1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

[Annoix]

My niece is off to college, so I sold the Tango jet boat I had and recently picked up an old classic... a 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe with an 85hp Evinrude. I'm not all that familiar with these boats, but this one was in extra-clean shape, with new carpeting and seats. The hull is barely scratched, and when I used some finish restorer and polish on the red top it shined up like new. So, I think it's a good boat, and with a little cosmetic work on my part I think it will really look nice. Someone has taken good care of it all these years. I heard the motor run, and that seemed OK, too.

Anyway, the reason I'm posting this is that I haven't been able to find any info on this particular Starcraft. Are there any thoughts about this model? Anything I should watch out for? I'm a little worried about the old motor, so I'll probably have it professionally checked out in the spring. Let me know what you think!

The pic is rough- it's from the craigslist ad when I found it. Right now it's covered and buried under three feet of snow!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

Welcome to iboats Annoix, and the Starcraft club

This is a link to some old brochures that will help you identify the rig. The brochure is there for '74. Good luck with the new boat

 

[Annoix]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

Thanks! I just found that online brochure this morning. Strangely, the V150 is not listed as a 1974, yet that is what is on the registration. I haven't found the plate on the boat yet. I found a reference to a 1973 V150 from a boat cover manufacturer, so I'm wondering if it isn't actually a 1973, or maybe a late '73 that was registered as a '74.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

I had a '73 Jonhson 85. Pretty much the same motor as yours. I think you'll be very please with it. Parts are still readily available for it. I ran mine for 5 years and just sold it still in excellent condition. The boat looks really sharp. Your biggest concern in any older fiberglass boat is rot in the wooden components of the hull. Specifically the transom, stringers, and deck. If any of these things are rotted they will need to be repaired.

 

[Annoix]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

The transom appears sound- there are no stress cracks in the fiberglass that might indicate it being soft underneath. Also, the guy I bought it from used it weekly all last summer, so if there was a problem I'm sure it would have shown up. I hope, anyway...

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

The V150 is essentially the same as the later American 15. Great hulls! I absolutely love mine... With an 85 on it yours ought to flat ought fly! Mine does about 40 with a 75hp Johnson.
- Scott

 

[Annoix]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

The guy I bought it from was really impressed with the way it took off- he kept talking about it so I know he really liked the way it handled. I'm really impressed with how clean it is. I buffed out a little of the red before it started snowing and it's going to look like new when I get the chance to pull it in the garage and really attack it. I can't wait!

 

[Annoix]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

So, about my transom....
After reading about rotten transoms, now I'm a little worried about mine. I looked at it closely before I bought the boat, but there doesn't really seem to be anything suspicious about it. The transom is straight, there are no small cracks or anything, and it sounds solid when I rap on it. How would I know if it were bad, or would it be obvious?

I know the guy used it every week last summer so I think if something were wrong with it I'd know it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

Is any of the wood visible from the inside of the boat? Like in a rear compartment or anything?

You may as well snap some more pictures for us while you're in there checkin' it out

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

You could drill out a core sample to check for moisture/rot...but then if it checks out ok you have a hole that will let water in and cause the very problem you are seeking to solve

Maybe check a core and then seal with some 3M 5200 or epoxy?

The 'glass gurus will have better advice than me(I own two aluminum rigs)

I bet Chinewalker would have some advice regarding this

 

[Annoix]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

It was a beautiful weekend here in Minneapolis, so I decided to pull my new 150 Deluxe into my heated garage and polish it up. I went over the hull with Meguiar's Marine Oxidation Remover #49 and a foam polishing pad, then followed with Meguiar's Flagship Premium Marine Wax. What a combination! I can't say the hull looks like new after 36 years, but it's close... I was amazed at how the color came back, especially the red. This boat must have been given lots of TLC over the years to be in this good of condition. I only hope my luck holds when I launch it in a couple months!

Here it is after bringing it back out again... you can still see about two feet of snow under it. At least it's melting. The lake will be high this spring when I finally get it in the water.

Btw... anyone know where I can get new plastic Starcraft emblems for the hull? Mine are cracked...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

Looks really great. I replaced my plastic emblems with decals which are readily available on ebay.

