Going to look at this in two hours (ss 18'?)

[mvd2bze]

I assume it is an ss181. This will be my first boat purchase, but i rode in a very similarly sized and outfitted starcraft when i was a wee boy in the eighties. I loved the plane characteristics and ample power. That one was only a few years old and not a bowrider, IIRC.

My cousin is a former marine technician and has overwhelmed me with all the things to look for in a used boat, so i am leaning toward the tried and true starcraft aluminum hull.

I am told the only thing it needs to get going is a trim pump - - hopefully my inspection bears this out. I don't know enough to even guess if i should be able to start it. Hopefully it has all covers and parts, like swim ladder, etc.

I will post pictures of my first visit , since i will likely not commit without my cousin to confirm quality.

 

[dozerII]

:welcome: Vze33jng, great choice of Starcrafts. There are many things to look at when buying any boat as your friend has told you. Take some tolls with you, socket set, compression gauge, your own set of muffs to run it on, etc. Trim pump possibly, more likely wiring issues, (just a guess) there are so many things in the wiring for trim that can cause it not to go up and down. If the boat has a ski locker in the deck lift it out and check the bottom of it for water damage if it is wet and rotten then there is a good chance the pour in flotation foam in the hull is soggy. Crawl under the dashes and check the vinyl covered vertical fronts of the consuls for soft rotten wood close to the bottom, while your under there check the bottom aluminum sides of the consuls where they are screwed to the deck, are the screws all there is the deck rotten where the screws are supposed to go in, these are all the first spots to rot on one of these tin bots that are left out in the rain and snow. Check the engine oil closely for water, milky color. It looks like the skeg is broke off the outdrive pretty close to the prop shaft housing, that would take a pretty good wack, spin the prop and watch for any wobble in the shaft. If it all checks out this would be a good buy, anything that doesn't is bargaining power. Good Luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[mvd2bze]

Dozer, thanks for the welcome! Today was just to decide if the basics that I know of were sound, and if I would bring my pro in to evaluate it. I decided I want to go further, and am not scared yet. The owner seemed to be a very up-front and honest type and was telling me about everything he could think of that might be a problem. Findings so far:

1) As shown in the cl ad, the skeg took a pretty good whack and lost most of its mass in the tussle. When that happened, the bulleted gear case (yeah, I'm that knowledgable) in the lower unit must have cracked a bit, because I saw JB-Weld there. I asked the owner about the damage, and he said he didn't know what it was from - it had been there from two owners ago. He did say it obviously hadn't stopped anything from working in the past 15 years, since that was how long it had been like that.

2) The trim motor was removed from the hydraulic assembly, and the owner said the last year it was in the water, he used a power drill to raise/lower the drive. It still holds pressure.

3) The floor has been redone, in some fashion. There is no longer a ski storage compartment (if there ever was), so I couldn't see directly to the hull except for the engine bay (Engineering?).

4)When the floor was redone, someone (he didn't know who did the work, it was before his time) put a fuel tank in the bow, instead of midship. He thinks it helps the boat plane even faster. When this was done, a water separator was integrated.

5) Engine oil was absolutely pristine, and he said it only had a few hours on it, since the trim stopped working. No milkshake, thank goodness.

6) New starter, and otherwise, the motor seemed very clean and solid for the year.

7) I did see a little dimple at the keel in the main hull, and not in the keel itself, right near the aft center trailer roller. Don't imagine it's a leak point, but odd to me.

Again, I didn't bother digging for block cracks, since I don't actually know where to look, and I had time constraints. He said it was properly winterized, and thought I will make sure before I buy, I trust him.

I didn't have time to muff the motor and start it, or hook up the electrics to test things, but I will tomorrow. Already, the owner has volunteered that his price is far from firm, he just wants to filter the riff-raff.

It is currently fitted with a 14.5x21 triple. He said it never seemed to bog or lug, and popped right out of the water.

Tomorrow, I'll get more pictures of the interior, and probably some video of it running. Sorry I don't have more or better photos. I'll fix it soon.

 

[dozerII]

So far it looks pretty good. The prop is the same one I'm running and is good for cruising if you want to pull a tube or skier you should drop to a 29p. If you can fit your fingers up between the exhaust manifold and block to feel for rust or cracks that is where the 4 cyl blocks Crack. The check the areas I mentioned in my first post for soft spots.

 

[mvd2bze]

...if you want to pull a tube or skier you should drop to a 29p.

Did you mean 19?

 

[jbcurt00]

Sorry 'bout the duplicate post. Don't see an obvious way to remove #3...

Ask a mod to remove it, I also deleted the post I'm quoting

 

[Watermann]

Did you mean 19?

Ya I bet he did, a 29p prop on a 4cyl wouldn't get it out of the hole.

So far the thing that makes me wonder is the "pristine oil" I've heard that before from guys who've bought into cracked blocks. Seems some people change out the milk before trying to sell in order to get top dollar out of a boat with a motor thats ready for the scrap pile.

 

[dozerII]

Yes I did mean 19 and they call these smart phones lol

 

[mvd2bze]

...So far the thing that makes me wonder is the "pristine oil" I've heard that before from guys who've bought into cracked blocks. Seems some people change out the milk before trying to sell in order to get top dollar out of a boat with a motor thats ready for the scrap pile.

I'm sure that happens, and I won't discount it as a possibility, but he said before I went to see the boat that it was still winterized from last year, which (correct me if I'm wrong) would include a fresh oil change.

Yes I did mean 19 and they call these smart phones lol

At first I thought, "Crud! I have to re-learn what I thought I knew about pitch!" Then it occurred to me that my first post was full of lowercase "i" and my stupid "smart" phone struck again.

In another two hours (really odd how that two hours keeps coming into play regarding this boat and my visiting it and reporting as such on the forum) I'll be looking at the boat/engine much more critically with my cousin. I will be printing this thread so I have the extra things to look out for (specific to Starcraft) that dozerII mentioned. My cousin is very protective and wary of low-priced boats on my behalf, so he will be combing the entire powertrain. I'll report my findings here shortly after 1pm EST. I am also trying to get a visit to a 1984 Cobalt for sale in my area. I've always felt they were very well-built fiberglass boats.

Thanks for all of your comments and support.

 

[mvd2bze]

No Title

Well, I didn't buy it.

I looked closer at everything and the drive was just too neglected for my budget. Rather than marry myself to a great hull, I chose to offer what it was worth to me as a project and he refused. We parted amicably

For the record:

• The JB-Weld was in fact not a good sign.
  • It had obviously allowed water to infiltrate the lowers
  • Bearings were all growling
  • Prop shaft was still straight
• The helm was completely rotten and neglected
• Trim pump assembly itself was no good, so not just the motor was in need of replacement
• Engine ran pretty well
  • Water pump moved plenty of water
  • Needed carb work, gummed up

I purchased a still solid/true/dry (transom anyway) '87 Galaxy 18' with a Merc 130 & Alpha in EXcellent shape for $1k. Silky smooth engine and drive. For now, I will be happier with my limited options and funds spent on a very clean motor/drive system on than on one of my favorite hulls.

Thank you, dozerII for your helpful comments. Just what I needed when I needed it!
Thanks also all mods everywhere, for keeping forums functional and searchable.

I may be back in a summer or two!

 

[dozerII]

Thanks Ve. Glad you found a decent boat too bad it's not a Starcraft, next one maybe.