What is/was it, and what's it worth?

[java230]

OK Starcraft guys, what is/was it? And what on earth is it worth?

I'm always looking for something a little bigger (I have a 13' whaler clone), and with a bit more motor. Kinda miss the bulletproof ness of my old aluminum boat. 18' is a bit more than I was looking for but if the price is right....

This has been floating around my local CL for awhile now. "custom" transom, newer honda 90. I dont know what it started as and what its worth. I'm ok with a little bit of a project, but I don't want somthing thats trash to start with. Definitely doesn't look like the correct controls for the motor, messy wiring hanging out the back of the controls, gas tank?

Seems to me that if the motor is in decent shape thats worth a fair bit of the price. Although the cowling looks beat.

Thoughts?

Pics:

Add:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/boa/4558099308.html

 

[java230]

The rest of the pics:

 

[GA_Boater]

What is it?

• Holiday

What was it?

• Converted I/O I think? Too bad the job wasn't finished. The builder is relying on the super-duty splashwell to provide all the support and It needs knee braces to complete the job. I see no evidence it ever had knee braces or the Z channel used to secure the lower edge of the transom wood to the outer skin.

What's it worth?

• Up in the NW these boats hold their value. He doesn't say, but seeing what appears to corrosion on the motor clamp, it's a salty on a steel looking trailer. I think it has corrosion around the transom cut out trim, too. That all needs to be examined very closely. He's asking $3900 OBO, so there is dickering room. I won't guess what his lowest price is.

 

[bob johnson]

that's got to be a 400 LB plus outboard!!!! with no bracing other than the new splashwell.......that transom wont last...unless that boat sits in the water 99% of the time... trailering it , will destroy it...
bob

 

[redneck joe]

Two words that scare me when looking at online stuff:

• Custom
• Rare

Custom usually means 'i did it myself and I think I am awesomeness in everything I do'
Rare means it's butt ugly, they only made it a few years because it was crap, or I've never seen one before

Both typically jack up the price too when in reality it should lower it.

 

[jbcurt00]

If you've got the money to spend, I suspect the 4cycle 90 Honda is worth a huge chunk of the $3500+/- you might be able to buy this for.

That said, it's a salt water boat that has had extensive changes that could have been done different & definitely should have been done differently.

There is a row of 4 'rivets' or other fasteners running down either end of the transom:

Those are NOT typical. I think they tie the giant splashwell back to the original transom, it looks like similar new sheet goods to the left of the splashwell in this pix:

So is there a new plywood transom behind that new sheet stock & the original exterior transom skin? That does the heavy lifting in an OB boat. And the plywood is braced w/ knee braces that are also MIA.

There are 4 newer rivets at the aft end of each side of the boat too:

I'm not an I/O guy, so I don't know if they are factory locations (the 8 I mentioned above might be factory locations too, but I doubt it) but they definitely appear to be new rivets/fasteners.

There has been diamond plate added to the tops of the gunwales. Is it to hide previous holes cut thru the top? How is it fastened to the gunwale? If it's screwed or riveted down, and YOU don't LOVE the plate look, you'll have even more holes to address. Or if done improperly, the gunwales may now be riddled w/ pitting & corrosion from trapped salt water between the plate & gunwale.

In most of the pix that show the trailer, it doesn't look to be in too rough a shape, but salt water is tough on trailers............

There's been some modifications below the dash too:

Usually there's some structure & steps to get up & thru the split windshield..... That all typically helps support the dash & bow cover.....

IF the boat is sized to suit your needs & you can get it for $500 {or less** more then YOU think the 90 Honda's worth, then yep, it might not be a bad rig to buy. But buy it knowing that there are some things that might need more attention then a moderately thorough pre-purchase inspection will reveal.

Ask BlueFin for his soon to be published tin boat repair manual:
Corrosion & pitting: One man's journey to hell & back to Starmadian Nirvana repairing Previous Owner neglect, poorly done 'repairs' and other problems caused by lousy preventative maintenance

That's Volume 1 ^^^

Volume 2 is due out next year, just in time for the start of the 2015 boating season: Zen & the art of Tin boat repair


Seriously, until you own it & can tear into it, there's quite a bit that could be wrong & you'd really have no way of finding it or determining the extent of the damage until you take her apart. Namely rib cracking & hairline fractures of the hull at the rib ends.

Run in the PNW, in the salt, thru pounding surf, she may have had a rough life. Strip away her I/O & slap together an OB conversion, AND run it thru the same pounding & hard service life, all manner of stuff can be taxed to straining or breaking. Add typical saltwater corrosion and galvanic pitting, and yeah, you could have quite the project for $3500....

