1978 Starcraft Tristar BR17

Jcorliss

Cadet
Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
10
I've acquired a 1978 17' Tristar powered by a 1978 Johnson 115HP O/B, power T/T. Nice condition boat, with very little that needs to be done.
1) New Canva
2) Small softspot by walkthrough I will try to address
3) Clear gelcoat is gone on most of the topside, and the blue metal flake is exposed and rough feeling to the touch

Regardless, she's ready for the water while the little items are hammered out. I do have a question though, Transom is sound, and I'd like to Tow the munchkins. My current prop is an aluminum 13.5x17. Any thoughts on how this prop will handle a towable? What kinds of speeds WOT can I expect with 650# of passangers and 18 gallons of fuel? Any idea what I can expect fuel effiency to be on a '78 115HP?

Other than a kicker motor on my former Catalina sailboat, this is my first powered unit.

Thanks for any responses.
 

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
13,822
Welcome aboard, there are too many variables for anyone to say how that prop will perform. About the only thing you can do is go out and run it, see what your RPMs are at WOT and go from there with your pitch.

A 1970's vintage glass boat with a soft spot in the floor, I hope your right that she's water ready. I guess you'll find out when you address that issue but be warned boats seem to rot from the bottom up, not the top down.
 

Jcorliss

Cadet
Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
10
I'm holding out hope, I know that it was barned stored for a good long while, unused, and that previous owner barn stored while it was operational as well. Transom seems sound to me, and I've walked every inch of the floor to see about soft spots.. Its just that one 6" area by the walk through that gives... I figure I'll do a spot treatment about 12" from center of weak point and keep a close eye on the floor and transom. I should see about borrowing an inspection camera and seeing if I can inspect the below deck area that way... Kinda scared to do that though, because if I see a problem, I'm going to want to fix it, and I just don't have "complete floor, stringer and transom" funds.
 

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