Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

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bunker108

Chief Petty Officer
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Jun 26, 2011
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482
Browsing through the brochures I see that there was a Jupiter V 16' I/O made...but how rare are they?

My oldest son is almost 7 and I think it is almost time to start looking for a project. I would love to find a small closed bow I/O.

Am I better off looking for a 16' Holiday? Does the Holiday have a deeper V? Did they make a Jet I/O?

I think that a little 3.0 Merc/Alpha combo in a little tin would be a great match.

As the kids get older we find ourselves pondering PWC's for tubing and canyon cruising near camp to save on the fuel bill. My 4.3 and buddies 6.2 are not exactly fuel sippers. And after a 20 to 50 mile run up lake to camp fuel starts coming into play. I think that an old tin boat project would be much better and safer than a wave runner. And probably of similar weight towing it to camp.

Looking at this to eventually end up being the kids boat, which is why I prefer a closed bow, I/O combo.

Let me know what the Starmada thinks!
 
barato2

barato2

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Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

the Starmada thinks you shouldn't have sold your beautiful SS and gotten that "not exactly fuel sipper" glasser.....;)

the Starmada thinks you should buy more tin.

the Starmada thinks that you have a very good plan for parental-kid bonding and one that will help keep your kids away from less positive passions.

beyond that, i won't presume to speak for the StARMADA.

glad to see you back!

Holiday 16 is smallest one i know of that came with I/O. but they'll be lots harder to find than OB boats in this size. why do you want an I/O for a boat you plan to make the kids'?

did you see that SC in Mountainair for 850?
 
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B

bunker108

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482
Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

I am not totally opposed to an O/B but modern ones are prohibitively expensive. 3.0 Mercs/alphas are everywhere, simple, cheap and reliable. I also imagine would it be a very strong engine in a 16' tin.

I want the closed bow so no bodies are up front and to be able to take the always rough main channel of Lake Powell. I also like that I can cover the outdrive of n I/O with a full length swim platform.

The 4.3GL/Volvo SX in the glass Caravelle has been a wicked combo. Not sure about hours but put close to 500 miles on the water with that thing this season. 18.5 open bow is about the smallest I think you can get away with at Powell when the water gets rough. The 96" beam is nice too!

Lake Powell gets me dreaming of a big tin cuddy or 22' holiday with a 4.3 though.

There have been a few pop up here in NM lately.
 
dozerII

dozerII

Admiral
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Oct 25, 2009
Messages
6,527
Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

The 120 Mercruisers in both the SS and Holiday 18's are real good on gas, on a 16 they would just sip the fuel. I can see one being hard to find as I have never seen one listed.
 
North Beach

North Beach

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Sep 29, 2008
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2,022
Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

The Jupiter and Sportsman model both were offered with a 4 cylinder I/O that looks like it was basically the same motor as the 110 HP except with a smaller bore and a shorter stroke.

Mercruisers.jpg
 
B

bunker108

Chief Petty Officer
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Messages
482
Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

An OB Jet or Jupiter might be a wiser and easier to find choice. Outboards in the 50hp range seem affordable and easily attained. Probably make for an easier project too. Maybe he wil have to wait for a sterndrive for his second boat!
 
jasoutside

jasoutside

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Dec 20, 2009
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13,269
Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

I love those small IOs, I think they are really cool!

That said, I think I've probably seen a grand total of three out there. Out of what, several thousand boats I've looked at?

Plenty of OBs out there though.
 
GA_Boater

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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49,038
Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

If you ever find a Mercruiser 80, avoid it. Merc used Renault motors in those and when was the last time you saw a Renault, except at a car show. Maybe! Parts are worse than Ford based I/Os.
 
J

jrs151

Seaman
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Apr 12, 2007
Messages
52
Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

New to the Starmada fleet, having just acquired a 18' Holiday O/B myself... it seems length really does predicate depth-ratio - at least for the Holiday models. For instance (mind you I'm new to these), take a look at the 1974 brochure for the Holiday. Considering the proportional size is correct in these side-by-side depiction, visually the 18 & 21 have deeper hulls than the 16 & 14.

In regards to going I/O ... I get your preference to the open swim platform as this was the the exact setup I left for my O/B Holiday. I had a Regal 233XL Ambassador Mercrusier I/O with full swim platform. Other than being a very heavy glass boat I had no complaints - loved the platform! But often wondered where the prop was at times in murky waters. Which brings me to my point: having choose to go O/B this go-round, I plan to equip my Holiday rebuild with an offshore bracket to double as a swim platform. Understandability, many whom have "prop-fear" this is still no comparison to an O/I with platform, but my point is that O/B config doesn't limit you. You don't have to give-up the swim-platform option - get an offshore bracket. Added benefit being if your trailer-up the slightly or all the way, one can get the prop out the water, offering swimmers added safety. Food for thought.
 
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barato2

barato2

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Dec 7, 2010
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2,956
Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

there's also that "off" switch for the motor, which does wonders to enhance prop safety when swimmers are reboarding.....

Bunker, i called on that SC in Mountanair over the weekend. it's a Starchief and i suspect the lady might be negotiable....she's had sevl calls but no one wants to drive out to look at it.
 
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jbcurt00

jbcurt00

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Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

How far is it again from Albq, NM to mid-Michigan?

For the right $600 boat, not too far I don't guess.......

Nice looking rig Jas....

Good luck in your quest for an SC for THE NEXT GENERATION :)

Surprised this ^^^ isn't in the Jas long term plan :D
 
B

bunker108

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
482
Re: Smallest Tin I/O? Jupiter 16 V or Holiday?

Wow! That little tin is the one! That gives me hope. What a cool boat right?

A Starchief is tempting...maybe worth a drive out. It's a nice drive to Mountainaire. I'm not ready for a project that size though.
 
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