I am looking at a 1982 16' Starcraft aluminum runabout with a 1990 Merc. 40 hp as a way to fish the Western Sound - the engine size is in the middle of the manufacturer's range for this boat, but I wonder if it is sufficient in the salt. Also, I wonder about the "lightness" of aluminum in a headwind/chop - anyone who has one of these boats who could lend me some advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Starcraft 16' runabout
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16' Starcraft
SouthBeach -
I owned a 1989 16' starcraft with a 1990 60hp evinrude. I sold the boat last year since I lived and worked in NYC. I personally think the boat was a great first boat and for a weekend recreational angler it was perfect. The boat didn't handle the slop well since it was alittle light, and so the bow would get tossed around alot. My biggest pet peave with the boat was the rivets on the bottom that would loosen up. When this happens the boat would take on water. I tried every solution to fix the rivets but they would always "pop out" again.
I personally feel 40hp is alittle under powered. With a 60hp I would top off at 35 mph.
Good Luck!!
SouthBeach -
I owned a 1989 16' starcraft with a 1990 60hp evinrude. I sold the boat last year since I lived and worked in NYC. I personally think the boat was a great first boat and for a weekend recreational angler it was perfect. The boat didn't handle the slop well since it was alittle light, and so the bow would get tossed around alot. My biggest pet peave with the boat was the rivets on the bottom that would loosen up. When this happens the boat would take on water. I tried every solution to fix the rivets but they would always "pop out" again.
I personally feel 40hp is alittle under powered. With a 60hp I would top off at 35 mph.
Good Luck!!
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141 Posts
aluminum boat
I used to run a 14' duranautic offshore model boat with a 25hp evinrude in the sound. It was ok on decent days ... of course you don't want to be out there when it's nasty (any more than 1ft 2 max) but on clam days it was very safe. Good thing about small aluminum boats is they are like a cork out there and will float over the waves. If you have leakey rivets try Glove it. Stuff works good.
I used to run a 14' duranautic offshore model boat with a 25hp evinrude in the sound. It was ok on decent days ... of course you don't want to be out there when it's nasty (any more than 1ft 2 max) but on clam days it was very safe. Good thing about small aluminum boats is they are like a cork out there and will float over the waves. If you have leakey rivets try Glove it. Stuff works good.
South, I have a 1982 16' Starcraft with a side console, (forget the model name) It has a yamaha 40 on it (boat rated for 70hp, 1300 pounds) It's light in the front... but I have dual 6 gallon tanks in the rear, solved the eternal leak with an automatic bildge pump.
Just this past weekend I added 55 pound of lead to the bow to help the bow bouncing... now she does great, I love it, had it out to Middle Grounds from Kings Park. Fished between the ferries, 5 foot swells from the wakes. I take it out in 1-2, but have been out in 3 footers... and just last week, decided to ballast in the front needed to be done...
Does 40-42 with no wind, calm seas. With me and my friend in the boat (500, it would do 35 top... (still good) Goes on plane at 15 mph. Handled 1 foot chop at 25 mph.
This is the second year I've had it, and I have been out 6 hours at a time about 20 times already, total about 40 trips all in all...
It'll run in 2 feet of water (depth said 1.8 then it gets touchy...
I'll post a picture tomorrow of my layout... (have to dig up the photo but it's loaded with depth, GPS, VHF, dual 6 gallon tanks, bimini top, anchor davit... I love it... If you want to use yours for Smithtown bay or similar, great for that. easy to handle, cheap fuel cost, low maintenance, hose it down, store it for the next trip...
Where would you launch from and maybe I could take you out for a ride.
I bought so I could launch from the beach at Montauk Shagwong (just another benefit) also, the aluminum's take a beating... and loaded with foam, about 4 cu. ft of it. Like Double Down says, check the rivets on the one your looking at.
For a price reference, bought mine for $2500, w/95 40hp Yamaha, and Majic Tilt trailer... added and electric winch for the beach launching...
Richie
Just this past weekend I added 55 pound of lead to the bow to help the bow bouncing... now she does great, I love it, had it out to Middle Grounds from Kings Park. Fished between the ferries, 5 foot swells from the wakes. I take it out in 1-2, but have been out in 3 footers... and just last week, decided to ballast in the front needed to be done...
Does 40-42 with no wind, calm seas. With me and my friend in the boat (500, it would do 35 top... (still good) Goes on plane at 15 mph. Handled 1 foot chop at 25 mph.
This is the second year I've had it, and I have been out 6 hours at a time about 20 times already, total about 40 trips all in all...
It'll run in 2 feet of water (depth said 1.8 then it gets touchy...
