Question about ride and size

[starcrafter65]

Well - read that title anyway you want!

But - as you know I had a 16' Nassau (really a big row boat - see Avatar) with the 80 Merc. The Nassau was alos very skinny (48" beam). I also had at one time a 16' Searay that weighed about 1800 pounds. The little Nassau was no match for big waves or - worse - the boat chop that gets going on any lake these days. The Sea Ray really took the chop well.

Do the bigger vintage Aluminum Starcrafts (18's) handle the boat chop pretty good? Not sure I am ready for a 20' - 18 seems like a nice size.

Thanks for the feedback!

Clark

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Question about ride and size

Clark I cant tell you from personl experiance but I know I have read that NorthBeaches 22' Sunchief handles rough water pretty well . I would guess an 18'er would do well out there . I personally am on the lookout for a 21'-22' SS or Holiday as my next Starcraft project since I already have the 16' Jupiter V.


Rick

 

[sschefer]

Re: Question about ride and size

Well - read that title anyway you want!

But - as you know I had a 16' Nassau (really a big row boat - see Avatar) with the 80 Merc. The Nassau was alos very skinny (48" beam). I also had at one time a 16' Searay that weighed about 1800 pounds. The little Nassau was no match for big waves or - worse - the boat chop that gets going on any lake these days. The Sea Ray really took the chop well.

Do the bigger vintage Aluminum Starcrafts (18's) handle the boat chop pretty good? Not sure I am ready for a 20' - 18 seems like a nice size.

Thanks for the feedback!

Clark

Yes, I'd have a hard time forgetting my brothers comment as we came accross Eagle lake in my 18' Legend over 3-4 foot cresting swells at 30mph. He said.. "Man this thing rides better than your Tahoe...", (meaning my 08' Chevy Tahoe). The Starcraft hull design is a one in a million when it comes to ride and handling rough water. She'll yell at you a bit as she crushes through the waves but you'll be high and dry and never once will you even have cause to look for the preparation H.

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: Question about ride and size

Wow - saw your resto thread. I guess that is what I would look for a 18ss. Funny - that is the exact motor I had on my Sea Ray. Never had a problem and that boat would do 50+ with just me in it.

Why did you put those trim tabs on? Doesn't just trimming the motor do the trick?

CMM

 

[sschefer]

Re: Question about ride and size

Wow - saw your resto thread. I guess that is what I would look for a 18ss. Funny - that is the exact motor I had on my Sea Ray. Never had a problem and that boat would do 50+ with just me in it.

Why did you put those trim tabs on? Doesn't just trimming the motor do the trick?

CMM

The boat has two group 27 batteries up front. Trimming the motor and using the trim tabs in a modified (much lighter) setup got rid of the porpose that I was having problems with and requires very little adjustment while driving. The boat maxes out at 33mph with this engine. 59 was fun with the Yami 150 but a little scary with the chine walking.

There are half a dozen threads on here about these problematic Mariners. I've come to the conclusion that Merc didn't take into account changes in fuel when they designed them or they didn't think they'd be around this long.

It's time for it to go, parts are going NLA left and right and it won't be long before it's banned so no sense putting more money in it.
E-Tec is on it's way!!!!..