BIG Starcrafts

[ShoestringMariner]

Can we talk about the biggest of the Starcraft’s?
i’ve been seeing posts about these 22 foot Islanders. They look pretty good but I think too small for overnighting? I haven’t been able to see a whole lot of cabin photos.
i’ve also found chieftains but in different lengths. Are the 25 foot chieftain is the biggest Starcraft is ever made?

i’m crazy to be looking, especially after only finishing about 20% of my super sport rebuild if that…But I’m curious to know about these big beasts. I’m wondering how comfortable they are to stay in over a weekend. Assuming I can find one big enough that has or can be modified to take a washroom and a small galley.

I can’t ever see myself getting into a fibreglass boat. And the thought of a lightweight boat large enough to handle bigger water such as the Great Lakes or allow us to travel through river/lake/lock systems on weekend getaways appeals to me.

I saw a Starcraft Islander with an outboard conversion that really spoke to me. Especially for the larger outdoor space.

 

[GA_Boater]

Have you looked at the brochures in the stickies? Weekender is what you're looking for. I think SC made 6 of them and very seldom come for sale.

 

[bchaney]

Uh oh, you are hooked :laugh:

Though I have dreams of boat camping too.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Have you looked at the brochures in the stickies? Weekender is what you're looking for. I think SC made 6 of them and very seldom come for sale.

I never thought of that. checked it out and to be honest, the photobucket thing finally made me pack it up and hit google.
The weekender looks to small, or at least the models I found. The 24 or 25' Chieftain looks like the ticket, though the I/O would have to go. That dog house is pretty cumbersome.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Uh oh, you are hooked :laugh:

Though I have dreams of boat camping too.

yeah, maybe. The wife is going on a girls weekend and I contemplated going camping/fishing. toss up beween canoe and tent trailer or Super Sport and tenting....Yeah, forget the canoe. I thought about sleeping in the boat and then came to my senses...but it made me think about a bigger boat and all the water ways we want to explore, without a fiberglass pig killing the fuel budget

Any big starcraft owners here overnight in thiers? Travel distances?

 

[GA_Boater]

The Weekender and it's dockmate Islander, are the largest tin boats SC ever made - 26 feet.

Do you know the difference between Chieftains and Islanders in the years they made them side by side?

Chiefs are cruisers with big cabins and galley. Islanders are fishing boats with smaller cabins and big cockpit for wranglin' fish. Same hull for both, but Islanders came in shorter models, too.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

The Weekender and it's dockmate Islander, are the largest tin boats SC ever made - 26 feet.

Do you know the difference between Chieftains and Islanders in the years they made them side by side?

Chiefs are cruisers with big cabins and galley. Islanders are fishing boats with smaller cabins and big cockpit for wranglin' fish. Same hull for both, but Islanders came in shorter models, too.

Excellent, the only weekender I could find was in the small 20s. For admiral to enjoy being on the water for a weekend, it would have to be spacious in the cabin. The deck I would prefer to be roomy for both fishing but also enjoying the environment. Preferably with a retractable camper top or bimini or something. This would be really a boat of dual purposes. Fishing great lakes for salmon and Lakers but also summer cruising with the admiral and a little bit of fishing here and there. But mostly R&R and seclusion. Maybe a bit of travelling through the many many options of waterways in Ontario

 

[DLNorth]

If you are not stuck on SC and just want a large aluminum cruiser, do a search on "Marinette cruisers", they made large alum boats.

Here are a couple local examples:

https://greenbay.craigslist.org/boa/d/grand-haven-1977-marinette-32-sedan/6937905013.html

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/boa/d/port-wing-lake-superior-big-water-boat/6916764456.html

 

[Watermann]

26' Islander or 25' Chieftain express are biggest and neither are going to give you that motor home comfort but you can stretch out a sleeping bag inside the cabin. Even my spartan V5 22' Islander will allow for that. A portable grill and a cooler is the galley and a porta potty the head.

Towing a 26'r is going to have it's challenges, the 22'r is some big tin to drag around.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

If you are not stuck on SC and just want a large aluminum cruiser, do a search on "Marinette cruisers", they made large alum boats.

Here are a couple local examples:

https://greenbay.craigslist.org/boa/d/grand-haven-1977-marinette-32-sedan/6937905013.html

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/boa/d/port-wing-lake-superior-big-water-boat/6916764456.html

Those are beautiful boats but s little too big for what I’m thinking, especially twin v8’s.great for weekending I’m comfort, too big for distance

 

[DLNorth]

Ya, they are real cruisers, note the hull material thickness, 5/16". Just wanted you to be aware of them in case you stayed on 1 or 2 large pieces of water.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

26' Islander or 25' Chieftain express are biggest and neither are going to give you that motor home comfort but you can stretch out a sleeping bag inside the cabin. Even my spartan V5 22' Islander will allow for that. A portable grill and a cooler is the galley and a porta potty the head.

Towing a 26'r is going to have it's challenges, the 22'r is some big tin to drag around.

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Man, that looks huge! Whats the rough towing weight of that set up, fully loaded?
Surely it's not much different than towing a big rv trailer?

 

[Watermann]

I'm not sure what my Islander will end up weighing in at but yeah I'd imagine less than a similar length RV trailer.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

A possible suggestion, if I may?

Maybe buy a SC pontoon and build yourself a small House Boat? They make nice stable platforms. It's ideal for a lake and I've actually considered this idea but in the end decided I don't currently have the time for such a project.

It would be an interesting build for the forums.

 

[DLNorth]

For comparison, here are the numbers from the '86 catalog, these dry weights w/o engine.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

For comparison, here are the numbers from the '86 catalog, these dry weights w/o engine.

Wow, those are light. So worst case scenario under 3500 lbs, trailer and all...maybe up to 4000 for the 26'

 

[ShoestringMariner]

A possible suggestion, if I may?

Maybe buy a SC pontoon and build yourself a small House Boat? They make nice stable platforms. It's ideal for a lake and I've actually considered this idea but in the end decided I don't currently have the time for such a project.

It would be an interesting build for the forums.

I love build threads and that would be a great project. However, it would not be for me for great lake fishing.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

So I found a 1971 25’ Cheiftan needing a total restoration. Olive green on white. I think these had a galley and washroom.

Wondering if if this is worth the restoration.
Does anyone know how well these are for travelling distances in (river & medium lake systems). Are they efficient compared to heavy glass hulls? Glass cruisers seem to have much bigger drives. But also much more livable space and layouts.

 

[Watermann]

Depends on what you're into, I love my little Chief and so does everyone else who has them. I'm not into glass boats unless it's watching a garbage compactor smashing them. :lol:

 

[ShoestringMariner]

I don’t think any big SC is going to fill my boat camping/travel wishes now that I’ve found this 25’ Chief. They just don’t have the layout possibility for days/weeks long comfortable living. (To me anyway). I was all wrapped up in ideals of the restoration, towing it around myself and big water fishing. Not going to fit the bill

in a a perfect world, I’d have my 16’, a 21/22’ islander and a 30’ish glass cruiser.