2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

[fishmaster2]

love the look of this boat wondering if anyone owns one yet
how do they handle ?? what power would you suggest 150 or 200 ???
are you happy with it.

I am looking at blowing some money am looking for opinions

 

[dave11]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

That boat has been around a long time. It is one I thought about buying. Good MFG, good price, good appearance, good economy for that size boat, you won't have to worry about scratching the gelcoat.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

Wow I'd love to be buying a brand new Islander, congrats

You really cannot go wrong, the model years are very similar, excellent boats. Are you looking at getting one setup for an outboard on the bracket?

Great boats, I plan on owning an Islander for the great lakes in the next few years.

Good luck!

 

[Expidia]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

This is the exact boat I want. It normally comes with the 150 Optimax. I plan to sell it and get a 200 Verado. The first year they made the bracket was 2006. I want an 06 or an 07. My motto is let someone else take the hit on a new boat. Dealers sell these new for 40-44k with the 150 Optimax yet.

I don't like I/O's because not only does it take up deck space, it's another car motor to deal with along with gimbal bearings, bellows, maintenance etc. To me an outboard is a work of art, a machine of pure beauty.

The boat and O/B actually only lists for around 25k but the past 3 years when the boat markets got crushed they feel they can go up 20k . . . go figure.

If you are looking for used check out them out around the great lakes as they rein there. They are a great boat for big fresh waters.

Since they are aluminum they are not a good choice for salt that's why they are so popular around the great lakes. I won't pay more than 25k so each year that passes puts me closer to my mark.

The 19 is the same boat but smaller. The 21 is perfect. If you add the bracket in it's closer to 24.

A new Verado is probably in the 15k range. If I sell a good 150 Opti it will take a dent out of that. I want to buy the boat used, but prefer a brand new outboard.

I like the weight of aluminum for it's trailerability. I plan to take it Newport RI on occasion to cruise around Narragansett sound. Just have to wash it down well after taking it out. Will also use it on the 132 mile Lake Champlain, 32 Mile Lake George and down the Hudson River to NYC out onto the Long Island Sound.

How can one complain about such a tried and true Hull design. The Islander has been around for many many years and are in high demand for rebuilds.

The only negative I've read is because of the lightness of aluminum over fiberglass it can get a little slapped around on the 3 footers. And because of the height of the high cabin for those who troll around it can get a little pushed around on windy days.

But hey, no boats perfect and everything has trade offs.

Now . . . I'm very jealous of you if you can afford to spring for a 2010

You can get by with the 150. Dealers sell underpowered packages to move sales.
But I really think you will actually save money on gas with a 200 because you will always be straining to get up on plane with a 150 especially for those times you have guests on board. The 200 will get you up quicker and you can back off on the throttle to find that ideal cruising speed over gas consumption.

The 200 will give you better resale. Always go the max HP for the rig if you can afford it.

And best of all . . . if you don't like the boat, I'll buy it from you at the end of the season!
Just don't scratch it up. I hate scratches

Bond-0 owns an Islander. He might chime in with a few comments.

 

[fishmaster2]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

I actually want it for going in the lake with kids and grand kids , but I also want to be able to go out in the salt water chasing the elusive pacific salmon.Do you not think its any good in the salt??

I will not be leaving it in there, back on the trailer after use.

My current 20' glas boat I,ve been out in 25mph winds which is pretty much max for that boat.

Don,t think I will be out in alum or glas in much more than that

For power I was thinking a 175 or 200 e-tech ( more power baby )

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

Just wash it after use in the salt (like you would any other boat) and you'll be fine. Welcome to iboats. There's a HUGE hot bed of Starcraft enthusiasts here.

 

[fishmaster2]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

good stuff thanks for the responce
Expedia -- yes its alot of money but its half of what a welded alum boat is.

do you Starcraft guys have trim tabs installed ---or are they not required --I hate cruising around with the bow up too high

 

[Expidia]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

good stuff thanks for the response
Expedia -- yes its alot of money but its half of what a welded alum boat is.

do you Starcraft guys have trim tabs installed ---or are they not required --I hate cruising around with the bow up too high

You first need to run with it to see if you need trim tabs. I doubt it. Tabs are for underpowered rigs in my opinion to help their hole shot.

