Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

[ozenine]

Firstly, I want to say that I really appreciate your patience with all my newbe questions.
As some of youknow I am looking for the 16 feet Starcraft SS for less then 1000 (including trailer and motor). I have to say taht I DO expect work related to it.
here is what I have found. It is 1984 16 feet starcraft that was in car accident 2 weeks after first launch, since then it was out of the water in the closed garage (according to current owner). One of the sides was smashed, so current owner ALMOST replaced it - he ordered a new side from starcraft and riveted most of it. The transom is left to be riveted and bow. He claims that everything is there (seats, windshield, transom wood, etc). there NO motor or trailer.
When I contacted him and told him that the hull alone is not worth anything without trailer cuase I will ahve to pay 500 for trailer and another 900 for the motor, when i can get the whole package for a grand. he seemed to be ok with taht and told me to make an offer. I did not do it yet, but thinking about couple hundered the most.
Questions:
1) How difficult is it to adjust the trailer (I crossposted it in the Trailers section) to the boat. Can this be done in his garage?
2) Given taht everything is in the boat, how difficult is it to connect the new motor?
3) Should I or should'nt I?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

The trailer adjustments shouldn't be a huge problem, same for hooking up a new outboard.

My biggest concern would be the fact that the boat was in a car accident. Is this guy experienced at riveting aluminum boats? Have you seen the boat or pictures of it?

I am biased toward 16' Starcraft SuperSports(love mine) but don't want to see you go thru an ordeal here. I would hesitate to buy a starcraft that had been damaged to the extent this sounds like.

Pictures would be a huge help to get good answers for ya.

If you don't buy it can you ask the guy if he wants to part out the boat? I need some canvas tops/steering wheel/boat cover, etc and he'd get more $$ that way.

Good luck

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

I say pass on this one. Why take something as pretty much fool-proof as an aluminum Starcraft and add potential drama to it? Keep looking. I know this is as far away from you as it could be but look at this one that Kev just found http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/boa/1550039647.html it's immaculate! and cheap. Something will pop-up for you Oz. You may have to drive to get it but something will come along.

When I was looking for my SS I had 3 criteria. Have a good hull that isn't missing too many important pieces, have a good running motor you can get parts for, and a nice serviceable trailer. A deal had to have 2 of the 3 to qualify.

 

[ozenine]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

EZ, I was looking forward your reply
Here, I just got some pics:
http://s875.photobucket.com/albums/ab311/ozenine/Boat%20Search/
Also he claims that everything is there (canvas, windshield, etc) and it needs pretty much nothing to be put together.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Well I SUPPOSE it might not be the WORST idea ever as long as you paid little to nothing for it........

As far as a trailer goes, it shouldn't be too difficult to find one that will work. Best deal might be one with a rotted out glass boat sittin' on it. Don't do what I did with my Jupiter and buy a trailer set up for a flat bottom and then spend a fortune on brackets and stuff changing it to work for a V bottom. Try to get one that's already pretty close to what you need.

 

[ozenine]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Here are my pros and cons:
Cons:
1) Need a trailer
2) Need a trailer setup
3) Need trailer BEFORE the boat to haul it away
4) Need motor
5) Need work to be put together

Pro's:
1) Virtually never used
2) Price (assumption)
3) Have all the original parts
4) Can put any motor that i desire
5) New-old interior

5 pro's vs 5 cons.......

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Here are my pros and cons:
Cons:
1) Need a trailer ($500-1000)
2) Need a trailer setup ($250?)
3) Need trailer BEFORE the boat to haul it away ($$?? time)
4) Need motor ($500 - 5000++)
5) Need work to be put together ($$$$ - time and energy on the driveway not the lake)

Pro's:
1) Virtually never used (but it's broken)
2) Price (assumption) (free?)
3) Have all the original parts (see #1)
4) Can put any motor that i desire ($$$)
5) New-old interior (not installed condition?)

5 pro's vs 5 cons.......

5 pro's and 5 cons....hmmmm, your con's are costing you more than your pros.

 

[ozenine]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

5 pro's and 5 cons....hmmmm, your con's are costing you more than your pros.

Pro's are not supposed to be costing anything!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Heck, go for it. Offer him $100 to get it out of his garage. Disassemble everything, reattach the side, Gluvit the heck out of it, reassemble. Look for a nice 3 cylinder JohnnyRude to hang on the back.

Here's the trailer that came with my SS. It originally had roller bunks on it but I replaced them with regular bunks. As you can see everything is very adjustable which is nice. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2352.jpg

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

The pros should cost you a big smile on the lake with your Super Sport for under a $1000 right? Not sure you can get there from here....

