what would you do?

[cedarjunki]

long story short father needed a motor for his boat... well wanted a diff motor anyway, instead of doing a rebuild.
found this 1975 st 18ss on cl... fixer upper but good motor...came from a known marina in which did a full tune up tested and winterized....sat a while an started getting used for parts apparently....ended up at a repair shop in which we got the boat and somewhat of a trailer :/ for 600.00 was it a deal??? ;P considering a running motor goes for around 800.00 and up around here...



keep in mind is was only bought for the motor and parts....


would need all new wood throughout even though the deck is solid but pt and not glassed :0









got it home and i started looking at it and started thinking..........hmmmmm would make a really nice open fishing boat
in reality i have everything needed to mechanically restore it....

my main question is how are these on the water? do they cut waves or dig into them? i find myself fishing in 2-4 foot waves pretty often....sometimes caught in up too 6 footers here on lake champlain...
so pretty much my father bought the motor and i stole the registration since he intended on me stripping the boat of useable parts and selling or junking the rest.... is it worth putting my time and what little money i can find into it? the motor being replaced blew a head gasket due too backing off the throttle too fast forcing water up through the exhaust past the 30+ year old deteriorated rubber flap......wasnt me driving!!!! the motor is noisy but been that way for close too 20 years now.....

now i currently have a sc v-180.....basically a fiberglass version of the holiday v-5, very similar for what i can see... with a custom (diy) hardtop..

so what would you guys do?

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: what would you do?

a couple more pics

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: what would you do?

I would start on the starcraft but would not redo the floor untill it is bad. If the floor is solid leave it. The other boat has It's advantage as it has a closed boy. Very reasuring in rough water with waves comeing over the bow. Actually fix then both up two boats is a must if you fish big water much. I fish Puget Sound and would never take the 16 S/S far off shore it only take 1 big wave to fill it with water.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: what would you do?

thanks for the reply.........thats really what im worried/wondering about is how the ss will be in the waves.....
any more opinions?

 

[fshngho]

Re: what would you do?

CJ, I haven't been in rough waves like you are talking about but it seems both boats are 18 ft and the SS would ride higher on the waves. I know there are guys on here that take theirs out on the big water, so they will shed some insight. I am curious too as mine is 18 ft and I want to go in the Chesapeake Bay and just want to know her limits in case I get stuck out there in bad weather. Dale

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: what would you do?

I think you should be okay in Champlain as long as you are smart. If you get nailed with a storm make a run for the side of the lake and seek nicer water.

I do Champlain allot but I am at the other end (which used to be below the bridge...... lot's of explosives took that out).

There is a guy named Keith Longtin in Whitehall that deals in marine surplus/used parts and motors. You should be able to look him up in the phone book..... he is also an automotive instructor at the Boces.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: what would you do?

An 18' Starcraft will handle 2-3 footers with no problem other than spilling your coffee

I've been out on Lake Huron and Michigan in our old 20' Sea Nymph(same hull design as the Starcraft SS) and we used to troll in some inclement weather if the salmon were hitting.

5-7 footers will test your stomach but these boats float high and dry being lightweight and with high sides aka "freeboard" they are designed for your intended use in my opinion. The hulls have a reverse chine that keeps water splashing away from the boat rather than in.

Like Bob says just keep an eye on the weather(marine band radios have good weather forecasts) and stay close to port if you need to.

Congrats on the new rig, have fun with her

 

[jcupo6]

Re: what would you do?

You should be fine with the Starcraft. I have a '22 Holiday and fish the Delaware bay. Only had it out a few times last year and did catch some rough water. She handled great. We did have one passenger puke, but it really wasn't a bad ride. I would have no worries taking out an 18 footer.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: what would you do?

actually my glass sc doesnt take much water at all to float,, i was very suprised how shallow i can take her..i know its frowned upon, but i do run with the lower unit up but just enough to move and i can slip around in about 16 inches of water. looking at the waterlines on both they look just about the same..

I do Champlain allot but I am at the other end (which used to be below the bridge...... lot's of explosives took that out).
lost a lower unit just above that bridge on the pillers again though wasnt me driving!!! or my boat the marker bouys were not even close to them... glad we were going slow but hit hard enough that it broke the prop shaft out of the housing..
i wanna get back down there and try to find the catfish...





im used to spilt coffee :/ my glass sc kinda hates the waves thats why i tried the hartop...every little wave i get a splash every time!! but i wouldnt hesitate taking it out anytime...i did notice the chines though, very diff than my glass boat as basically it has none! the wave hits and keeps going.....



only my kid pukes in the rough stuff rough and waves dont bother me at all... being an 18 footer its plenty big enough its just the thought of the open bow getting filled with a wave that has me thinking...

thanks for all the input from everyone... id really like to hear more

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: what would you do?

it kept saying i had too many photos????

anyway here is a crappy pic of my glass sc with a quick diy hardtop that suprisingly worked out pretty good...theres a big difference in the hull design.. much more of a slant than curved like the tinny...
deffinatly not pretty but she gets me out to the fish!