But none of that may be the case on this boat. Possible, absolutely. Probable, IMO, yep. Perhaps not, maybe....

Could be the most recent owner did the I/O to OB 'conversion' because whoever they got it from sold it when the I/O gave up and it wasn't run for very long the way it's set up now. It the original owner took great care of it, and did all the right stuff @preventative maintenance, you might get lucky & only need to shore up the OB conversion to ensure it's going to last for at least as long as you intend to use it.

good luck

 

[java230]

Two words that scare me when looking at online stuff:

• Custom
• Rare

Custom usually means 'i did it myself and I think I am awesomeness in everything I do'
Rare means it's butt ugly, they only made it a few years because it was crap, or I've never seen one before

Both typically jack up the price too when in reality it should lower it.

Thanks guys!

I was thinking I/O converted also. But i know really nothing about starcrafts. I didn't see a gaping hole/patch where the outdrive would have been.

Bracing the transom, if that spash well was brought down and connected to the floor would that be adequate?

And those are my feelings on "custom" also. But if the price is right.... (and its not trashed, and I can fix it)

Maybe I should have put "what would you pay" instead of what's it worth.

 

[redneck joe]

the hole would probably be covered by the OB - it seems to be sitting low.

Plus the trim/tilt button on the dash to the left of the wheel is (i believe) from an old sterndive. It's what I have on my boat.

 

[java230]

JBCurt00, THANK YOU! great run though. I didn't see the rivets as being non factory. After closer inspection of the pictures, it almost looks to me like the whole transom is made of "thicker" welded aluminum. Im interested, but it would have to be more like half his asking price for me to touch it. And the admiral would need to approve.... Its bigger than she wants. Ill let you guys know what I hear from the seller, if he replies to my emails.

And I agree, There are always issues under the surface that a pre-purchase inspection wont show.

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Well I will have to say that is an interesting boat for sure. Custom,,,,,,yep,,,,,a custom made splashwell. I guess they forgot to replace the flooring where the old engine sat so I guess that was in case you want to go back to I/O. I would believe that the keyhole for the outdrive is hidden by the outboard mount. Worth??? I guess what you would believe the outboard is to you plus a little for the hull as there is more than ample work to be done to it to make it safe and not really a cheap fix.

 

[laurentide]

That's a GREAT engine, but I'll never buy another used salt water outboard again. I thought I'd "scored" on an early 90's Tohatsu 8hp kicker...highly regarded engines and it ran like a top, but the thing lived its life in salt and was totally corroded to you-know-what. This was the base of the powerhead...check out the gear shaft cavity:

My family had a couple of saltwater OBs, too, and they met the same fate. Internal corrosion. The salt will also block exhaust/intake ports which can lead to overheating and subsequent ring/piston damage.

Given that and the general weirdness of that boat, I'd pass, personally. But that's just me after a couple of hard lessons learned. The other was a rotten fiberglass boat! If the engine is sound, i.e. the current owner can demonstrate that he/she flushed it with fresh water after every use, it's probably worth that asking price. Those Hondas are pretty legendary engines in terms of reliability, fuel consumption and noise.

 

[java230]

I have had salty motor fun too..... The part that worries me is the bottom of the mounting bracket makes it look like its been sitting for a long time in salt.

I'm thinking it will be a pass.... But I haven't heard back from the owner to answer any questions. If he can give me some good answers I may go look at it. Its an hour or so from me.

 

[java230]

This one is interesting too. Soft floor and transom, 175 johnny, said to run. Needs trailer work too. $3500

I should probably just go use the boat I have.....

 

[jbcurt00]

Clearly used tin boat owners in the PNW are really big fans of the Humboldt county cash crop :hippie::mullet:


Either of those boats for $3500 is really high, IMO. :watermelon: Or the owner is :faint2:

 

[GA_Boater]

One good thing about the CC is the V5 hull. I believe that means it has the chine stiffener plates. Yes JB, prices are as high as the sellers.

 

[Watermann]

Java I also saw that Honda SC in the Seattle CL, for about the past month. It's way over priced for me and I quickly browsed past it after seeing the odd modifications. I figure what else has the guy done that I won't like and add the salty factor to it, I would stay away. I don't like the way the guy with the CC boat has all the garbage around his boat, makes you wonder how much care the boat has had.

 

[java230]

Clearly used tin boat owners in the PNW are really big fans of the Humboldt county cash crop :hippie::mullet: Either of those boats for $3500 is really high, IMO. :watermelon: Or the owner is :faint2:

Haven't you heard, it's legal now.... And I agree they are both over priced. I like center console layouts though.

 

[64osby]

CC's are Awesome, the price listed not so much.

Good luck in the quest. Mine took months to find in the haven of tin.