1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

[Gryph]

http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...-40-hp-Johnson-and-trailer-W0QQAdIdZ394420937

Hey guys I'm going to check out this boat tomorrow. I'm new to boating (been around, but never involved in the maintenance). I got a free 60s fiberglass with Chrysler 40hp, needless to say it was free for a reason, steering was seized, disassembled it all, got it freed, broke the shift linkage in the process now she's stuck in gear of course.... Transom is rotted, etc.

SO I've been listening to all the iboats advice and going to an aluminum with a newer motor perhaps. Any thoughts on what I should look out for for this one? Is it true that these aluminums go forever compared to their fiberglass cohorts?

Thanks

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

Hi gryph. Nice little rig. I love the color most of all! I'm an aluminum guy myself. They're a lot easier to maintain and repair with readily available tools than fiberglass boats and aluminum never really "wears out".

 

[barato2]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

Gryph--

true, sorta. the aluminum never wears out absent some very unusual stresses (beating the carp out of it on dirt road with no trailer tiedown, hitting large logs, etc.) what does go all poopy is the wood parts....transom and floors.....esp on boats that have been stored uncovered outdoors. looks like there are no floors so i'd say you're OK there. but you need to take a very hard look at transom for soft spots, flaking plywood, or any sign that it's iffy. crawl up under splashwell and look at very bottom as this is where you usually see it first.

for motor, you want to see it run in a barrel (since it's at the lake, might even try for a water test), and pick up a $25-30 "compression gauge" set from Harbor Fright. you just pull plugs, screw gauge into hole and crank engine over, and this gives you a decent picture of the internal state of motor (read up or watch youtubes on this procedure, i've greatly oversimplified it, point is that it doen't involve any engine disassembly and will give you a decent idea of what you're getting into.

i like the boat and especially the motor. VRO is great when it works. price would be a bit high cept for the newer motor. this will be pretty cheap boat to run too, as 40hp is only 2 cylinders (ie, repairs/maint are cheap n easy) and rig weighs so little that it should be pretty frugal on gas. against this is size issues....will this be big enough for you and yer mates? is hull deep enough for where you will be boating and to keep any kids inside the boat? but overall looks like a pretty decent intro boat.

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

Hey thanks for the replies guys. To add a little more info here are replies from the seller:

"Yes I still have the boat. There are no issues with the transom or any other part of the boat for that matter. It has always been stored in a boat house or covered when out of the boat house during the summer months. The reason I am selling it is because I have bought a bigger fishing boat. The boat is very quick and pulls tubes and skiers without any issue at all. I checked the compression in the engine last year and both cylinders are even (most importantly) and over 120. It has been looked after very well. We have had the motor on the boat since new in 1989. The boat has been at our cottage it?s entire life.

The entire bottom end was rebuilt in 2005. All bearings gears impeller etc. I change the lower unit oil every year when it gets winterized. The boat has not had much use since the rebuild as we have a second boat. It gets used for a bit of fishing and that is about it. I think I still have receipt from rebuild that I can give you."


He's taking me on a water test tomorrow (had to reschedule from today). As for the size I eventually want a bow rider with seating for 6-8 but that's not in my budget for now and this will be a fun boat to get me going (I think). Everything the seller is saying sounds good to me so far so I'm hopeful.

Here is a cool ad for the original boat, which I think is a 1964 Starcraft Dart, found it here on boats

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

Cool old ad. There's another '64-'65 Starcraft Dart thread going right now too.

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

New reply:

"The lights are all new as of two summers ago so you shouldn’t have a problem. I also put in a new axle, bearings and tires the same summer. The trailer used to get used once a year for my annual fishing trip up near Sudbury. Otherwise the boat lived on Belwood Lake all its life. It has been well looked after. You won’t be disappointed. I looked for the bill from when it was rebuilt but unfortunately can’t find it. The bottom end was completely rebuilt by Blue Sky Marine in New Hamburg. I lost a seal on the bottom end when I was up north fishing and lost the bottom end fluid. As you can imagine gears and bearings without oil don’t do well. Had to replace everything in the bottom end so it is practically brand new. Top end compression was over 120 both cyl when I last checked it last summer so it is good to go. The seats are also brand new. They have one summer on them. I found the bill when I was looking for the other one. I paid over $200 for the pair. The lights also work on the boat."

