18' Starcraft motor options?

L

loose rivet

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Hi, first time posting here, I found this site after a few google searches about a boat I found on Craigslist. http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/2523651905.html

The boat is an 18' Starcraft with a hard top cabin, the guy who has it bought it recently for it's motor and trailer and wants to sell the hull. The thing looks decent, the price is right, but I'm wondering if my Tohatsu 50hp would power it for now? The boat is a bit worn looking but very solid, it needs two seats and some paint work but I'm not looking for fancy, just a fishing boat for lakes and rivers. I never run or fish saltwater, at least not in open water so big power isn't needed. Just so it will move the boat along is fine.
I currently own a 1974 Starcraft 14' open boat with a tiller motor that I've owned for 10 or more years, which is what got me to look at this ad. I plan on heading down to Jersey this coming Friday to see the boat if it's still there but was just wondering what others run on these boats as far as power? A friend of mine has a 17' fiberglass Starcraft with the same motor as mine that runs and moves just fine, so I'm thinking that the aluminum boat is probably the same weight or lighter than his but several that I mentioned it too say that the boat on craigslist needs at least a 115hp motor?

I don't mind hunting down another motor but want to know if the one I have will work for now?
 
CBGale2

CBGale2

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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

The 50 will push it around but something bigger would do a much nicer job. Welcome to the forum and good luck with the boat.
 
L

loose rivet

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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

I don't have it yet, I'm going to look at it Friday or Saturday after work.
I just wanted to be sure the 50 would work. I suppose the 50 would be easier on gas too.

If the same model 50hp can move my buddies heavy glass boat, then for certain it'll do fine on this thing. If the boat is decent, I'll hang the motor, find a trailer, and be on the water in a hurry with it. I'd want to get in a few good days of boating in it this year so I get a chance to make a list of things to do to it this coming winter.
 
tracker01

tracker01

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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

I have an 18ft mariner, with a 1972 50hp on it. When I did the first couple runs I was able to get 25mph with gps which is enough for what I want it to do. Fairly calm day on the water. Hope that helps you with your decision.
 
L

loose rivet

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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

I decided to pass on the 18' cabin boat, I pretty much decided that I need less boat to match my motor. I'm not a little guy and neither are any of my fishing friends so the general opinion is to find a smaller boat to match my motor. If motors were cheaper, I'd have jumped on the Starcraft on CL but I have too much into my 50hp to sell it and a decent motor to match that boat would cost me almost as much as the boat itself. I'm looking to find something that'll move along nicely with a 50hp yet still be able to go at a decent speed with two larger fishermen aboard.
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

Find a 16' Starcraft then. Should move quite well with a healthy 50.
 
L

loose rivet

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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

sdride said:
Not sure your price range but this may work. I would check the max HP it can take

http://cnj.craigslist.org/boa/2527013645.html
Click to expand...

Not a bad looking boat but too small, the motor I have is a 4 stroke 50hp, and I really need a closed bow for the Delaware bay or other saltwater areas. I have a similar boat now but in glass and I've more than once had wakes come over the bow while out fishing. I figure that something more like the Jupiter in EZ's link above would be more along the lines of what I need, or even an SS. Even an open 18' would be better than losing the room to a cabin I'd never use.
Too small and it won't be safe, too big and it'll be way underpowered, which to me is just as dangerous if things get rough.

I did notice that the boat I was looking at is now gone but relisted, for some reason it keeps getting flagged off CL? http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/2530159995.html
A guy right down the street has a 15' Starcraft for sale, it's about four doors down from where I looked at the Starchief, that one is a 15' glass hull, with a new deck, new transom, new seats, and a brand new fish finder, the guy says he bought it for it's 40hp motor and trailer. The boat isn't perfect but sort of cool looking I guess. The deck was completely removed and replaced using 1/2" plywood with several layers of glass on top of it and transom was done in some sort of fiberglass resin or composite. The cap was removed when it was done, but the rub rail didn't survive the ordeal well, but he's got a good used rub rail to go with the boat along with a load of spare trim. http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/2519431463.html
I prefer aluminum but I like the look of that older glass hull.
I have a trailer that I can make work too, if not a new one isn't all that expensive. The priced one at just over $600 brand new. He won't sell the one the boat is sitting on now, which has all new running gear, lights, bunks, and tires on it. He's probably got as much into that trailer as a new one if you consider labor and all the parts he put on it.

