Expectation management

[Cloudrnnr]

Just noticed something I thought the Starmada might get a kick out of.

Backstory: I grew up on the lake in Oklahoma. Every day was either skiing or fishing, before school, after, all weekend. Although I rented boats a few times when I was in the USAF, it has been a good 25 years since I was serious about boating or fishing. Retirement gave me the chance to move to the NW, and I can't wait to get back on the water.

Tin boats have captured my attention and I have been actively searching for the right boat at the right price. Starcraft, Sea Nymph, Crestliner, even a Lund. In the process I have seen a remarkable example of what happens when owners have false expectations (sometimes created by dealers/manufacturers).

Lurking about the Starcraft forum, I see a crowd of guys that will take on just about any task with hardly a shrug--sometimes even a grin (Dozerll, Jason, B2). The expectations are that there is going to be work to do. Conversely, after looking through a few posts on the Lund forum and other boards, an owner of a 20 year old Lund that needs a transom replacement (or floor) is irate and indignant.

Now, I suppose, if I paid 40K for a boat with a "lifetime" guarantee, I might be a little irritated, but c'mon, after 20 years? I'm pretty pleased to have found this little band of bottom feeders. Not certain it will be a Starcraft, but it is likely. Y'all are just going to have to put up with my "newbie" questions. Like what the heck is PL?

Jim

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Expectation management

No tin snobs in this crowd we pretty much love them all, and we have all had our challenges with them. Check out Bluefin 16's thread for some fun structural stuff. We would gladly welcome you to the Starmada (no glassers please), and will help in any and every way that we possibly can.

 

[Watermann]

Re: Expectation management

Hi Jim, I see your doing lots of reading and building your knowledge base and confidence. So are you seeing anything good on CL lately in our area?

 

[Cloudrnnr]

Re: Expectation management

Rob,
I'm not sure I am qualified to judge a good deal just yet. I was on my way to look at a Nymph in Walla Walla when the seller called to tell me he had just sold it. It was represented as "turn key". Maybe. Right now the weather is putting on some limits--otherwise I would be driving to Bend to look at a 19' Nymph, or Boise to look at an overpriced 18' SS.
I did brave the roads to come down off the hill and look at the 16' SFM in Cd'A. She's in nice shape, overall. Transom and floor look to have a few years left, although there are some dark areas starting around some of the through bolts. The bow keel has the paint scraped off from rock beaching and a golf ball-sized dent centered on the bow keel reinforcing plate (I suppose that is what it is called!). I didn't get to hear her run. I had forgotten just how small a 16' can be, but crawling around inside under a snow-covered tarp certainly reminded me. Hard to pay anywhere near the asking price after watching these boards for a while. May be time for a road trip east!

Jim

 

[Cloudrnnr]

Re: Expectation management

Hi Jim, I see your doing lots of reading and building your knowledge base and confidence. So are you seeing anything good on CL lately in our area?

As soon as the snow clears a bit, I will be driving around the local lake communities looking for tin that is serving as yard art.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Expectation management

PL = PL Premium, a super adhesive LiqNail comparable polyurethane caulk:

Available at most HD/Lowes & equals. Great for building interior bulkhead/compartments etc. Not for use thru the hull, livewell/cooler tanks, or below the waterline.............

3M 5200~ 3M 4200, for thru hulls, which is also available @HD/Lowes & equals, usually in both small squeeze tubes, have 1 or 2 handy for smaller jobs, and in 10+/-oz caulk tubes. It will harden fairly quick in the tube once opened. Extend open shelf life by refrigeration (freezer too I think), that's why small tubes are handy to have too, open & use it all......

5200 is as close to permanent an adhesive ever made. 4200 is it's slightly less tenacious cousin, use it for stuff you think you might want to remove/change during the LIFE of your boat. 5200 for everything else..

 

[dozerII]

Re: Expectation management

If your looking for an 18 Holiday, won't find a much better deal than this in your neck of the woods.
1975 Starcraft

 

[classiccat]

Re: Expectation management

Welcome Jim! :welcome:

Lookin' forward to see what you drag home!

and if you've been lurking... you know the drill hoto:

 

[Watermann]

Re: Expectation management

If your looking for an 18 Holiday, won't find a much better deal than this in your neck of the woods.
1975 Starcraft

and... I happen to have 3 MC outdrives in my garage that need a new home.