Should I be worried about this bottom end rebuild? Is that common to "lose a seal"?

 

[barato2]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

no, not uncommon at all. often due to fishing line getting wrapped around prop shaft, esp Spectra braid.....cuts rear main seal.

i like the boat even more after hearing seller's relevant and no-BS-sounding responses. up to you if you want to run your own comp test; i would even tho i trust this guy from what i see so far. on a 2 cyl engine, you'll know pretty fast on lake test if one is seriously weak. still check the transom as he may not know what to look for or may be subconsciously avoiding looking too hard.

1600 is still a bit high but it sounds like you'll be buying some peace of mind with newer motor. see if he'll take 12-14. your call if you want to go full 16. you could get more boat for that $ but it would be older motor and possible resto issues.

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

no, not uncommon at all. often due to fishing line getting wrapped around prop shaft, esp Spectra braid.....cuts rear main seal.

i like the boat even more after hearing seller's relevant and no-BS-sounding responses. up to you if you want to run your own comp test; i would even tho i trust this guy from what i see so far. on a 2 cyl engine, you'll know pretty fast on lake test if one is seriously weak. still check the transom as he may not know what to look for or may be subconsciously avoiding looking too hard.

1600 is still a bit high but it sounds like you'll be buying some peace of mind with newer motor. see if he'll take 12-14. your call if you want to go full 16. you could get more boat for that $ but it would be older motor and possible resto issues.

Yah I must admit that a huge part of this deal is having intelligent responses back lol, spoke with the seller on the phone and he really sounds legit. I plan on going in at 1200 in person, I really am trying to buy peace of mind... I thought I was up for some resto work, but after tangling with this free boat for a while I'm seeing it's not worth it. Thinking this will be an economical way to get into boating, and a great boat to keep around for a second once my family gets the dream big bow rider.

Basically realize that I could maybe get an older bow rider with a bigger older motor for not much more money, but really don't think it would be nearly as "turn key" as this one... Really like the idea of the tin, and having the transom be the only wood on the thing basically.

Thanks for the reply,

PS I bought a compression tester, but am starting to trust this guy (probably not smart), what would I notice on the water test? Would it just be lacking power?

Thanks again

 

[barato2]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

short on power, and vibration. really better to run the test as this will tell you how even they are (seller is right on abt that as well).....water test would reveal big differences but not like 20%, and comp test on a twin can be run in abt 5 min once it;'s warmed up. if he seems offended, quote Ronnie Raygun at him: "trust but verify"

your overall plan sounds good. just be aware that any boat you buy, even a new one, will need work at some point, so use these forums and learn how to do the basic stuff yourself. you save $ and learn how to deal with the stuff that might leave you dead on the water. that motr is great one to learn on too....OMC made the same basic twin in all sizes from about 5 to about 50hp and they are all roughly similar in terms of maint. start by watching a few youtube vids on changing water pump impeller and changing lower unit oil since these are basic periodic maint.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

Welcome, although I am late to the party..
Any motor with bad compression, especially an OB will have a very tough time getting up to speed.
It may idle fine, but once you put it in gear, it may sputter an die.
Ifit doesnt die right off, it definitley will be much slower than normal..
Since yu have the comp tester..Use it and look for 120 on both (all) cylinders, and I think a +/- between the readings of 10%

Others smarter than I will surely chime in..

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

Well I bought the boat! It's not without issues though obviously.