The open glass hull I have is only rated at 40hp, and it had a 25hp on it before I got it. It also needs a tiller motor. My 50hp is also a short shaft, so that 1960 Starcraft may be the ticket since it's got a 15" transom. If I found a larger aluminum, chances are I'd have to cut down the transom of make some sort of bracket to hang my motor.
 
MichaelP

MichaelP

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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

I have a 40hp 4 stroke on my 16 SS and I'm very pleased with it. With 2 avered size men 9 gallons of fuel and fishing gear I hit 34mph on the Eagle fish finder last week. Pulls a small tube well too. A 16 footer would be perfect for you with that 50.
 
L

loose rivet

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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

sdride said:
Came across this today:
http://syracuse.craigslist.org/boa/2529527364.html

It's a bit of a drive but you could sell the current motor and probably have an overall good deal.
Click to expand...

Nice find, I only wish it were closer. That would be at least a 5 hour ride for me each way, longer if the trailer under it isn't up to the task.
The boat looks perfect though in the pics.

I gave up on long distance finds like that after driving 7 hours to buy one boat off CL only to have the seller change his mind and not want to sell it once I got there. After several phone calls and many emails and pics I told the guy I was on my way, all was fine till I got there and no one answered the door, when I called he said he changed his mind, his wife wouldn't let him sell it, sorry. Although I was furious about the making a wasted trip, I did end up finding another boat and motor which I bought while I was up in MA, I had passed it on the way to that sellers house. Three days after he called me and asked if I was still interested in the boat, his wife now wanted to sell it. Needless to say I didn't go back.
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

loose rivet, please put your location in your profile.

sdride, I love the second one. So cool!
 
L

loose rivet

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Messages
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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

I looked at a 16' aluminum Starcraft today, it's missing it's windshield, has no trailer or motor but the guy only wanted $400, the problem is that it needs a floor, transom, rub rail, windshield, seats, and all new wiring. Luckily I was there today right after a heavy down pour, the boat was sitting in front of the guys garage, still draining. The hull looked like a sprinkler underneath, I don't think there was a single rivet not spraying water. Worse yet, there's a crack along the one side where the hull rubbed across something and the end of the rib can be seen as an outline on the outside. No real dent, just a hard rub mark, but the outer hull cracked where the rib ends. I left it sit and will keep looking. If I could find a 15 or 16' boat as solid as that 18' Starchief I'd be in business. The boat in MD looks decent but its most likely a 14', the one in NY is too far away to chance the ride. That one is pushing the 200 mile point one way. The one in MD is only a few hours from me, if I find a reason to head that way I may take a look at it.
I emailed the seller of that 15' 1960 glass Starcraft and it looks even better, its even a short transom. The only thing is that my trailer is a bit big for that boat, but it would certainly get it home. I'm just leery about hanging a 50hp 4 stroke on the back of a boat that short? Its probably closer to the weight of a much larger motor back then. If my motor was smaller, I'd probably have that Voyager in my garage right now.

Did they build any short transom aluminum hulls that will handle a modern 50hp 4 stroke?
 
L

loose rivet

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Messages
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Re: 18' Starcraft motor options?

I figured I'd update this thread a bit. I got the chance to ride in and drive an 18' Holiday today with a 50hp four stroke Yamaha on it, the boat was all rebuilt, new all aluminum deck and antiskid paint. In the boat was the owner, about 290lbs, his son, probably close to 400lbs, and myself at 325lbs, plus one cooler full of ice and drinks, and another smaller cooler with bait. The boat topped out at about 19mph heading with the wind and current and had trouble getting on plane heading against the current and wind.
The boat needs far more power to be safe. My thinking is that a boat to match my motor will be something in the 15 or 16' range tops, the Starchief would be fine withe 50hp inshore, but not in bigger water or with three big guys onboard.
I have to readjust my search for a smaller boat or find a bigger motor.
The Starchief that I was looking would be an option but only with more motor. The reality of it is that three big guys and refreshements could mean 1000lbs or more of weight in the boat, which puts the whole deal out of the realm of a 50hp 4 stroke motor.
I will first try to trade my 50hp for a more suitable motor, then find the right size boat to match.
 
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