1972 Starcraft 20 American

[injfuel]

I’m heading to purchase my first boat this Saturday , and I have searched and just can’t find much info on this particular boat , you can look it up on Kelley Blue Book and it shows up there , I’m assuming it was on the high end of the Starcraft lineup in the 70s being a 20 foot inboard motor boat. It has the mercruiser 165 inline 6 engine and the owner says it’s in perfect operating condition , meaning it’s water ready , and from the pics it looks like someone has taken care of this vessel. My uncle has owned several boats and he is going with me to make sure a good inspection is done on the boat , although if it’s even close to the pics it’s worth the asking price. I’m curious to anyone with opinions on this specific model and pros/cons as well. Also I couldn’t find any speed charts for it. I know the mercruiser 165 is a workhorse not a speed demon and I wondered how it fares in a 20 foot boat that weighs slightly over 2000lbs and would it pull a skier/tube in the water. I’m not sure what renovations will be needed until I pick up the boat but any opinions/information regarding the aforementioned questions would be greatly appreciated, thanks !!

 

[mr 88]

Any hour meter on it ? Freshwater or Salt ? Yes there "workhorse "motor AND it's 48 years old as is the outdrive. Has either item been rebuilt ? If fresh water the aluminum will basically last forever , deck and transom may need rebuilding if it has any soft spots . Should be able to see the wood on the inside of the transom and maybe take a pick or screwdriver and poke around looking for soft wood. Yes it will pull a skier/tuber with no problem.Pulling someone up on one ski may have you putting a lower pitch prop on for the holeshot ,just do not over rev it when set up like that. Do not think they had a high or low end setup/boat at that time ,basic 20-21 ' hull that they sold a ton of.

 

[matt167]

The American is one of the few Starcrafts of the era that were NOT aluminum.. That is a fiberglass boat and if it's been rebuilt it is suspect and if it has not been rebuilt it is suspect. I also don't know if an American would have come with an inline 6.. It was one of their cheaper boats.

You need to check the whole thing over for rot.. Spongy floor, walk away.. look at the motor mounts. You should be able to see stringers from the engine bay. You can see if it's been deck overed from the engine bay.. If you see a deck over or stringers that look bad, walk away..

And even if it passes the tests, don't pay over $2k... Boat like that will do about 35-45 mph ish

 

[injfuel]

yes the boat is fiberglass , it looks like it’s been garage kept when it wasn’t in the water , here is the link to the ad , check it out and tell me what you think from a visual standpoint , obviously I will inspect it thoroughly
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/boa/d/litchfield-starcraft-american/7110661206.html

 

[injfuel]

I know the ad seems kinda cheesy , he said his daughter drafted it up for him

 

[matt167]

It isn't a $3k boat, and no interior pictures is a red flag.. Check it out but it's been fixed up to some degree just by looking and you'll need to figure out if it was done correctly which is time consuming, or the cheap way which just covers up rot..

Looks like the original engine..

For similar money, I'd grab this https://cleveland.craigslist.org/boa/d/eastlake-1983-starcraft/7115039507.html

It's a little over priced and a bit under powered but as a first boat it's good.. I'd offer less. Only 16' BUT it's open bow gives you about a full 20'

 

[injfuel]

Thanks for the advice , I’m gonna look at it because I said I would but I’m gonna pass on it , I like that boat you posted a link on but that motor is way to small for what I’m looking for

 

[matt167]

Thanks for the advice , I’m gonna look at it because I said I would but I’m gonna pass on it , I like that boat you posted a link on but that motor is way to small for what I’m looking for

what do you want to do with it? The 16' is a very light boat. 50-60hp would be enough for it. You will still get somewhere around 30 mph with it

 

[mr 88]

what do you want to do with it? The 16' is a very light boat. 50-60hp would be enough for it. You will still get somewhere around 30 mph with it

He said he wanted to do some skiing/tubing with it . A couple adults in the boat and your going to have a hard time pulling a adult skier ,especially a single ski. The StarCraft looks like the outdrive trim switch or pump ,solenoid is shot as there is a strap holding it up.Other than that it LOOKS to be in great shape , but all I am looking at are some pictures. I did forget that StarCraft made glass boats, my bad. Not a bad idea to expand your search to surrounding areas on Craigslist.

 

[southkogs]

The 165 in that Starcraft isn't going to impress anyone going across the lake: maybe low 30s with a few people on board. But those inline six engines were brutes; and pretty reliable. It'd pull a skier or a tube, but the skier would be working a bit.

Since it's closed bow, you lose a little seating. Consider that when you look at it - you probably can get just as many aboard the 16' that was posted above. If you prefer fishing, then the aluminum boat may be better anyway - but it's not going to be a good towing boat.

I don't know that I'd pay $3k for that boat (remember it's the beginning of boat season), but I would look at it and see for sure. If in as good of shape as it looks, you wouldn't be a fool paying $2,500 for it. I would want it closer to $2k.