21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

[chrisnj]

I am looking at a 21 ft starcraft with a 50 hp johson.
Is this enough HP to plane?
Also, can you leave an aluminium boat like this in the water all the time? Saltwater.

Here is a pic.

 

[gm280]

Re: 21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

That is hard to say. Not knowing the weight of the 21' hall, or the condition of the engine, or even how everything is rigged, it could work but I don't see it doing much more... What is the boat rated for? There should be a manufacture spec plate on the hall. Check to see what the max HP is and anything that is at least 70% of that max should plane your boat. But is sounds a little on the light side of the HP range to me...

 

[64osby]

Re: 21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

Boat should be rated for 140hp, need at least a 90 imo. Hull should be about 900lbs.

If it will sit in saltwater, use sacrificial anodes on the hull and motor.

 

[65Jupiter]

Re: 21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

If it leaks, install an auto bildge that checks for water every few minutes and attach a solar panel to your battery.

 

[chrisnj]

Re: 21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

Sacrificial annodes.? I like it. Thanks for the tip. I will likely put those on any motor? Are the powered? or just positively charged.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

Nah... 50 would be to little IMO. It also just doesn't look like it's a 21 footer... maybe an 18'???? Just doesn't look that massive as it should.... could be just the pics though.

I agree with 64 though... 90 would be a starting point....

J.

 

[64osby]

Re: 21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

Sacrificial annodes.? I like it. Thanks for the tip. I will likely put those on any motor? Are the powered? or just positively charged.

Not powered, just donates the metal before your aluminum.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

If it leaks, install an auto bildge that checks for water every few minutes and attach a solar panel to your battery.

Don't put in one of the so-called computerized auto bilge pumps. It's silly to to have a pump turn on every few minutes to check for water. It will drain the battery if the boat isn't on a real charger, not one of those silly solar chargers. Also the cycling pump always fails when you need it. None of them have good reports of reliability.

If you want/need an auto bilge, install a pump and float switch. It only turns on if water reaches a certain level.

To the OP - You need more power. A 50 might get you on plane, but that's about it. Plan on some slow trips is you have to travel some distance to fish. It's on a trailer, so why not keep in on the trailer instead of slipping her in the salt. How often will you be using her? Daily, weekly, more, less?

 

[classiccat]

Re: 21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

man, if that's the original motor, I bet it's never seen max RPM...prolly gotta decarb after every trip :lol:

if its indeed a 21', 2x the HP that's on there now.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 21' starcraft with 50Hp johnson.Is is this enough? Can I leave this in the water?

I bet it saw max RPM all the time trying to out of its' own way.