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Oh no, I was originally going to post something similar to paul above but I decided to be more positive. BUT since he already went there let me post my intended reponse to your pro's

1. Who cares
2. Yes this is a pro. Hopefully VERY cheap
3. It's rare to find one that is missing parts but hey whatever..
4. This really ain't a pro
5. Yes but it's kinda ugly.....

You should be able to find a decent trailer for $300 ish. Paul is right with the motor price. I'd expect to pay $800+ for a good 75HP or so.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Oh no, I was originally going to post something similar to paul above but I decided to be more positive. BUT since he already went there let me post my intended reponse to your pro's

1. Who cares
2. Yes this is a pro. Hopefully VERY cheap
3. It's rare to find one that is missing parts but hey whatever..
4. This really ain't a pro
5. Yes but it's kinda ugly.....

You should be able to find a decent trailer for $300 ish. Paul is right with the motor price. I'd expect to pay $800+ for a good 75HP or so.

....and I read your post thinking...."that was a nicer more optimistic response than mine....maybe I should go get some fresh air and take my negative energy with me."

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

My desire for Oz to join the Starcraft club got the best of me What I really don't want to see is him end up spending way more on this project than he could have found a nice complete boat for.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Hey Oz, not to talk in front of your back here.

I was responding to the fact that money seems important. Who can argue with wanting a SS?

Oz, did you check out that SS in Florida? Point is, with some patience you can probably get a better boat that needs little to no work AND you get to join the club AND your boating not fixing come summer.

 

[ozenine]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Guys, I REALLY appreciate the critisizm!
It is what I need now - reality check.
I guess what i am going to do now is to check some prices around for motors and trailers an if I can put a "complete package" for under 1500 then I will work on it, if not, then I will keep looking.

Paul, I did look at it and it is a good deal. Just a bit far to drive for me. 4000 km one way is about 1200 dollars just in gas

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

My desire for Oz to join the Starcraft club got the best of me

EZ speaks for the entire SC club when he types this OZ We are pulling for ya

I checked craigslist in your area for kicks and it seems like you might have to drive over to Michigan if this one doesn't work out...not many Starcrafts out your way

 

[ozenine]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Huron,
CL is not very popular here - kijiji.ca is the best one in terms of amount of ads.
But I agree with you, they are rare and even more rare the SS

THANKS a LOT for the support, guys!!!!!!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

It's an intriguing project. I like the fact that it's been in mothballs for 26 years--way better than being in salt water. For a restoration project to a vintage boat you are on to something; the fixtures should be perfect.
Does he have steering cables and more important control cables? yo have to match the latter to your motor, or look to buy both; controls and cables are around $800.

be sure the stringers weren't damaged in the wreck, or that the impact from the port side didn't knock something out on the starboard side. Watch the joint where the thwart (beam in front of the splashwell) joins the interior; mine seperated on both my Starcraft 16's with time and hard use.
Here's an overall concern: you want a BMT for less than a grand. At 16'+ range your motor will be 50+ hp. A good running used motor of that size would be about $900.
So if your "aquire the project" budget is a grand, fine, but if your "get a safe and reliable running boat" budget is a grand, you are fatally conflicted.
You can probably use any trailer, even a flatbed farm trailer, to haul home the hull with no motor, then you have time to scavenge a used trailer later. They are easy to rig for that boat: 3-4 rollers on the keel; 4' 2x4 bunks, carpeted, in the stern.

Don't do it unless you are really good at fixing stuff and your family doesn't mind if your boat seldom works.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Have you checked out these more Canadian sites....

http://www.buysell.com/

http://autotrader.ca/ (select watercraft and change region)

http://www.usedwinnipeg.com/ (change region on bottom)

Happy Hunting! But, do keep a lookout in Michigan, (CL) crossing the border is easy...if you get to that point and your not sure how, PM me and I'll let you know what I learned from my experience.

 

[ozenine]

Re: Starcraft 16 SS, should I or not?

Thanks Home Cooking for the opinion. i would very silly if I expected the safe/reliable boat for a grand. What i want is the boat taht runs. Even better, like EZ said, Hull in decent shape/servicable trailer/decent motor - pick any 2. I do not believe in miracles and know what I am into for the grand, but at least I would like to get my wife on the water in couple weeks after I get it and not spend months and months rebuilding it. Then I can take my time and rebuild it from the ground up during winter months.

Paul, thanks for the info. I will add those sites to my daily checklist . In regards Michigan - I do not mind as long as it is not like 1000 km one way. My truck averages 15 liters per 100 km, so per 2000 it will be 300 liters - 300 bucks just in gas.