'87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

[Evinrude_NooB]

Saw a listing for an '87 Starcraft with a 4-cyclinder and outdrive. Comes with trailer.

What do you guys think it's worth and what should I check for when I go check it out? PO has it for a handful of years but for the past 2 years, it's been sitting around. Ran before it sat. I have not check it out yet but this picture shows the exterior being quite dirty/oxidized.

 

[matt167]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

They can be nice, but they are not worth that much. I don't remember who designed them but it was a fairly prominent designer. Looks like about an 18' Medallion... If you are looking for a project and it's rotted as I would suspect. $500 tops if he can prove it runs, If it does not, offer trailer value minus disposal, which is probably $100 or less

Forgot to mention, if you want an easy restore, look for an Aluminum Starcraft. Fiberglass was a medium they experimented with to keep competitive with other companies, but not their real specialty

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

I've had several boats over the last two years that looked just like that, one was free and the others were $250 or less. They were all used as donor boats and hauled to the dump.

So, buy to restore?

Well, do you love it? I mean really love it? Do you have a personal passion and connection for that specific boat? Is it super dooper cheap?

Proceed with caution!

 

[Grub54891]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?


$200.00, worth it? For me yes,restoring as we speak.Runs great,but rotted out.
It's all in the eye of the beholder. 1985 17' Larson
Grub

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

Asking price on this one with trailer is $300.

Is that cheap? I'm asking.

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

No specific attachment to the boat at all. Thinking it may be a good and maybe easy project.

PO says interior is in decent shape, meaning no soft spot or rot. Engine turns over and the outdrive is in decent condition.

For something that's been sitting 2 two years outdoors, what should be my concerns. Should I worry about the Gimbal, bearings, and seals? Already know that the engine would need a tuneup from sitting. Since it's relatively cheap, I would not have anyone professionally check it out.

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

By the way, it was listed as a 16' open bow. Don't know the model. I've been looking to find the specs.

It's a 4-cylinder Chevy engine. Which one would that be? Hope it's not one of those Chevette engines.

 

[matt167]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

It's probably rotted, just keep that in mind going in. You can test for rotten decks and stringers/ transom by core drilling.. It's probably a 3.0L Mercury which is nothing to worry about , it's design has only been in production since 1964 ( 2.5L Nova engine ) and still in current production.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

I would anticipate that boat needs a new deck, transom, stringers, foam, seats, IO maintenance..... The works. I'd be shocked if any of that stuff was good to go in that boat.

Probably a few thousand dollars and a couple of years of hard labor. Yah, quick n easy nosomuch.

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

Ouch!!! I guess I know what I won't be doing. Good insight. Thank you.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

So what kind of boating do you do? What are you looking to get in to?

Maybe we can give ya a hand finding that new boat eh?!

 

[kungpaoshizi]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

Those boats seem to be everywhere, at least near where I am. 95% of the cheaper used boats are that design anyways.

A couple things I personally decided before looking for a boat, was holding out for a bigger engine, newer boat that's obviously been taken care of, and a design that I thought looked pretty darn good(because I'll have to look at it and use it for quite awhile). So for the combo below, I paid 2k, but I dig it! Also the guy was in the Navy, and a mechanic, a preferable combo for a boat's previous owner imo. (if they show they cared for it)

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

I currently own a small Bayliner Capri. Use it primarily for fishing and kicking around in local lakes.

However, once in a while, I would like to take it out into the open water. I took it out once this year to the harbor, wasn't even open ocean, and family complained it was too small for them. It was choppy and with the open bow, we did take one over and got pretty soak.

The good thing about my current set up is actually the size. With my 15' Capri, I'm able to put the boat with trailer in my garage. The boat is in no means in pristine condition but since I've owned for about 3 years, it's been garaged and dry when not in use.

I can probably fit an 18' boat on blocks in the garage during off season if I were to buy one but it would be in the driveway during the season.

Another handicap is weight limit. I have a class 2 tow package and the max weight my vehicle can tow is 3700lbs. I'm not planning on upgrading my family's vehicle anytime soon.

So there you have it.

Boat and trailer less than towing capacity of 3700 lbs.
Something I can take to the open waters on rare occasions without killing my family.
Doesn't cost me a ton of money.

What do you think of Wellcraft? I'm seeing a 20' Eclipse for around $2000, which is my price limit.

So what kind of boating do you do? What are you looking to get in to?

Maybe we can give ya a hand finding that new boat eh?!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

OK, one more quick question....

Tell us your feelings on aluminum build boats:joyous:

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

I neither hate them nor love them. Dad has an aluminum pontoon 'boat', which he loves. It all comes down to price points.

OK, one more quick question....

Tell us your feelings on aluminum build boats:joyous:

 

[Silvertip]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

I've owned may boats over several decades - mostly tin but a few glass. I prefer tin (aluminum) because they are lighter, require less power (generally) and a little easier to tow. Never had a "leaker". Glass is sexy, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Older glass boats had lots of wood in them. Wood rots.

 

[Brian 26]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

In my experience "ran great last time I had it out" is a big read flag.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

I ran tin boats to 22' in open water. All but 1 sucked. Too light when things get rough. They sit more on top than in and are easily tossed around. The next largest tin I had out was the only one I'd consider again.... find an old (has to be old to be in your price range) Lund Baron. No other model, just the Baron.

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: '87 Starcraft - buy to restore? Your thoughts?

I do like the lighter weight with the aluminum. Requires less power because it is lighter.