Bring muffs with you to flush the O/B out after salt water use. You have to wash down a fiber glass boat after salt water anyway.

On the Etec, many here love them. But when I read threads on other sites like the saltwater ones that put the etechs through a lot more hours I see more problems reported. Then you have the pundits that say "oh ya, then why does the Coast Guard use them. My answer to that is they are probably free or sold to them at a discount as great product placement. But many who love them probably don't own them either.

But my worst fear is having some tech that can't even do decent work on a 4 stroke and now he's put on an Etech. I personally don't think they are worth the extra money and you are still dealing with a 2 stroke technology. The Etech's claim low maintenance. I just change the cranck case oil, lower unit oil and the $3 spark plugs at the end of the season on my 4 stroke EFI and plan to do the same with the 200 Verado. Maybe a few years from now I might have a valve adjustment done . . . no biggy.

I've always read the Etechs are noisy and vibrate a lot ove ra 4 storke 4 cyl EFI model. I've never heard one myself, so I can't verify that.

But outboards are a personal choice and bottom line they are a propeller that pushes you through the water. I think most new outboards are all pretty much the same for reliability. People pay up for these names like Etech and Merc as an example on some of the Merc models most don't know they were made by Tohatsu, Nissan or Yamaha and only the color and name tags are different.

I'm just not a 2 stroke kind of guy no matter what the technology is DI or other. I only will buy EFI's because I would never go back to carbs!

If my new Starcraft came with a 200 Etech, I'd probably be more likely to keep it rather than dump one that came with a 150 Optimax. But I wouldn't pay up for one!

If you settle for the 175 life has few guarantees . . . if you can afford it . . . I can guarantee you this . . . every day you drive your new boat you are going to be saying to yourself . . . I should have gotten the 200

Post pics if you get the Islander!

 

[fishmaster2]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

My reasoning on the e-tech was reducing weight

I will check the web sites on yamaha ( 2nd choice) and e-tech and compare the weights.

Yes the e-tech crew are quite fanatical about their choice of engine--it's almost like a cult

Kind of like the Starcraft guys--- they are cult like in their love of their boats ---that's why I want one.


SS

 

[Expidia]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

Great . . . below is link to a 100,000 member good offshore site that over the years most members only touted their Yammies. Big crowd here now loves Etecs.

Don't get shocked there though as it's not as family oriented as this one. They can speak their minds sometimes without being stifled by the Mods.

It's a war each year as E-tech fights to drop the weight and market a lighter engine than the historically heavier Yamaha.

Here is thead to start you off, but use their search function with the word Etech and it will turn up a lot of discussions. They are talking about a 5 year old video that keeps being brought up by Etec enthusiasts so check the dates of the threads you find.

Etech's have made big in-roads into the world of 4 stroke owners. I'd be more interested in current threads, because you are interested in a new Etec and they have gotten better each year.

Yamaha used to be the top choice for salt water. But I was never a big fan of Yamaha due to their weight and fewer dealers in my region.

I too love the look of the Etec line. I never liked the older Yammy's blue gray color. Now they have black ones too.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/278545-evinrude-e-tec-2-stroke.html

Make sure there are several qualified dealers in your area if you go with Etec or Yammy for any issues you have down the road like software updates ect. Also weigh out the warranties. Get an extended warranty on either brand if you can. Just one out of warranty repair on either brand is quite costly now days.

 

[fishmaster2]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

I,ve seen that video ---impressive --but I would like to hear or see something current
Any long term e-tech users --please chime in

The other thing that impresses me with the boat is I can tow the Islander with a 30,000.00 truck as opposed to a glas boat that size I would need a 45,000.00 truck

 

[fishmaster2]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

here I joined photo bucket ---cool site

here is my current boat 97 silverline

http://s878.photobucket.com/albums/ab349/fishmaster2/fishing/

 

[Expidia]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

Nice fish! At first when I saw your pics looking out off the back of your boat I thought why is he going down in size? But then when I saw the side shot of your boat . . . Ya, you'd be a lot better off with the Starcraft for fishing. The rig you have now is more for tubing and water sports.

