21 foot project near me - please give advice!

[Medman23]

Hi all. I have been looking for a tin project for some time, and came across this:

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-mot...ationFlag=true

I am looking at this boat today, and I would appreciate any and all advice. I have access to a tandem trailer to load and bring home (about 20 miles). Anything in the pics I should be aware of? Model Identification? To be clear, I am looking for a hull in good shape. I will be doing a complete restore and repower, expecting to take at least a year to do the job.

Thanks in advance. If I get out there I will take better pics.

 

[MNhunter1]

Not sure what the market is like in your neck of the woods, or how bad you've been looking for that specific model, size, etc., but I see that as a sub $500 hull with no trailer and bad motor. With the side rub rail, I believe you're looking at an early 70's Starcraft Holiday. There should be an ID tag somewhere near the controls at the helm, or a stamped tag on the back of the starboard transom. Nice boat, and looks to be pretty much complete with all the accessories. Would be a good foundation to start with if you've got a trailer and motor to add to the package.

My guess is a 1974 21' Holiday based on the pictures and the information available in the brochures sticky at the top of this forum. The integrated boarding ladder and stern rail are a good indicator. No brochure available for 1975, and you see a similar ladder on the 1976 Chieftain, so it should be somewhere around '74-'76??

 

[home-boy]

It will need a total gut and rebuild and I be the engine/outdrive are junk too. I paid $650 for my chieftain with a good trailer that had already been gutted with a new floor

 

[bob johnson]

seems like too much $ for no trailer and a bad motor....it would be closer to a better deal if it had a bad outboard!! what a project removing an inboard!!!!!!!! and every little part that attaches to the transom for the outdrive and gimbal ect..is expensive and a headache to R&R.....that's my view anyway...

 

[Medman23]

I was thinking the same vintage. I'm hoping to pick it up for less than $1000. Boat is at a salvage yard and seller is looking at as scrap value of the aluminum and steel in the motor.

 

[Alumarine]

I can't speak too loudly about the price as I paid too much for my current project due to what was available but it seems a bit pricey.
It has an OMC drive so unless you have experience with them then it would be be best to put in a mercruiser motor and drive.
That swap is not a huge deal.
Could be a good foundation though.

 

[Grandad]

I think the biggest challenge will be the transom conversion from the "white leg of death" to a Mercruiser. If you have the ability to effectively fill that big hole in the transom and can get the price down some, it'd be a fun project. - Grandad

 

[Watermann]

I don't know the conversion rate in Canada right now but I think most the guys are thinking is US dollars. Even so the value in scrap isn't even half what they're asking.

As mentioned the white leg of death, doom and despair (WLOD) is completely obsolete decades ago and not something to retain so it would all have to be redone with mercruiser or converted to an OB. Not my idea of a good time, a very tough and complicated endeavor to get it right.

I hate seeing boats that are dumped on their ear in the dirt especially with that cast iron lump still inside it. If the decks and transom are compromised by rot that can easily ruin the hull. If the dunce who did that would have done some blocking to support the boat properly then all's well but as you can see he didn't give a rip.

I would pass.