be. I would hate to restore the boat and then the sterndrive lay down on me and not be able to fix it.

So will I be ok in the parts dept?

Jeff.