What drew me too the Islander is the deck space after the 2005 model year because of the bracket holding the O/B.

This is what a fishing machine looks like

Slap on a custom made camper top and throw in porta potty and you've got a rig you can spend some time on no matter what the weather.

I compare the islander's design to one of the finest boats for salt water "the Grady White" they have models that look just like the Islanders, but Grady's weigh a ton because they are fiberglass. The Islander is the perfect boat for trailering.

Other models like center console's are really popular especially on that Hull Truth site probably 75% of those members own center consoles. There is a show your boat thread and most were CC's. But I prefer the deck space and cuddy style of the Islander over a CC.

I'd be adding on a small kicker for trolling rather than using a 175 or 200. I have a new Merc 9.9 4 stroke, but a 15 hp with power tilt or a pop up bracket and electric start is on my short list. You can hook it up to the main motor with a connecting rod so it can be steered from the helm. I think using an Etec as a kicker only go down to 25 hp for 2010.

 

[fishmaster2]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

yes it's a lake boat ---i built my downrigger /rod holder device so I can get out fishing----works great ----- 2 guys 3 max.
It's hard to find a boat to do both ---sking and fishing ----the Islander looks promising

 

[dave11]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

I have an aluminum boat I use in saltwater 99% of the time. Just wash it down when yoou are done.

 

[Expidia]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

If you are going to use it for skiing that's when trim tabs come into play. Once a boat is underway the auto hydraulic tabs come up out of the water anyway. Power dash controlled swim tabs can be used to keep a boat from tilting to one side for those times you have several people on one side.

I had asked that trim tab question myself a few years ago if I would keep the 150 on it. I think because of the bracket you can't get them in the ideal location, but some have mounted them on the Islander even with the bracket, they just won't be as effective.

I bought my Lund over similar models besides having a beefier top rail it has a Sport Track system all around the railings which hold accessories in any position.

This is also what drew me to the Starcraft. They have a built in track on each side where you can clip in 2,4,6 down riggers and slide them into many positions:

I want to pay 25-30k for the rig, flip the motor for a 15k for a 200hp Verado (not the 6 cyl). And I'll need a tow vehicle too. I tow the Lund with a Saab 9-5 entering it the 4th season of towing and it's got 138k on it.

I don't want any monthly payments, so I need a cash outlay of 50k. I'll probably do the Verado swap out the 2nd season.

I'm keeping onto the Lund too. I plan to leave the Islander in a marina on a different lake each season. Lake George, Lake Champlain and the Hudson River. I'm looking forward to taking on a trip from a Marina on Champlain up through the St Lawrence Seaway, down through the Thousands Islands and out onto Lake Ontario. Also on another trip down the Hudson River to NYC and out through the Long Island Sound. Lake George is Land locked but the Hudson, Lake Champlain and the St Lawrence all connect to each other with various locks out to the Oceans. Where I am is truly a boaters paradise if you own a bigger boat.

This is why I wanted the cuddy and the custom full camper top. I also really like all the windows which not only let in a lot of light over just a hatch it also raises the ceiling which makes it look bigger and less claustrophobic.

With islander we can cruise and dock at a marina for the night and use their showers along our route.

As you can see, this upcoming purchase has been well researched and well thought out by me over the past two years.

Call Starcraft and see what the nearest dealer is to you with one in stock. They are a bit of an oddball boat because of their style (some say they look like a tank) so not many keep one in stock Because most boaters in a 24 foot boat look to something like a Searay with all the amenities like a toilet, shower and galley and it's fiberglass and better for the salt. Most boat shows won't have them on display either. I found a local dealer last year that had a new 19 in stock, so I was able to check it out from top to bottom.

See my screen saver below. Needless to say I'm on a mission and every morning I see my goal in front of me

 

[fishmaster2]

Re: 2009 or 2010 Starcraft Islander 221 OB

what I really want to know is how big the cuddy is inside ---- can you sit on the seats without scrunching over
Can the wife use the porta poti without a big hassle
my boat now the wife has to drop her gear then back-in and close the door --it tends to tramatise the other people on the boat.

I'll be boating on the west coast B.C.

love your screen saver