1961 mystery starcraft. Please help with

[61mysteryboat]

Just bought this boat. It is registered as a 1961 starcraft starchief. Only one problem, the starchief is aluminum and this is fiberglass. Have even called starcraft and they haven't been able to offer any help. Starting total restoration. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bayou Dave]

First off WELCOME to iBOATS!! What does it say on the port side near the stern? Looks like STARBR----

 

[61mysteryboat]

I had previously mis-spoke. The boat is tagged as a starcraft safari 16 with a serial number starting with 61. The safari is an open hull boat which is not at all similar to mine. The closest boat I could find to mine online is the starcraft starchief. The boat was made prior to the use of hull# and as such is given a serial #. When I contacted starcraft the could not offer any info because there records don't go back that far. The best info I could get from them is that in the early 1960s they were experimenting with production of fiberglass boats and mine could be a one off.

 

[61mysteryboat]

Boat needs complete hull, transom, cabin, engine, etc. restoration. Can't wait to get it back in the water. Thanks for any input you can offer.

 

[bonz_d]

Now that is original. I have never seen another like it. Should be a head turner when completed!

 

[jbcurt00]

First off WELCOME to iBOATS!! What does it say on the port side near the stern? Looks like STARBR----

Its a Starcraft logo from the 60s w the spear.

Interesting, never heard of the Safari before.

If theres a serial # tag, it should also kist max capacity and hp rating.

Are you just looking for more info about it so you'll have it, or looking for something specific?

Look thru info here, maybe you'll find some pix, etc
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/owne.../s/starcraft-boats/358596-starcraft-brochures

 

[61mysteryboat]

Only lists that max motor capacity is 100 hp. Came with a 75 hp Johnson. Motor is being rebuilt by a mechanic friend if mine.

 

[61mysteryboat]

I don't need any specific information at this time. I only want to find out what I have. I will post photos of the rebuild. Hope to have in the water by 2017. I live in Michigan and am going to have to put it up for the winter in a few weeks. Wish I was retired with a heated garage! I appreciate any info and look forward to picking everyone's brain as I encounter hurdles. Thanks

 

[jbcurt00]

Hmm looks very similar to this 1962 Starcraft (model unknown) but its lapstrake and yours is smooth sided:

I think its a Fiesta

The Fiesta became the Biscayne in the mid 60s

But still had lapstrakes

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard, Mystery.

The smooth sides are throwing me. The Fiesta seems to be the closest match, but the way the cabin sides flow back to the cockpit gunnels is a lot different on your boat. I can't find anything close other than what JB posted from the brochures in the Starcraft section and Fiberglassics library is acting up, so I can't see if they have anything.

 

[superbenk]

I have nothing to offer here other than saying that's a really cool boat! Hope you can find out what it is!

 

[hosteter]

You are like me.have a boat and dont know what it is :-D

 

[igotit]

This article may help

http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/Starcraft

Hard to read...but in 61 starcrafts only boat rated for 100 hp was a model called the holiday.

http://www.fiberglassics.com/library...craftbb002.jpg
But it also states the holiday was aluminium.
Check and compare the hulls measurments to that link.

 

[jbcurt00]

Holiday by Starcraft was aluminum, not a Holiday.

 

[61mysteryboat]

I need a new windshield made. The original has a large crack in it. Any idea if it is better to go with acrylic or lexan? The company that can make it for me says to go with acrylic because it won't scatch as easy. Is that true? What are the pros and cons to each? Thanks for any input.

 

[64osby]

I think if you use the tidbit of info from Starcraft and look at what jbc and GA have said there is something to it. In 1960 Starcraft was making smooth sided fiberglass boats. In 1961 they introduced Lapstrack hulls. The boat you have may well be a prototype, test, marketing model of the Fiesta.

 

[61mysteryboat]

I agree. The more I get into the restoration the more I believe that it wasn't a production boat. Only about 1/2 of the screws for the windshield actually hit fiberglass. The hull was the same where it connected to the topside. The topside had no lip over-hanging the transom and was only covered by aluminum trim, hence the completely rotted transom. The drain cup at the back of the boat had two holes drilled in it, one through the transom and one which went under the floor, thus allowing water to enter the space and rot out the wooden stringers. Going to be a huge project but look forward to getting it back on the water. I really appreciate all of the research the forum has done for me.

 

[Watermann]

Welcome aboard,

I'm not seeing your boat pics now, sounds like they were showing a while back but now their link is broken.

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard,

I'm not seeing your boat pics now, sounds like they were showing a while back but now their link is broken.

Yeah - No pics anymore. Did the dog eat them? LOL

 

[61mysteryboat]

I'll look into it and try to fix. Thanks