Starcraft islander 191

[Knighty_87]

Hello, I have been doing some reading on this forum and figured I should make a post of my own. I resently bought a 1994 starcraft islander 191. I took it out for a test drive yesterday and the steering was very stiff, so I went ahead and ordered a new steering cable. Now while I was out on my test drive I really noticed the boat would lean to one side while accelerating to get up on plane. I had 3 people including myself on-board at the time, I tried moving people even to the center of the boat but still noticed the same thing but it wasn’t always the same side. The boat has a 3.0 mercruiser in it with a hydrofoil on it. I was doing some reading and people say they will notice the boat lean to a side while accelerating. Myself never having a hydrofoil on any boats I have owned I don’t know if this is the issue or if maybe my boat is water logged and making it lean. Are these islanders fully foamed under the floor?

 

[matt167]

Not 100% sure on the foam on a later model Islander. The majority of the Starcraft aluminum boats used styrofoam sheets ( same as a coffee cup ) which won't water log like that..

However, having been on several Starcraft tin boats through the years including a 21' Chieftain. They will list a little under power

 

[GA_Boater]

Being a 94 model, it has pour-in foam. The styrofoam went out in the early 70's.

Does the steering pull to one side as it leans? The trim tab anode above the prop may need a tweak.

Welcome aboard, Knighty.

 

[Knighty_87]

I feel like I was giving it my all to keep the boat straight As it wanted to turn left. But my steering was very stiff also so I thought maybe that was it. My new steering cable should arrive tomorrow and I plan to install that before my next test run. So if I was going to adjust my steering anode I should move it to the right to compensate it wanting to steer left?

 

[GA_Boater]

Most are adjusted a little to the right to counteract torque steer. It might take a couple of tweaks, but in most cases it's not much to the right.

 

[Knighty_87]

So here’s an update...

I was taking out the old steering cable and noticed a little bit of water sitting under the floor but not in the bilge area. So I removed did a little more digging. I removed the captains chair put a small hole under the vinyl and did a core sample. Didn’t seem to bad but still noticed water in that core sample. I did some more digging and noticed that the floor is water logged I’m sure of it. So I will be starting to rip out the floor and doing some fixing. I would really like it if I only had to do from the transom to the helm as the boat seemed very heavy at the rear of the boat but not so much up front. What are your thoughts on this. This project I will be doing in my laneway over the fall and winter months. Can anyone send me some tip or tricks on this whole idea? Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[GA_Boater]

Click on the Starcraft Forum link in the sig below and you will taken to the iBoats Wonderful World of Starcraft. Tons and tons of projects and advice in there. Also on top of the section is a stickie of many projects, both completed and underway. There are sections by model, so there is an Islander section you can look through.

You will get a lot of advice if you start a resto thread in the Starcraft section. Warning - They like lots and lots of pictures.