manny91979
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2010
- Messages
- 49
OK Guys and Gals, here is the deal. I have owned three Starcrafts in the past. I have restored all three but never really documented the restorations. I am a big time lurker on this site. The information I have obtained from all of the good people that have posted here has been invaluable. I started with a Jetstar. As I was restoring it I was DYING to get out on the water so I bought a 16 foot Supersport. I loved that boat. Problem was, my better half was tired of parking her car out in the snow (no way my boats were sleeping anywhere but in the garage) and gave me "the look" one day. One of them had to go. I really wanted to finish the JetStar so I sold the SS. I finished the JetStar. Now, in my humble opinion, the Jetstar is the prettiest model Starcraft of all BUT its basically a flat hull in the rear 2/3 and rides very rough in a chop. Not a big deal for me but the better half hated it. Wouldn't even come out with me. We missed the SS. Well I found the perfect boat for us. An 18 SS with a V5 hull! It also has a Johnson 140 hanging on the transom! I am super excited about this boat. Today I decided that this time I would document the restoration. There are a couple different directions I am thinking about going with this boat but for now I am going to get her torn down and make design decisions as I go along.
Here are some pics:
She looks rough but I already took her out on the water and she is very solid. The deck is surprisingly very solid. The transom too. The Johnson 140 runs like a champ. Got her up to 43 MPH and idles silky smooth to boot. This is the first boat I have had with power tilt and trim and I will NEVER go back. This boat is very much worth restoring and I am going to do it!
A couple of observations - 1) I had never seen a V5 hull in person. I assumed it would be like an 18 SS with more deadrise. WRONG! This boat is completely different. It is beamier, has more freeboard, and is just beefier all around. The transom and splashwell design is completely different too. The steep deadrise at the bow does make for a slightly tighter feeling passenger area up there, though. I am not sure if it just feels that way, but I remember the 18SS I have been on feeling a little roomier up front. Perhaps one of you can take a measurement to compare? 2) There is a thread up here looking for info on ride quality on the V5 hull. Well I have ridden in a "standard" Supersport 18 and now in the V5. I think the regular hull does a great job in a chop and is no slouch in the rough stuff. There is however a noticeable increase in comfort with the V5. The biggest difference I noticed is that the V5 just kind of cuts through stuff that would make the standard hull start pounding. Not a big deal under most conditions but I do plan on taking this boat out on Lake Michigan and I think for my purposes it is ideal.
....and a disclaimer....I have three kids, a job, and a 100 year old house that is in a constant state of renovation. This restoration may not go as quickly as some of the others here but I will try to do right by all of you and share as much info as possible and post as often as I can.
Here are some pics:
She looks rough but I already took her out on the water and she is very solid. The deck is surprisingly very solid. The transom too. The Johnson 140 runs like a champ. Got her up to 43 MPH and idles silky smooth to boot. This is the first boat I have had with power tilt and trim and I will NEVER go back. This boat is very much worth restoring and I am going to do it!
A couple of observations - 1) I had never seen a V5 hull in person. I assumed it would be like an 18 SS with more deadrise. WRONG! This boat is completely different. It is beamier, has more freeboard, and is just beefier all around. The transom and splashwell design is completely different too. The steep deadrise at the bow does make for a slightly tighter feeling passenger area up there, though. I am not sure if it just feels that way, but I remember the 18SS I have been on feeling a little roomier up front. Perhaps one of you can take a measurement to compare? 2) There is a thread up here looking for info on ride quality on the V5 hull. Well I have ridden in a "standard" Supersport 18 and now in the V5. I think the regular hull does a great job in a chop and is no slouch in the rough stuff. There is however a noticeable increase in comfort with the V5. The biggest difference I noticed is that the V5 just kind of cuts through stuff that would make the standard hull start pounding. Not a big deal under most conditions but I do plan on taking this boat out on Lake Michigan and I think for my purposes it is ideal.
....and a disclaimer....I have three kids, a job, and a 100 year old house that is in a constant state of renovation. This restoration may not go as quickly as some of the others here but I will try to do right by all of you and share as much info as possible and post as often as I can.