 

[Annoix]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

If I replace the plastic emblems with decals, what would be suggested for filling the rivet holes? Just caulk or adhesive?

Here's another view. The top is a little worn, so I'll have to get a new one. I like bimini tops, so I'll replace at least the front part as shown.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

If I replace the plastic emblems with decals, what would be suggested for filling the rivet holes? Just caulk or adhesive?

Ideally MarineTex. But that stuff is expensive and unless you have a marine store nearby you'll likely have to order it. My second choice would be 3M 5200 which Home Depot carries with the other glues and things. (Lowes doesn't).

 

[dheaton883]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

I just got done doing a total restore of my 1970 150 deluxe. bought it winter of 2010 in valley city, north dakota. finally got it in the water this month and handles great in 3 ft waves. I have a chrysler 70hp on it and it flies. Its hard to find anything on them anymore. I ended up replacing the transom, the motor was sitting crooked on the boat. I didnt know the amount of damage till i poped the top and replaced the all the wood. I wouldnt recommend taking the top off, its not fun getting it back on. I mainly use mine for fishing than anything else. Its a small boat when you get 3 people in it. The one thing I would suggest is to install a bilge pump in it if it doesnt have one. Have fun be safe.

 

[John HdG]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

Lat to the show, but just thought I'd share my story with a V150

We had a 1970 v150 for over 30 years. That was a great little boat. my grandfather bought it new in 1970 from the starcraft dealer in town and we believe it was the onlyt one they ever sold. I couldn't guess how many tens of thousands of hours are on that boat. running, skiing, jumping boat wakes. Ours had a tall windshield my grandfather specially ordered for it that was a beast on hot days as it totally blocked airflow to the front seats but it was great on chilly days. It also had a rare back to back solid bench seat that sat 6 that I"ve never seen another with.

We regularly loaded it up with 6 kids plus adults and were still able to pull adults up on an old wood cypress gardens slalom ski back in the 70's. It was bright red and held it's gloss well until the day we finally sold it to a friend of mine that eventually took it to Florida. We literally wore out the original 60 Evinrude after rebuilding it twice. We hung a 90hp inline 6 Merc on it in 1985 and it transformed from a 30 ish mph little fun boat to a rocketship. It was always a great boat in a rough chop, but it is a 15 ft boat and I can't count the times we took a wave over the bow on the bay in her. That ol girl was a legend on the upper Chesapeake Bay and we never once saw another like it around us. To this day, I don't know that we go out on the water and not mention that boat at least once. I'd gladly take that boat back!

 

[Blacksting]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

It also had a rare back to back solid bench seat that sat 6 that I"ve never seen another with.

johnhdg , . thats a great story and i'm sure you miss that boat .i have what i believe is a '73 V140 , and mine too has the bench seat , yellow and black, and i've only seen a pic of one other (green) . it was mounted on 2x6s on edge and the bottom cushion had a piano hinge probably to access a gas tank . it has a gas filler on starboard side gunwale but no tank . heres a pic , it was torn badly and the plywood was mush , but i did my best to bring it back to life . so if they made that seat in '70 , i have to check if they made a 140 that year .

 

[John HdG]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

It also had a rare back to back solid bench seat that sat 6 that I"ve never seen another with.

johnhdg , . thats a great story and i'm sure you miss that boat .i have what i believe is a '73 V140 , and mine too has the bench seat , yellow and black, and i've only seen a pic of one other (green) . it was mounted on 2x6s on edge and the bottom cushion had a piano hinge probably to access a gas tank . it has a gas filler on starboard side gunwale but no tank . heres a pic , it was torn badly and the plywood was mush , but i did my best to bring it back to life . so if they made that seat in '70 , i have to check if they made a 140 that year . View attachment 148477View attachment 148478

Yeah ours had the six person bench. Stock the support frame was just a box made from 4" plywood strips. We reupholstered it and finally I rebuilt the frame with pt plywood in the mid 80's. When I rebuilt it I screwed the back down to a 2x4 frame and built the seat bottoms so they slid out to open up a large area under the seats for storage. I was a pro at pulling the snap plug from the bilge well when by my self. We finally installed a bilge pump when we gave it a make over and re power in 85. I actually shower my mom a picture of one for sale in Florida and she actually welled up in tears. That little boat was a huge part of three generations of our family for a long long time.

