newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

[illumastorm]

i just picked up a boat for $50 with a 55 eveinrude, engine runs great and thats the main reason for buying it. but now that i have it home the boat doesn't seem to be in too bad of shape and i think it's worth fixing. however i don't know much about it other then it's a starcraft capri, model # 15CPRO-B. the little plate on the rear has stamped on it STR 12660 M 73 E.
anyone have any idea what year this might be and so on? i'll get some pics later and post em.
thanks

 

[illumastorm]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

well i guess i should have done some more searching, i found out it a 1973 model, 15'. however anything else someone knows about these would be appriciated.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

I'm guessing that the price is somewhat indicative of the condition. That said, with a running motor, you are already ahead of the curve. I have rebuilt three 1970s era fiberglass Starcrafts and all three had the same issues - punky soles (cockpit floor) and transoms. All three had saturated foam flotation, which added several hundred pounds to the weight and lead to the rotting of the wooden structural components. Check the cockpit area thoroughly for moisture in the hull. If the floor is at all spongy or soft, you're in for a project. If the transom is anything but rock solid, same thing...
- Scott

 

[illumastorm]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

thanks for the info. the condition is pretty much like you said, but it is all there and original. i was looking through your postings on the overhauls you did and i know that is something i am capable of doing. i did some poking around yesterday on my boat and yes there is a couple spots on the floor that are soggy, however the transom looks pretty soild. i might get lucky and just have to redo the floor & stringers. you said you removed around 400#'s of soggy foam from yours, did you notice before you did that the tounge weight of the trailer was real heavy? i put a bathroom scale under my trailer and the weight is around 250#'s on the tounge. or is that about normal? also did you replace any foam or just left that out?
i'll try to get some pics posted soon. and i'll try to do like you did and document my progress on overhauling it.

 

[illumastorm]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

here's some pics as it looks right now, soon to start repairing the floor since it has a few soft spots.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

Although boat weight is part of the equation when making tongue weight, it is also partly to do with the trailer it is on. 250 lbs. is a bit too much and could indicate a mis-adjusted axle OR it could be that the bow of the boat has a few hundred lbs. of waterlogged foam in it. Won't know until you get into it. Your rig, boat/motor & trailer should weigh in at around 1200-1300 lbs. (The bare hull weighs around 800 lbs.) Using the 10% rule, your tongue weight should be around 125 lbs.
If you have a soft floor, chances are you have waterlogged foam - I have yet to see one without the other...
- Scott

 

[illumastorm]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

so the fun begins, i'll be updating the share a project page as i tear into the boat all depending on time and weather, this is the only good thing about winter.

 

[illumastorm]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

 

[Jonathan Rambo]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

I have a capri project boat as well. Is the tongue weight the weight at the front of the trailer? Because i can easily lift it the front with one arm...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

Yes it is.

 

[cgreen123]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

I have a 77 Starcraft Capri and I have always stored it outside covered. It is an I/O and still runs great and looks great. The issue is over the years the tounge weight has gone from easy and light to very heavy. I believe this must be from the foam getting saturated over the years. What is the easiest way to access and remove the foam as I do not see any in the transom area by the engine? I also dont see any in the front bow access holes in the bow seats? Once I get this foam out do I really need to replace it with anything? Where have you found the foam to be concentrated in the boat? Can i access it under the seats? The plywood floor and carpet is original and still is holding up well. I purchased the boat 15 yrs ago and only use it a few weekends a year. It was in inside storage for about 5 years basically unused as the owner had died when I bought it at an estate sale. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

I've owned several Capri models, all in the 17' outboard version. They are super light and probably the best riding trihull I've ever been in. My first one had a Mercury 500 50hp outboard and ran great, the next had a 70hp Evinrude, and the last a 115 Mercury with power tilt and trim. The hulls are super light, my 17 weighed in at around 950lbs bare hull, the 15' you have is most likely a good bit less. I believe the 15' came with a plexiglass windshield? Or at least part of the windshield was plastic?
On each of mine I gutted the seats and trim out and used them for fishing. A trihull makes for a super stable fishing platform.
I always wanted to find a 15' in this model but haven't yet run across a deal on one here. It seems the Capri 17 is far more common around here.
I'm eying up my fourth one now, which is powered with an older Mercury 85hp.

 

[dhart6]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

I had this boat. My Gdad boat it new then gave it to me. It was a 1971 thought with a 65 Evinrude outboard. I wish I still had it.

 

[dhart6]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

I have the original brochure on it. neat..

 

[nh5111]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

I just bought a 1973 Capri 15 with a Johnson 85hp that starts and runs, although the power tilt/trim was not engaging...it might be that it is not connected or the relay switch is bad, I hope. The hydraulics are tight and it only moves manually if the release screw is loosened, does this mean that the hydraulics are still good? I have it at a marina right now being checked out before I attempt to launch the boat. There is a soft spot in the middle of the floor towards the stern...how difficult is it to repair a floor. I was thinking about removing the entire floor and laying new marine flooring coated with a non-slip type of epoxy or plastic because I do not like carpet in a boat, any suggestions on that? I only paid $500 for the boat with trailer. Transom is solid and the boat needs a good cleaning. Any suggestions on buffing out the gel coat? Should this be done by a professional or is it something that can be done over a weekend?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: newbie with a question about starcraft capri boat

Welcome to the forum nh5111. Please start your own thread.