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: what would you do?

THE fish don't care. Have a good Summer.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: what would you do?

What would I do??

I'd have me 2 Starcrafts!!!!

With the tin my fav and the glasser my ugly girlfriend!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: what would you do?

Apparently smilies count as photos. That's why you had too many. Most of use photobucket.com and link to our photos there. Posting photos right on iboats is a pain and the file size restrictions too small.

 

[redjet703]

Re: what would you do?

Cedarjunki,

I second or third some of the other comments. As a whole the Starcrafts are light and have a lot of freeboard.

I have had my 16' holiday in six footers in Lake Erie. Although I have a closed bow, I have never buried it into a wave. I just get a bit of heavy spray up front, nothing worthy of turning on a bilge pump.

Just a thought, if you are concerned about the open bow in heavy weather. You could get a good tight bow cover, store it on board and use it only when you think things might get heavy.

Redjet703

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: what would you do?

You build a hard cover for that open bow and bolt the cover on with bolts so you can remove it, install some weather stripping to the cover to seal it. Put the cover on for fishing in an area that can get bigger waves, install 2 good bilge pumps and you should be able to handle some pretty rough water. Add a canvas top you will even stay dry. Even ocean on nice days.
I have had my cheiftain in rough enough water that at idle 800-1,000 rpms I was taking significant spray (looked like someone threw a bucket of water on the windshield) on the upper windshield. I was good to go if my engine or steering did not fail and it didn't. I should have listened to the weather report and left 40 min sooner or never ventured out that day. I learned from that experience. I had 6 miles of that weather took me 2.5 hrs.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: what would you do?

You build a hard cover for that open bow and bolt the cover on with bolts so you can remove it, install some weather stripping to the cover to seal it. Put the cover on for fishing in an area that can get bigger waves, install 2 good bilge pumps and you should be able to handle some pretty rough water. Add a canvas top you will even stay dry. Even ocean on nice days.

good idea but i kinda like the idea of having the open bow...would come in handy while fishing the shorelines for bass and northerns.. not easy driving, casting, and everything else too through my center window with my current setup...but a canvas top would be nice to hide from the sun or if it rains.

I have had my cheiftain in rough enough water that at idle 800-1,000 rpms I was taking significant spray (looked like someone threw a bucket of water on the windshield)

exactly how my glass sc is!

Cedarjunki
Just a thought, if you are concerned about the open bow in heavy weather. You could get a good tight bow cover, store it on board and use it only when you think things might get heavy.
Redjet703

i was just thinking about that today.. nice idea!

Most of use photobucket.com and link to our photos there. Posting photos right on iboats is a pain and the file size restrictions too small.

im using photobucket as well... my pics are clickable to full size..

What would I do??

I'd have me 2 Starcrafts!!!!

With the tin my fav and the glasser my ugly girlfriend!

i already warned the wife about her


ok im convinced.........ill keep both and have the best of both worlds
thanks guys even though i dont think the convincing was really needed :/
ill be sure to get more pics in and out of both as time goes since pictures are like presents around here.
just dont hate me if i modify or change anything on the ss......

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: what would you do?

Whoaaaaaaaaa...

Modify or change the SS???

Well now then.. I am officially changing my answer to.


I would suggest putting the SS up for sale w/o power for 100.00!
Just let me know the day before you place the ad..


lol..

Just kidding, do as you see fit..I think it's the unique ideas that some of these guys come up with really personalize a boat! Same as the resto/modified world of car building..

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: what would you do?

Whoaaaaaaaaa...

Modify or change the SS???

Well now then.. I am officially changing my answer to.


I would suggest putting the SS up for sale w/o power for 100.00!
Just let me know the day before you place the ad..


lol..

Just kidding, do as you see fit..I think it's the unique ideas that some of these guys come up with really personalize a boat! Same as the resto/modified world of car building..

haha thanks kev...100.00 bucks??? geez thats all????its worth atleast 300.00 just in scrap aluminum

it wont be anything too severe as to change anything drastic. just my time on the water is only fishing not lounging or cruising so it would only be fisher friendly mods such as livewell,rod locker storage under deck,pole holders, tackle storage, etc...