I'll post a picture tomorrow of my layout... (have to dig up the photo but it's loaded with depth, GPS, VHF, dual 6 gallon tanks, bimini top, anchor davit... I love it... If you want to use yours for Smithtown bay or similar, great for that. easy to handle, cheap fuel cost, low maintenance, hose it down, store it for the next trip...
Where would you launch from and maybe I could take you out for a ride.
I bought so I could launch from the beach at Montauk Shagwong (just another benefit) also, the aluminum's take a beating... and loaded with foam, about 4 cu. ft of it. Like Double Down says, check the rivets on the one your looking at.
For a price reference, bought mine for $2500, w/95 40hp Yamaha, and Majic Tilt trailer... added and electric winch for the beach launching...
Richie
Sorry, forgot one more spec. Has a 6 foot beam.
Also, a comment about the rivets... talked to a few other guys at the ramp... they all leak a little... this guys was a 2000 model and he has it too. Welding weakens the aluminum some, that's why they went with rivets...
Sincee South Beach is your nick, I'm going to hazzard a guess that your going off the south shore... if your going to use it in the Great South Bay, I'd say go with it, if you plan it for outside the bay... I think I'd reconsider... a little rough out there most of the time for a light boat.
Richie
Also, a comment about the rivets... talked to a few other guys at the ramp... they all leak a little... this guys was a 2000 model and he has it too. Welding weakens the aluminum some, that's why they went with rivets...
Sincee South Beach is your nick, I'm going to hazzard a guess that your going off the south shore... if your going to use it in the Great South Bay, I'd say go with it, if you plan it for outside the bay... I think I'd reconsider... a little rough out there most of the time for a light boat.
Richie
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1,022 Posts
the boat is perfect. i have a 15ft boat with a 25 hp merc. i keep my boat in manhasset bay. i have taken it as far as captins island in the east and the statue of liberty to the west. just don't go out in the sound in a stong east wind ,you will get crushed. you will find most of the harbors have places to fish when the conditions outside are snotty. good luck.
Thank you all for your responses - I only found this site a few months back, but am so impressed by the amount of honest first hand info one gets - great comraderie.
First, let me dispel the confusion I created - since this would be my first boat...I am a surf man by necessity - SouthBeach is the section of Nauset Beach in Orleans, Cape Cod that I fish most often - drive the truck onto the beach and fish. (Still promising myself to explore Montauk.)
I however, live in Stamford, CT - my brother who would share the boat lives in Greenwich. So I guess I am a little west of you reelspooler, and a little east of you, flybyme, we could meet somewhere in the middle once I get comfortable with the boat? So I would be using it mostly around there, and maybe at some point trailer up to the Cape to access Monomoy.
As far as checking out yours, reelspooler, pictures, a ride/personal look - I can't wait to see the picture and would be thrilled to get to ride in it/see it personally. Great opportunity to see how to rig it! Save a lot of mistakes.
The one I am looking at is on a load-rite trailer, has a ritchie compass, an old cb, vhf, am/fm cassette, and a pair of brand new penn downriggers, asking price is $2800. When you bought yours, was it outfitted with any of the electronics you mentioned? It has two small back-to-back seats - the kind that fold flat for lying down. Do you/how often do you paint the hull? Have you ever put 6 people in it just to take a ride? I was thinking of an igloo with a cushion in the back to provide additional seating so six could do a little family cruising.
Separately, besides my first fishing chariot, fast enough to take my g-friend water skiing? (a big selling point)
Oh, I know this one has a bilge pump, I just have to ckeck to see if it has a float switch.
Thanks again.
First, let me dispel the confusion I created - since this would be my first boat...I am a surf man by necessity - SouthBeach is the section of Nauset Beach in Orleans, Cape Cod that I fish most often - drive the truck onto the beach and fish. (Still promising myself to explore Montauk.)
I however, live in Stamford, CT - my brother who would share the boat lives in Greenwich. So I guess I am a little west of you reelspooler, and a little east of you, flybyme, we could meet somewhere in the middle once I get comfortable with the boat? So I would be using it mostly around there, and maybe at some point trailer up to the Cape to access Monomoy.
As far as checking out yours, reelspooler, pictures, a ride/personal look - I can't wait to see the picture and would be thrilled to get to ride in it/see it personally. Great opportunity to see how to rig it! Save a lot of mistakes.
The one I am looking at is on a load-rite trailer, has a ritchie compass, an old cb, vhf, am/fm cassette, and a pair of brand new penn downriggers, asking price is $2800. When you bought yours, was it outfitted with any of the electronics you mentioned? It has two small back-to-back seats - the kind that fold flat for lying down. Do you/how often do you paint the hull? Have you ever put 6 people in it just to take a ride? I was thinking of an igloo with a cushion in the back to provide additional seating so six could do a little family cruising.
