New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

[Steelramhemi]

The boat model listed in the thread title is what the dealer I bought it from had it listed as, not sure if it's correct but i think it is.

Here is the link to the iboats ad I bought it from

http://boats.iboats.com/1984-starcraft-boats-css181b/515525.html

The boat looked great and ran better, then my son was jumping around and fell through the floor. A thread in the restoration forum to follow! I got refunded my money so the boat only cost me my trade in, which I paid 300 bucks for so I'm not that mad about the rot. Stringers, motor mounts and transom are shot...should be a fun couple of weeks :facepalm:


Mike

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

welcome aboard Mike...
Wow..stringers, mounts and transom huh? ouch...I mean ouch..Thats months of work for some guys, a couple years for lazy ones like me!
I noticed she has an OMC to boot on top of all the other problems...I am sorry..

 

[jasoutside]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

Have you considered the aluminum built Starcrafts for your next boat? They are awesome!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

That is a sharp looking hull. Unfortunately, that OMC Stringer drive is obsolete and difficult to find parts and service for. I don't know if I'd invest much money into rebuilding her. There is good money in parting it out.

 

[Steelramhemi]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

I was actually lookin for aluminum star craft hulls when I came across this one and really liked the lines....it's a pretty unique looking hull. I didn't realize the omc stringers were that hard to come by parts wise, I'm an outboard guy personally...never had an io before. I might be better served parting it out if that's the case. Ashame to junk such a pretty hull. Hopefully I can get some coin back from selling the motor and drive. Thanks for the advise! Hopefully I can find an aluminum after I get this out of the driveway.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

Ouch I am surprised they would sell a boat that needed that much attention without warning of the problems that come with it. Also for that kind of price. IMHO

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

Welcome to iboats Steelramhemi, sorry to hear that the deck is rotten on that rig, she does have some nice lines. That star paint job is pretty easy on the eyes too, I can see why you like that boat.

The fact that the boat was sitting with the bow down does not bode well for keeping water out of the wrong places. Plug out, bow high for storage.

The OMC parts should bring in enough cash to keep you in the ballgame...if you are in SE Pennsylvania then our friend EZ can help find a nice tin boat for you if you are interested.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

Mike just a few thoughts. If you uses the boat and it ran ok then you might put a light cover on the floor and use the boat . If the transon is useable, for the summer and enjoy and in the meantime find a Aluminum boat to work on or good enough to use as is. There are a lot of them back East and with the forcasted economy and price of Gas I would think there will be even more. Just my thoughts as I never try to spend $$ if I can help it. I have a 22 ft Holiday that I have had for three years ,that other than gas and upkeep has not cost me any more than the purchase price. Cosmetic things look nice but if its not BROKEN in todays market don't fix it. Have a great Summer and the guys on this site are worth a Kings Ransom for advice. They have all been there done that . pugetsound

 

[jasoutside]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

I can find an aluminum after I get this out of the driveway.

Yesssssssss!!!!! Excellent move man! Very wise!

 

[Steelramhemi]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

Just so you all know, I'm not a complete idiot that was taken to the cleaners by this dealer. I was a tournament bass fisherman for years before being disabled and even though the boat performed well on the test drive i couldn't get down and properly check it out because I physically can't, i trusted the dealer as the boat was inside a warehouse all winter I believed him when he said he checked it out and it was solid. I paid $1000 and my trade in, which was a center console i bought for $200 I think and restored before i got sick. So I was in for $1200 cash and he refunded me $960 when I sent him pics of the damage. So if i can sell the motor and drive for anything i will be even or ahead.

I had a 2001 2100 dc gambler with a worked 250 merc xs on the back that would run upper 80's gps all day...I loved that rig. When i got sick i had close to a million in medical bills and insurance covered all but 40k so I sold my baby to pay my bills.

Now my two boys are asking me to teach them to catch the fish like i have on the wall in my man cave so I'm looking for something safe to take them out and teach them in. Wife needs to go as well in case I need help, so I was looking to build a front deck in the front of this boat to make a casting deck to fish from and my wife can have her area in the back, sort of a fish and ski boat.

As far as running it for a year, with there being nothing but mulch in the fiberglass stringer forms and having a colony of grubs living inside the motor mount boxes, im not taking my kids out on this thing. It might last 5 years as is, but I'm not risking it with my 6 and 3 year old boys aboard.

I'll post a link to the photo bucket album with some of the teardown pics soon.

 

[Steelramhemi]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

Here are a bunch of pics of my initial teardown when we noticed the damage. The descriptions to the pics are because the dealer asked me to attach description of the pics for him. The entire interior, floor, gas tank are gone now but i have no pics of that yet. I was going to pour seacast in the stringer forms and pull the motor to rebuild the motor mounts this weekend. But it might be better to leave it together and try to sell so the buyer can start the motor and shift the drive to make sure it runs.

Anyway,here is the link
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v63/v10power/New%20boat/

 

[jasoutside]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

I wonder how he came up with the number $960 out of $1000 plus your boat?? Odd number anyway.

Well, either way, that was surely the right thing for him to do if he sold you a boat that was supposedly in "excellent condition".

Man, what a pile of mulch! Holy cow!

Once you sell that stringer drive I am thinking you should be ahead of the game.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

YIKES!!!!! Thats what my 16 SS starcraft looked like inside when I bought it. Holy Cow I was able to strip and rebuild ,being a Auminum hull it worked out ok. I agree not to many Dealers would have returned your $ however it still cost you more than it should have. Sounds like you have a rough time doing things as I have for years. We do what we have to do. No longer how long it takes. I hope the trailer was ok. Im sure you will do well once you rid yourself of the boat. Sorry I diden't realize the extent of the problem.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

I have to say I really love this guys attitude..Way to go to not get knocked in the dirt right away yelling and screaming that the dealer was a jerk and you are a pity case..
I also like your strong opinion on not taking your family out on anything other than a sound, safe boat.
For what you want to do with your boys, I think a 18 ft to 21 foot SS would do the trick..Geeez, did I just recommend another freaking SS be bought?:facepalm:

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

YeSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS you did. have a nice day.

 

[Steelramhemi]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

Thanks guys, the reason he gave me $960 back is because I had sent him $40 through pay pal the day before I went to pick the boat up to hold it for a day. When I got there and bought the boat I gave him a check for the balance, $960. He next day aired me the check back.

I have the motor and drive on cl for $1000 obo. Comes with free boat and trailer. Is that a fair number? Has a brand new battery, all gauges, lights and controls work.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

I have the motor and drive on cl for $1000 obo. Comes with free boat and trailer. Is that a fair number? Has a brand new battery, all gauges, lights and controls work.

The trick with the Stringer Drive is that guys who are in the buying mode for em usually need just parts. It would be less common for a guy to want a whole repower and do so with a stringer. You may find some emails coming to you from guys who just want pieces and parts of what you have there. It would be nice to sell the whole thing complete though.

By way of reference for ya, I sold my complete, non running, OMC Stringer (engine and OD) for $500 and was pumped!

 

[Steelramhemi]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

Thanks. Hopefully being that live 4 blocks from the bay I can get some added interest. But I'll be happy to get $500! I'll be happy to not have to look at it everyday. The voices yelling rebuild it are getting harder and harder to keep quiet..lol

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

The voices yelling rebuild it are getting harder and harder to keep quiet..lol

This man needs a tinnie STAT

 

[Steelramhemi]

Re: New starcraft owner here..... 1984 - Starcraft - CSS181B

The only issue I think I'll have with most of the older star craft tin models is it looks like the draft kinda deep? Am I wrong?