 

[Cloudrnnr]

Re: Expectation management

JB--thanks for the education on the sticky stuff.

Glen, I have been debating calling about the IO Holiday. I've restored a couple of old VWs and worked on a number of turbo 4 cyl racers, but have very little experience with engines that get wet. The outdrive causes a little chill, but now that I know Rob has a bunch of them he is using for coffee tables, I may give it a look.

Jim

 

[Cloudrnnr]

Re: Expectation management

if I do jump on something that needs heavy work before splashing, it will have to wait a couple of months. Right now the "boat/RV" Shed is under construction. Not exactly a bottom feeder build, but it does help to have BILs in the construction business In keeping with Starmada policies and regulations, non-boat pic follows

 

[dozerII]

Re: Expectation management

JB--thanks for the education on the sticky stuff.

Glen, I have been debating calling about the IO Holiday. I've restored a couple of old VWs and worked on a number of turbo 4 cyl racers, but have very little experience with engines that get wet. The outdrive causes a little chill, but now that I know Rob has a bunch of them he is using for coffee tables, I may give it a look.

Jim

Hey Jim, you also have the option of a complete new SEI replacement with 3 year unconditional guarantee for about $1300 and the 4cyl chev is easy to work on with lots of parts availability.

 

[classiccat]

Re: Expectation management

now that's a hanger!

:hail:

if I do jump on something that needs heavy work before splashing, it will have to wait a couple of months. Right now the "boat/RV" Shed is under construction. Not exactly a bottom feeder build, but it does help to have BILs in the construction business In keeping with Starmada policies and regulations, non-boat pic follows

 

[dozerII]

Re: Expectation management

Nice Hanger, you will definitely enjoy that.

 

[barato2]

Re: Expectation management

glad you did your homework. you'll avoid grief and $$$. some of us might start with a different hull if we knew then what we know now. i have >$7000 in the $300 18' holiday i dragged home....if i had to start over and knew i was going to put that much into it, i might have a driven a ways to get a V5 hull since i'll be using it for offshore fishing. for example, that 16' you mentioned was a great boat to avoid....fixable, but why dive into that mess? and i think your thoughts on the 16 vs 18' are smart...18 costs very little more to run, and has lots more room and way better for big or ugly water. of course, a 21'.....

on that holiday, if it has no outdrive, i'd assume that motor has not been properly winterized and has cracked block and/or is seized. so plan on a total gut n refit and buying a donorglasser for drivetrain. sorry to be pessimistic, but i think it's fair to say that not many folks here have found that their new pride n joy was BETTER condition than they'd thought when they dragged it home and lied to the spouse about how easy it will be to have it on the water....

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Expectation management

Hanger? Yeah that's a hanger alright. Did Starcraft ever make a Destroyer? Now we know someone who could dry dock one :facepalm:

Jeez, who's a guy gotta marry to get that BIL? :watermelon:

Nice building. How big are the roll-up doors? They look big rig ready.

Orange & white Holiday, minus outdrive, I'd suggest you offer sub $750 since it's OBO.

 

[Cloudrnnr]

Re: Expectation management

JB, you just have to marry a girl from a good Idaho Catholic ranch family. One BIL builds grain bins, another is an electrician, and another is a diesel mechanic...no one is sure where the radio DJ came from.

The hangar (funny calling it that after 26 years operating things that parked in them) is 48X56 with a 14X56 lean-to and will finish with 16.5' walls from floor slab to ceiling. Doors are 14X16 and 14X14 and are not roll ups. They will be sectionals with 2" of foam insulation sandwiched. R49 in the ceiling, R21 in the walls. As of yet, I am only planning for passive solar collectors on the front, but I will likely plumb the slab to allow for a possible heating system. In the shorter term, I have a couple of portable propane burners that heat it quickly even without insulation.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Expectation management

Cloud - Maybe you didn't post a boat pic, but it sure looks like you posted a tin pic. Nice boat shack! Good luck searching for The One.

 

[Cloudrnnr]

Re: Expectation management

Good luck searching for The One.

Thanks for the welcome. I've learned/refreshed old memories a ton just from lurking for a couple of weeks. The boat shed is part of the reason I'm looking at old Starcrafts instead of new ones

And it will likely be two...one for bigger water and the Admiral + seven dogs and a small open (15' Star Trek???) for the smaller water around here.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Expectation management

In that case - Good luck searching for The Ones.