18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

[couperjoe]

Just found a great deal on a 18.5ft Starcraft IO w/120hp Mercruiser. Been setting in a barn for the past 13 years not used. The condition is excellent with solid floors good seats and carpeting. Fired up the engine with water muffs attached and it seems to run fine. Still need to address issues with not shifting gears and inopperative tilt. All in all considering the boats condition I feel it was a great deal at $500. What do you all think?

Had the boat into the shop for replacement of the shift cable. Glad that the rest of the lower unit was in fine shape. While apart also replaced water pump.
Seems like the power tilt works fine when I jump the tilt motor direct to the battery so the problem appears to be either the switch or the wiring to the motor (an easy fix).
Additional wiring issues to be addressed is the blower motor and bilge pump. Both work when jumped directly to battery. Same with lights and horn.
I've since picked up a "Skeguard" and an Icom marine radio with antenna for next springs installation.
Lastly are plans for a bimini top. Can't wait for spring weather to finally come to the North EAst corner of Illinois.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Joe welcome to iboats and since you posted a pic the Starcraft club . I would say you did good on her t $500.00 . What part of the world are you in . You can go up to the user cp in the upper left side of the screen and click on it and go in and edit your profile and add your location if you wish to it will then show up in the upper right of all your posts and you wont get asked repeatedly where you live .


Rick

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Nice find !
You probably need a lower shift cable. I would change ALL lubricants check the bellows and change them and I would put a new water pump in the lower unit.
That rubber impeller just isn't made to last that long.
Running with muffs you will not find that the pump is bad because you are pressurizing the system.

Very nice boat !

 

[wvmedic]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Good find Joe, great looking boat.

Jeff.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Just found a great deal on a 18.5ft Starcraft IO w/120hp Mercruiser. Been setting in a barn for the past 13 years not used. The condition is excellent with solid floors good seats and carpeting. Fired up the engine with water muffs attached and it seems to run fine. Still need to address issues with not shifting gears and inopperative tilt. All in all considering the boats condition I feel it was a great deal at $500. What do you all think?

oh if we could only all find deals like that!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

welcome to the insanity!
Great deal for 500 bux!

 

[couperjoe]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Nice find !
You probably need a lower shift cable. I would change ALL lubricants check the bellows and change them and I would put a new water pump in the lower unit.
That rubber impeller just isn't made to last that long.
Running with muffs you will not find that the pump is bad because you are pressurizing the system.

Very nice boat !

You were right on the money, I had the shift cable replaced and while it was apart also replaced the water pump just to be on the safe side. The main bearing was frozen from sitting so long so it also got replaced.
See original post for additional pics.
Thanks for your thoughts.
JoeC

 

[couperjoe]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

welcome to the insanity!
Great deal for 500 bux!

See original post for additional pics.
JoeC

 

[couperjoe]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Good find Joe, great looking boat.

Jeff.

See original post for additional pics

JoeC

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Joe, no need for the additional thread or the 3 separate replies to this one. Believe me, we Starcraft junkies will be sure to check out your pics!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

"I find your size of pictures disturbing"

 

[PaulyV]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Kev...your too much

 

[North Beach]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

CJ,
Nice looking Holiday. Has the hull been repainted? The interior is the right color for that year but the hull should be blue.

Welcome to iboats!

 

[couperjoe]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

CJ,
Nice looking Holiday. Has the hull been repainted? The interior is the right color for that year but the hull should be blue.

Welcome to iboats!

What you see is the original paint, except for a few scratches, is in remarkable condition for the old girls age.

Joe

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Hey CJ,
This is a 6 month old thread but it looked still open! I would like to see some better pics of your boat. I found one yesterday that appears to be identical to yours exact color scheme and all. It is in a bit worse shape but is 100% complete and they to want $500.00 I have to wait til the husband get back from a buss. trip but i hope to own it in a week or so. All the wife new was it was old, a starcraft and for sale to improve home value! LOL She claimed it ran when parkd but they just didnthave time for it and it sat and rott began!!! Hull, engine (110hpmercruiser), Outdrive and all switches and lites look to be complete but ??? anyway some better pics of yours would be very helpful. BTW, very nice boat and find!!!

P.S. the 187XLC in my sig.has been completely stripped and cut up & taken to the dump,transom & stringers were to bad to redo for me, as The 78 glastron ssv-177 is getting a my-way restore B/C I like it & the fact that it has a I-6 and is an excellent riding boat that"ll do 50mph(tubing memories from childhood)when it's running good!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[prelude219]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

i've got the same boat except with the 110..good find

 

[couperjoe]

Re: 18.5ft 1966 Starcraft Holiday

Thanks for your comments, these Holidays are terrific boats. Still working on mine. Rewired the lights, bilge pump blower, and tilt switch. Replaced the starter selinoid (sp?). Engine was running good yesterday but noticed a seepage on the engine port side. I'm ashamed to say that I failed to remove all the water from the block last winter. My next step to to see if JB Weld is as good as it claimes to be. If it appears to hold I'll run it with muff for at least an hour before puting it in the water. Still want to install my Nexus flat card compass and my Icom IC-M45 marine radio with antenae. I'm also working on a bimini for it. Attached are a few more pics.