'63 24 foot Lone star

[jimdgreat1]

Found a supposedly restored lone star here local for $3500. I'm going to try to talk him down a bit. If it is restored as the ad says I'm thinking $2500 but what do you think?
Shallow water around here. What would the draft be on a boat like this?
Boat has an older 115 merc.

 

[jimdgreat1]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

Not to start a war or anything. How does lonestar quality compare to starcraft?

 

[hivoltg]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

The front of the hull looks alittle beat up and that trailer doesn't look well maintained at all. If you really want the boat I would hammer the seller on those two points to lower the price.

 

[ricohman]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

Restored?
Is this the before picture?

 

[southkogs]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

One picture doesn't really tell an accurate story. From the photo - presuming it's solid and the Merc runs properly - in my area, it's probably around a $2k boat. But, I'd personally want it more "impressive" for that amount of money. That photo looks like she might be a bit neglected (making me think $1,500 or lower). It really needs to be seen in person to tell what kind of shape it's in.

Welcome aboard.

 

[jimdgreat1]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

Restored?
Is this the before picture?

LOL! I thought the same thing.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

I love the old Lone Star's, I'm actually restoring one (16 footer) myself. I don't imagine that boat will draft much, can't tell if it's alum. or Fiberglass?? Snap some close ups when you go look at her, it would be nice to see the resto work done and how well the boat runs. Nice old lines for sure. $3500.00 is way high, if she runs well, maybe 1/2 that.

 

[jimdgreat1]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

More pics from the ad. Going to go look tonight.

 

[matt167]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

Doesent look original, but it also does not look 'restored'.. Looks like it's a bit of a fishing boat. I don't get the control location tho If I was looking and had the cash, I'd stop at $2k WITH a sea trial..

It is a 24' tin boat, but there is better for less than his asking

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

Not more than $1200... and only if she floats and the motor has good compression.

 

[airshot]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

Appears to be more of a makeover than a resto, I agree with the others, in my area 2000 tops with a good sea trial.

 

[JimS123]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

His idea of restored means he painted it and added some rod holders and new seats. I personally wouldn't own an "older 115 Merc". Lots of tinkering involved - not exactly what I would call a turn-key runner. More like what you might want to display at the annual antique boat show.

That said, it looks to me to be a real nice boat, one that I would be proud to own (after I replaced the motor....LOL). Lone Star aluminum boats were very good - comparable to a Starcraft in the day, maybe not up to 2013 Starcraft "quality".

The deal breaker, though, is the trailer. Look where the tail lights are! That trailer is wayyyyy too short for that long boat. That motor cantilevers way out past the frame and even way out past the bunks. Not a safe tow IMHO. (I reserve the right to change my opinion if the pics are deceiving)

 

[matt167]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

I think your right. I thought something was up with the trailer, but then noticed that there was framework under it, and the trailer tires must have been center. But a closer look shows the trailer is probably 5' too short give or take, and the framework is extended bunk boards.. Not safe at all

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

I missed that. No linger $1200 more like $750 tops!

I think your right. I thought something was up with the trailer, but then noticed that there was framework under it, and the trailer tires must have been center. But a closer look shows the trailer is probably 5' too short give or take, and the framework is extended bunk boards.. Not safe at all

 

[jimdgreat1]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

Well I looked it over pretty good. No more pictures. Really not worth taking any more.

Motor would not start. We didn't try. He said the stator is out. That the stator runs the ignition and the #2 and #4 cylinders do not fire. Now I don't know boat motors but I do know motorcycle motors. The stator just charges the battery. Unless I'm wrong here?
So no test drive. Strike one.

He said he stripped it, has pictures with the top off. But he used tongue and groove pine flooring boards for the deck. Has oiled them in the past. Everything very dry now. Also removed the head area and put in a counter and drawers. More storage space. Still has the original floor in the cabin. Said its in great shape. Transom is solid but has some visible damage on the sides. Could go on here but that's enough for strike two.

Strike three basically it is worth more to him than he will ever sell it for. I could leave an offer but it would be offensive to him. Doesn't need to sell but has found a motorcycle he would rather have that is $3500. Also his wife loves the boat.

He did drop the price without me asking by $500. Said that is what he paid for the motor so he will throw that in free. I just don't see him knocking off another $2000 and taking $1500. Well unless someday he needs the money.

Positives are few. It does all look to be in good shape. A power wash inside and resealed would help a lot. Has power trim and tilt that works. Newer aluminum tank. Has every part that was original still with the boat. Seat covers actually pretty good. Second owner original Kansas boat. Currently registered through next year.

I'll do more searching for current pricing. Though I'm sure the figures here are accurate. Got the feeling he thinks the stripped hull is worth more than the boat will bring. Last years of lonestar, only made a couple hundred of them, and so on.

The only question to ask is what would it cost to have a boat like this hauled to Kansas from one of the coasts? I'm assuming that is where the cheaper prices for boats like this would be found. Boats like this might be worth more here in the middle(of nowhere)?

Thanks for looking everyone.

 

[NYBo]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

He said the stator is out. That the stator runs the ignition and the #2 and #4 cylinders do not fire. Now I don't know boat motors but I do know motorcycle motors. The stator just charges the battery. Unless I'm wrong here?

Just for future reference, you ARE wrong here. The stator also provides power to the ignition system.

 

[jimdgreat1]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

Hey thanks! I though that was legit. Just out of my experience. He said something about the motor is the newer mag version. No coils. Has a new wiring harness. Though he didn't sound interested in spending the $120 the part would cost to fix.

I really like the boat. But a smaller boat would do the day fishing trips I'm thinking of doing. Then again how many people say I wish I'd bought a smaller boat?

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star


I sold this one for $800. 3 years ago. It was free to me but I spent in excess of $11,000 over the 20 years I owned it. I was the 3rd owner.
The boat for sale would draft about 10" pluse how far the motor hung below it. The owner of that one has repainted the exterior and replaced the floor and interior a time or two. The factory trailers were crap and too short. I bought a used pontoon trailer for mine.
The boat may be priceless to him but he needs $3500 so there you go.
Tuff old .100 hulls. Meet a guy that had a NICE 24ft LoneStar simular that traded 7 pistols for it. Named the boat 7 Pistols.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

View attachment 211375

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: '63 24 foot Lone star

How and the heck did you spend $11,000 and then sell it looking like that or was that when you bought it it looked like that?

$9000 on a 1994 brand new 115 Evinrude with controls-steering, prop,& install.
$500 on used pontoon boat trailer
rebuilt transom- replace floors a couple times & interior. Re carpet a couple times it adds up quick plus a new used powerhead on the original motor. stereos,depth finders,trolling motors---anything and everything
Never did paint the exterior. At 40 mph the paint peeled off the bottom. lol
wish I still had it.