Plus side
- great guy, trust that he wasn't trying to rip me off, water test the boat fired up right away and ran fine at speed
-compression tested it, 120 even on both cylinders as he said

Cons
- as with all these motors (from reading on iboats) the tilt/trim mechanism seized, so he has it removed, it locks when you lift it up but not when down

- the skeg has a slight bend in it from a rock, boat pulls to the right a bit
- possibly a very minor leak, was on water for about 20 mins and there was some water in the very centre of the boat, not much

BIGGEST PROBLEM, of course after the deal is done, paid my $1500, all good, I'm back out loading it up to the trailer and we notice what I think was lower unit oil leaking from behind the prop onto the skeg, too late at that point, got it home and it's definitely leaking, blackish oil

Seller said it's no big deal to change that seal (he hadn't run the boat in a couple years, just once in May this year he said).
Is this a big job? He said you just pull the prop and put it on behind there? And what are my chances of finding a part like that sitting around at a marina say tomorrow morning (was planning on using the boat this weekend?

Thanks guys

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

Congrats and welcome!
The ad is gone and I didnt catch what motor you have, but I bet you can find that gasket/seal fairly local..

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

Oh sorry it was a 1989 Johnson 40hp VRO

After searching in the Johnny/Evinrude forum I'm now thinking it's just unburnt 2 stroke oil, apparently every newb like me goes on and posts about this. In any case I'll likely change the lower unit oil and see how much is in there.

Is this a suitable product?
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...Castrol+SAE90+Outboard+Gear+Oil.jsp?locale=en

 

[barato2]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

that'll work fine. you do know the drill about filling it from the BOTTOM (drain) hole, right?

even if it is a seal leak, you can run it as is. just change the oil again when you get home. once you've done it a few times, it's a 5 minute job requiring 1 screwdriver

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

that'll work fine. you do know the drill about filling it from the BOTTOM (drain) hole, right?

even if it is a seal leak, you can run it as is. just change the oil again when you get home. once you've done it a few times, it's a 5 minute job requiring 1 screwdriver

Actually just changed it, have a thread over in the johnson/evinrude forum. Old stuff looked great, but the local marina sold me new Allen head bolts, and they came with sea through plastic washers, vs the ones that were on there that were black and seemed to mould in with the bolts. Hope it's fine with these. Dead easy job though, I'll likely change it a lot just to be safe because it is so simple.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

good plan. if you change it frequently, minor leakage is not a super big deal (unless one had a lectroshift OMC!)

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

That's a cool looking boat. Post a video of it running on the water.

I'll bet the skeg would be easy to straighten out. Use heat and it will bend easier. Just don't break it!

 

[Gryph]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

Well guys I did a lot of water testing this weekend. The ol' girl performed admirably for the most part. She reaches plane almost instantly regardless of load it seems. Runs at 45 km/h with just me in the boat (28mph) and saw as low as 42 km/h with 3 people and a bunch of luggage.

Used one 22.5 L tank of gas saturday pulling skiers all day and cruising a bit... Did I mention she pulled up 200 lbs guys no problem? Who says you need a big motor to ski behind. Admittedly the good 200 pound guy who was slaloming was pulling the boat around a bit lol.

Now I had cold starting issues but I think it's because I wasn't following the procedure properly, in fact I was doing the opposite I think (pumping the key in and out a few times first, then turning key not depressed, I guess you depress key then turn for cold start?)... So I think my issues will be resolved now that I know what I'm doing.

VRO seems to be working as the oil level was dropping.

All in all I couldn't be happier with the ol' girl, well the one complaint is that she's clearly not suited to the big open areas of the lake (which was to be expected). Unfortunately no video yet, will see if anyone got any good pics.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

No video, no pictures. Oh man. I sense the Starmada gathering now.

Pitchforks <
Pokey Sticks<
Tata Salad<
Bratwurst<
Watermelon<
Dogs<
OK time for Roll Call, who's up for a road trip.

Dude you went tubing and couldn't even snap a pic for your buds? I'm hurt. Do you even have a Photobucket account, Eh?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1965 Starcraft 14' aluminum runabout, possible purchase

+1 for a flash mob rally down Gryph's way Pix or it didn't happen. Umm, sorry but what's 22.5L of gas in American?:facepalm:

OK, google tells me it's 6gals that's pretty good mileage for all day pulling skiers & tubes although 22L sounds like much more