1978 starcraft american 15 project

[kevinwood]

Just picked this fun boat up. I wiill keep the project updated. I know i will be asking questions.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Tell em what ya paid for it bro

 

[kevinwood]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

The original asking price for the boat was $375. After some intense negotiation I was able to get the boat and trailer for $100. I just need to get some seats, and throw a motor on the back!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

See, that's what I'm talkin bout! Cut up that glasser and you have a great trailer for an alum Starcraft! All for the low price of 100 bux! Sweet

Great thinking Kev

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Hey Kevin,

Great score on the boat, man! Looks like its in good shape for its age... I am personally a big fan of mid-70s, close bow runabouts... (working on one myself, right now)....

Post up some more pics, so we can see the inside, etc.. Let's make sure that transom is good and solid before hanging the o/b on the back... Unfortunately, I am not much help on solid o/b choices for your rig, but there are several knowledgeable folks on here (including Jas) that can help you find the best power given your hull size, max h/p rating, etc...

And... don't let those insecure, metal boat guys give you any nonsense.... Along those lines, will you please drive across town and give Jas a big smack on the back of the head for me....

Again, welcome to the madness... This is a great group of people and fun place to hang out and talk shop...

All the best,
Patrick

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Hey Kevin! Welcome to the Starcraft American club! One of the finest hull designs EVER! While your aluminum boat chums are crunching their kidneys and losing their fillings over every little wave and boat wake, you'll be flying by on your offshore influenced deep V. Best riding small boat hull I've ever driven... Fast, too! I get about 40mph with my 1980 Johnson Stinger 75...

Enjoy!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Yeah, I'm guessin 70-80 hp would be about right for that hull and that vintage. There might be a tag on the back of the hull that gives you the rating.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Nice hundred buck trailer, Kevin. Americans aren't tin but have some really nice lines

If you invite Jason over to look at the boat, lock up all your tools of destruction.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

If you invite Jason over to look at the boat, lock up all your tools of destruction.

"Hey Kev, yah I thought I'd come over and help you out with this new glasser you got. Yah sure, just hand me that SawZall and I'll just go ahead and...."

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

"Hey Kev, yah I thought I'd come over and help you out with this new glasser you got. Yah sure, just hand me that SawZall and I'll just go ahead and...."

See what I mean, Kevin. Jas has to keep his reputation intact. Look out!

 

[kevinwood]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

haha thanks guys. I have been busy and i see now that i have to check this site a few times a day to keep up with you guys. Thanks for the support guys. I look forward to this project. Yeah Jason can come over and help on the boat and then he will see how nice a glass boat really is. I plan on doing a lot of work on saturday to the boat. I will post some pics as i rip into and see how things are. Here are some pics I took tonight.

 

[kevinwood]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Yeah, I'm guessin 70-80 hp would be about right for that hull and that vintage. There might be a tag on the back of the hull that gives you the rating.

Yeah it has a tag that says 85. However, i was told the other day that in 78 motors were rated at the crank and a newer motor will be rated hp at the prop. He told me that a new 65hp would be the same as an old 85. Is this true?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

That is true! And you have to consider the Weight factor as well. I'd say if you don't put a Motor of the same vintage as the boat, and opt for a Newer motor then a 65hp or 70hp would be plenty for that boat.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Boat looks real good... much better than most... Splashwell looks clean... Any soft spots on the deck? Give the transom a few good yanks and make sure she is sturdy... And you may want to drill a few core samples in your transom and stringers to test for rot (especially if you have any soft spots on the deck (p.s. some folks on here get sad if you call it a "floor" preferring the traditional deck or sole).

Also, Jas is a cold, calculating serial glass boat killer. He's taken out 2 or 3 that we know of (including one innocent little ski boat named thumper).... Be very afraid....

P.S. you given him that back-hand across the head, yet?

 

[kevinwood]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Hey Kevin! Welcome to the Starcraft American club! One of the finest hull designs EVER! While your aluminum boat chums are crunching their kidneys and losing their fillings over every little wave and boat wake, you'll be flying by on your offshore influenced deep V. Best riding small boat hull I've ever driven... Fast, too! I get about 40mph with my 1980 Johnson Stinger 75...

Enjoy!

Thanks Chinewalker! I love the way the boat looks. I am hoping when I dig into it that it doesn't have to much damage to it. It doesn't seem to have to much wrong on the outside but that really doesn't mean to much i guess. I am having a boat appraiser look at the boat on Saturday more in-depth to see whats up on it. I am very excited to get it together and go have fun.

 

[kevinwood]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Boat looks real good... much better than most... Splashwell looks clean... Any soft spots on the deck? Give the transom a few good yanks and make sure she is sturdy... And you may want to drill a few core samples in your transom and stringers to test for rot (especially if you have any soft spots on the deck (p.s. some folks on here get sad if you call it a "floor" preferring the traditional deck or sole).

Also, Jas is a cold, calculating serial glass boat killer. He's taken out 2 or 3 that we know of (including one innocent little ski boat named thumper).... Be very afraid....

P.S. you given him that back-hand across the head, yet?

Thanks. I gave the transom a good tug and a few thumps and I couldn't find any soft spots. Also, i jumped on the "deck" a few times and it seemed pretty solid. I thought about doing a core sample on the stringers and transom but i need to do more research before starting on the job...
I didn't know he killed a few glass boats already!!!! He will come around once he see's me partying in my boat while he sits in his little tin can floating down the river!

 

[kevinwood]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

few more pics!

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

At least you wont have any leaky REEVITS Good Luck with your new ride!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

It is very very rare, but this does actually appear to be one inexpensive glasser that can actually have a motor, controls, and seats installed and go boating.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1978 starcraft american 15 project

Kevin - she looks great! MUCH better shape than either of my Americans were when I got them. I knew my 15 was going to be trouble when we were cleaning it out - my wife handed me one of the seats from inside the boat and as I set it on the ground I happened to look under the trailer at the bottom of the boat and it MOVED with her weight. Now, how do you tell your wife that she's too heavy to walk around inside the boat??? Anyway, many hours of grinding, cutting, epoxying later, it's a new boat! And, it's still my favorite With the 75 Stinger it's like a sports car. Quick, nimble, handles like its on rails.

A friend of mine has the same hull with a built up Evinrude 140. He runs out of prop at about 60 mph and the motor is redlining. That's also about the point that the chine walking gets pretty hairy, so he hasn't tried to get more prop on the motor to bring the R's down. At that speed the hull could use a pad on the rear of the V to stabilize it. The point is, the hull will handle a modern, heavier 80-85 no problem.