Separately, besides my first fishing chariot, fast enough to take my g-friend water skiing? (a big selling point)
Oh, I know this one has a bilge pump, I just have to ckeck to see if it has a float switch.
Thanks again.
Starcraft
SouthBeach -
I more or less gave my boat to a friend for a couple of bucks to cover some of the expenses. My boat was in pretty good shape and the engine was in great shape and so I would have valued it around $2500. It had no electronics except for a hand-held vhf.
SouthBeach -
I more or less gave my boat to a friend for a couple of bucks to cover some of the expenses. My boat was in pretty good shape and the engine was in great shape and so I would have valued it around $2500. It had no electronics except for a hand-held vhf.
South Beach,
Sorry no pictures today, I'm a surfcaster too, member of LIBBA (Long Island Beach Buggy) and I had to take care of some LIBBA business today.
Now that I know your in CT, that makes it a little hard to take you for a ride... thought it was funny about meeting somewhere in the middle... how about Middle Grounds...
I'll try to answer some of the questions you asked earlier, the boat had no electronics on it, I sank (pun intended) another $1500 into in over the past two years, but all well worth it. It has a cover bow (small, but it's something) and has never been painted, original paint. (don't know if the previous owner painted the inside brown, but I haven't touched it. Has a floor, with brown carpet (indoor/outdoor)
The water skiing is pushing it, I'd say may a tube, but not skiing...
It's awesome for fishing, I mentioned to one guy that they may leak a little, but you can run it up on the beach, into a rock... whatever... tough boats.
If your still interested, pictures tomorrow (promise)
ttyl,
Richie
Sorry no pictures today, I'm a surfcaster too, member of LIBBA (Long Island Beach Buggy) and I had to take care of some LIBBA business today.
Now that I know your in CT, that makes it a little hard to take you for a ride... thought it was funny about meeting somewhere in the middle... how about Middle Grounds...
I'll try to answer some of the questions you asked earlier, the boat had no electronics on it, I sank (pun intended) another $1500 into in over the past two years, but all well worth it. It has a cover bow (small, but it's something) and has never been painted, original paint. (don't know if the previous owner painted the inside brown, but I haven't touched it. Has a floor, with brown carpet (indoor/outdoor)
The water skiing is pushing it, I'd say may a tube, but not skiing...
It's awesome for fishing, I mentioned to one guy that they may leak a little, but you can run it up on the beach, into a rock... whatever... tough boats.
If your still interested, pictures tomorrow (promise)
ttyl,
Richie
DoubleDown, The lead idea came from surfing around and read some old timer tricks... Lots of guys mount the gas tanks or fresh water in the bow, but that takes up space and obviously varies as you empty and fill.
I was watching the big cat races they have in florida, and they have water injectors on their trim tabs so when they lower the tabs, it fills a ballast tank in the bow. When they hit smooth water, they raise the tab and pump out the water. The 55 seems about right, but now I'll try experimenting with another 20 pounds of removable for when I have company on the boat. I really recomend this for anyone that has an aluminum, weigh the bow down and the boat cuts through the wave instead of bouncing off of it...
Richie
I was watching the big cat races they have in florida, and they have water injectors on their trim tabs so when they lower the tabs, it fills a ballast tank in the bow. When they hit smooth water, they raise the tab and pump out the water. The 55 seems about right, but now I'll try experimenting with another 20 pounds of removable for when I have company on the boat. I really recomend this for anyone that has an aluminum, weigh the bow down and the boat cuts through the wave instead of bouncing off of it...
Richie
Hey reelspooler, you'd be surprised to find out how far i'd travel for a ride, even just a first hand look and listen... in the interim i'll settle for pictures, but as my decision draws near - end of the week i hope, please do not be surprised if i ask you to tell me what time and where to meet you... got plans this weekend? I might actually be out in port jeff to look at another one anyway on saturday, andrew
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1,022 Posts
my boat is a side console with a bench seat infront of the console and a casting area in the bow. i keep two 6 gallon tanks in the rear behind the rear bench seat. i traveled to the statue of liberty and back on one tank. all of the bench seats are solid with no storage (this was my first boat and would have bought one with more deck space without the benches and more storage.) i put on a depth finder myself (a little scary about drilling holes in the hull). i have a bilge with a float between the tanks. the 25hp is a little under powered. with 3 people and my home made live it just about planes out. we have no pictures but will take some. i will meet if you get the boat east of execution in the fall for some slammer blues in the middle. i will net 20 pieces of bunker. good luck.
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