Stingray or Starcraft

[Craigmri]

Greetings!

About to purchase a new "leftover" boat. I needed a boat to meet the following criteria:

Had to fit in garage
Work with tow rating of my Crossover(3500 lbs)
Comfortable for the family of four
Good for watersports
Had to be affordable so I could pay cash(dont want a loan).

I really like the Stingray 185LS and found one(new leftover 2009) that was loaded with options. Price was to be $16,500 plus tax. This boat only comes with the 3 liter carb 135hp Volvo Penta. Fast for a four cylinder but I understand its just not a smooth riding boat.

I recently stumbled on a new leftover 2008 Starcraft 1800 Limited Sport. This boat has several great options like the extended swim platform but most important....The 220hp 4.3 liter MPI Mercruiser. I offered $16,000 plus tax and they accepted.

While I'm not intimately familiar with Starcraft, I know they have been around forever. Does anyone know anything about their fiberglass boats?

What kind of performance can I expect out of the MPI V6?

Thanks in advance.

Craig

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Congratulations they both look like really nice boats. Is the Starcraft also a Volvo ? The boats almost look the same in hull shape, interior layout and color schemes.

I know I would go for the Vee Sixer but maybe Sting Ray boats with 4 cylinders are really renowned, good price on that Starcraft it seems.

 

[Craigmri]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Thanks for the reply! The Starcraft is the Mercruiser package.

Craig

 

[JimMH]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

As far as ride I would tend to believe that the boats being virtually the same size they will ride very similar. The Stingrays have a very good reputation of getting a lot of speed out of a smaller engine due to the design of the Zplane hull. That being said the StarCraft with the Fuel injected Merc will be very responsive and believe it or not will not differ too much in fuel economy. Both boats have very similar warranties. Starcraft has a lifetime on the Hull structure and 5 year blister and I believe Stingray to be the same. I have friends with both types of boats, not your model. The interior of the stingray seems to be of higher quaility. As far as performance My friends have 19ft models with the same engines and the Stingray will walk off and leave the Starcraft. In the end you have to purchase what you are comfortable with. If you really like the V6 then go for it. The V6 will help maintain the value of your boat years down the road. Congrats on the purchase no matter what you decide. Welcome to the water!

 

[NCLakeboater]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

As far as ride I would tend to believe that the boats being virtually the same size they will ride very similar. The Stingrays have a very good reputation of getting a lot of speed out of a smaller engine due to the design of the Zplane hull. That being said the StarCraft with the Fuel injected Merc will be very responsive and believe it or not will not differ too much in fuel economy. Both boats have very similar warranties. Starcraft has a lifetime on the Hull structure and 5 year blister and I believe Stingray to be the same. I have friends with both types of boats, not your model. The interior of the stingray seems to be of higher quaility. As far as performance My friends have 19ft models with the same engines and the Stingray will walk off and leave the Starcraft. In the end you have to purchase what you are comfortable with. If you really like the V6 then go for it. The V6 will help maintain the value of your boat years down the road. Congrats on the purchase no matter what you decide. Welcome to the water!

Stingray's warranty is different. 5-Year Limited Transferable Structural Hull Warranty and 3-Year Limited Osmotic Hull Blister Warranty.

http://www.stingrayboats.com/products/warranties/warranty_2010.html

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

I think you will be much better off with the 4.3 package especially if you plan on pulling skis and tubes..

 

[jkust]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Holly cow, no competition, the one with the 4.3 MPI.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

I have a stingray and love it, but I would go with the 4.3 starcraft if making the same choice. Fuel injected 4.3 all the way!

I think the boat would have to be hot pink and black before I would take the 4 banger first. Don't laugh, some tool pulled up to the lake with a hot pink and black Malibu wakesetter. It was the ugliest 70K piece of pink stripped turd I ever saw!

 

[Impactg]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

If it was priced the same as the Stingray and Starcraft... you'd be seeing me flying down the lake on a pink stripped turd.

Those Malibu's are sweet.

 

[JimMH]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

My bad Stingray has the lesser warranty.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Go with the 4.3 no question. Tough motor and way more power than any 3.0 could ever dream of having.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

90 more horsepower and fuel injection is hard to argue with for the same money.
Good luck with your purchase.

 

[Craigmri]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Thanks for all the great input!! I've decided to go with with the Starcraft! For $16,000 plus tax and registrations I just can pass up a 4.3 MPI boat. Hope to have it by next weekend!!!!!

Craig

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Very nice looking rig! No carpet....gotta love that! I can not stand carpet in a boat.
Congrats! I know you made the right choice...

See if you can talk the dealer out of a free cover for it...

 

[Craigmri]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Thank you Gary for the compliments!!

The boat does come with snap-in Bow and cockpit covers. I couldn't agree with you more about carpet! I mean, would anyone put carpet in a bathroom? A kitchen? Why would you put it in a boat?

Craig

Very nice looking rig! No carpet....gotta love that! I can not stand carpet in a boat.
Congrats! I know you made the right choice...

See if you can talk the dealer out of a free cover for it...

 

[pmillar]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Uhm, yes, they did put carpet in bathrooms back in the 70's I'm in the middle of redoing one in my 70's era house... it will have tile and yes, carpet in bathrooms was and still is a very bad idea. As for boats, my guess is part of the reason is cost - just like in home building. It feels good on bare feet but in the long run makes little sense.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Congrats. Nice looking boat. Great choice. You are going to enjoy the power and the platform. I have the snap in carpet and like it but not as much as the admiral! Good luck, enjoy.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Hey man, good score!

I had almost the same criteria just this November, and ended up making a similar choice: Leftover 08 with a 4.3...although you got fuely and mine's a carb.

Nothing like getting a new boat for a used price, though, eh?

Have fun and enjoy the waiting...it's the hardest part.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

I agree that is a sweet looking boat, are you in a warm zone where you can use it now ?

 

[jkust]

Re: Stingray or Starcraft

Ok that is a snazy boat. What must retail on that be? 16k is like a few year old, used, carb 4.3, 18 footer with maybe under 100 hours. So either the market is much more depressed than I realize or I just don't know Starcraft. The only thing I can see that would turn me off is the lack of storage under the gunwales. I can't imagine not having it.