 

[Blacksting]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

Johnhgd , 90 horses on that ? any old pics ? i happened to be working on the 40hp johnny it came with and thought it was the original motor . but it has 2 water tubes for the pump and my supplier told me its older . i searched and found the i.d. plate on the swivel bracket , scraped the gunk off and sure enough , its a rd28b '66 . geeze , i was only off by 7 years . so now i'm thinking the hull is a '70 - '72 . i was led to beleive they discontinued the 140 in '73 along with a few other models . mine does'nt have a windshield and as petty as it seems , no rear cleats . are there any details you remember about the '70 that can help narrow this down ? i'm curious about the aluminum nose peice , was yours curved or triangle-shaped ? and what about the decals , vynal or aluminum ? they made a switch around that time as well . anyway , thanks for adding another peice to the puzzle as the search goes on . ,...btw , i had a friend sell a '76 kawasaki 650 kz , went to motor vehicle w/ the v.i.n. , tracked it down in Penn. and bought it back for $500 . just thought i'd keep the dream alive for you .

 

[John HdG]

Re: 1974 Starcraft V150 Deluxe

Johnhgd , 90 horses on that ? any old pics ? i happened to be working on the 40hp johnny it came with and thought it was the original motor . but it has 2 water tubes for the pump and my supplier told me its older . i searched and found the i.d. plate on the swivel bracket , scraped the gunk off and sure enough , its a rd28b '66 . geeze , i was only off by 7 years . so now i'm thinking the hull is a '70 - '72 . i was led to beleive they discontinued the 140 in '73 along with a few other models . mine does'nt have a windshield and as petty as it seems , no rear cleats . are there any details you remember about the '70 that can help narrow this down ? i'm curious about the aluminum nose peice , was yours curved or triangle-shaped ? and what about the decals , vynal or aluminum ? they made a switch around that time as well . anyway , thanks for adding another peice to the puzzle as the search goes on . ,...btw , i had a friend sell a '76 kawasaki 650 kz , went to motor vehicle w/ the v.i.n. , tracked it down in Penn. and bought it back for $500 . just thought i'd keep the dream alive for you .

Yeah, we put a 90 merc on it in 1985. They were rated for an 85. The 90 merc weighed less than a 1970 v4 evinrude. It was a blast with the 90 and a 21p prop but we ususally ran a 17 because we were always skiing with it. Originally we had a 60 hp Evinrude with the push button shift. It was ample power but really would have been better with power trim and tilt. With all the constantly shoftimg sandbars in our area, we just left the motor unlocked. Can't begin to say how many times our depth alarm was the motor leg popping up in shallow water. It never hurt the old girl though.

The aluminum bow Trim was definitely a curved cast piece. I looked it straight in the eye every time I layed on the bow to attach the bow lines to the bow eye.
There were two deck cleats on the deck just forward of the windshield. There were only two eyes on the transom. No rear cleats on the stern. It was a very bare bones boat. The interior came painted in a cream white paint with black spatter. When we updated it in 85 we added red AstroTurf type carpet, and stripped the black vinyl stripe. We reprinted the stripe with black boot stripe paint but made the stripe straight instead of the original curve. The Starcraft logo was plastic, not aluminum because I remember having to glue it one time when I let my little brother run it one time and h managed to catch it on a floating dock.

I doubt we have any documents left around to track the numbers but I would know that boat in an instant unless somene did an extensive restoration. I know every nick, crack and blemish on that boat. My friend took it to Florida and sold it in the St Pete area. I know the floor was starting to get soft after he had it for a couple years.
There are brochures posted in a thread here that show some pictures. Ours was a dead ringer for the 1970 boat . Same red, same bench seat and same tall windshield. I always wanted to cut it down about 3 inches but I was always overruled. My friend did just that the second day he had it.!

Great memories.