Docwheelhorse 2,560 #1 Posted February 9, 2017 Happy Snow Day Connecticut, I was snooping around CL... ad for free Starcraft boat pops up (actually 2 ads... I search for Starcraft stuff ). I email them (no phone number)... almost instantly I get a response. Come and get it TONIGHT BEFORE SNOW or forget it. So I rush, get some tools, steal plate off other trailer and drive to Plainville about an hour away. Boat is straight, smooth, paint is faded, floor is rotted 100%, motor rolls over but hydraulic trim and tilt is inop. I pulled the bolts holding the rams and blocked motor up with 4x4... motor is Evinrude Star Flite 135 V4. Boat, motor and trailer are 1975--its an Aluminum 18' Holiday. Its home and currently under 6-8 inches of fresh snow with double that on way. Cant wait for spring! Tony 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,679 #2 Posted February 9, 2017 Looks like a project to me but FREE is always good! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrightorchid 261 #3 Posted February 9, 2017 Boats are never really FREE. Looks like a fun project. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Docwheelhorse 2,560 #4 Posted February 9, 2017 Yah its a project, but an easy one... putting an interior in an aluminum boat is cake and worst case scenario there over 2000 lbs of aluminum for scrapper between motor and boat. Tony Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
W9JAB 156 #5 Posted February 9, 2017 Boat = Break out another thousand. The hole in the water, you pore money in to. I was raised on boats the last one we had was a 36 footer on lake Michigan. Best of luck on your find. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Docwheelhorse 2,560 #6 Posted February 9, 2017 Oh yah... did I mention I love the looks... its my second 70's era aluminum Holiday and I owned one of the fiberglass versions too (Imperial V). That boat gave me 15 years of good service but stringers and floor got mushy and that is a project Ill never do again... it was a 1968, I did full restore in 99, then traded it to a friend for a 25' Flybridge Bayliner, then bought it back and again traded it to an older friend thst had to have it. Then it was given back to me when floor gave up and I sold it to a guy that wanted to restore it. I wonder if its out on water anymore... CT 6867 R Tony Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cschannuth 3,795 #7 Posted February 9, 2017 Man, that thing will fly with that 135 on it. My friend had one similar with an 85 HP and it ran really well. Have fun! Craig Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 35,581 #8 Posted February 9, 2017 Gotta luv them freebie projects. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maxiblue 352 #9 Posted February 9, 2017 nice ready for spring and fishing good looking Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Docwheelhorse 2,560 #10 Posted February 10, 2017 Good Morning all, Same boat day after "blizzard" Tony 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,843 #11 Posted February 10, 2017 Even came with a free sneaker. Can't beat that with a stick! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
W9JAB 156 #12 Posted February 10, 2017 A free boat is like a free puppy... there is no such thing! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 991 #13 Posted February 10, 2017 I too did an older boat once,a 1978 grew 19.6 deep v,never again,i had to do the transom and stringers,floor,but in an aluminum is the floor structural or is there aluminum stringers,never really looked close at an aluminum, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Docwheelhorse 2,560 #14 Posted February 11, 2017 Hi, stringers are aluminum... plywood is riveted down and then carpeted. Its easy to fix... there might be some foam to dig out but again easy. Transom has 2 sheets of plywood but rarely goes... again easy to fix. Thats what I like about aluminum... EASY! They may not handle as well in rough stuff due to light weight but on other hand there easy on fuel and Fast! This boat should be in 40-45 mph range trimmed out right. Tony Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clueless 2,898 #15 Posted February 12, 2017 On 2/10/2017 at 8:40 AM, W9JAB said: A free boat is like a free puppy... there is no such thing! Is anything really free? Okay maybe a little to deep. Couple of sheets of marine plywood and a few coats of light colored bed liner, you should be good to go. That old fat ass Evi should really push that one!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 991 #16 Posted February 13, 2017 I like the aluminum boats,i think that one could be a fun project,and 40 mph is a pretty good speed in a light boat,heres the one I did 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Docwheelhorse 2,560 #17 Posted February 13, 2017 On 2/12/2017 at 10:10 AM, clueless said: That old fat ass Evi should really push that one!! Ok... that cements it. Im gonna find a clean Johnson cover for it. Fat Ass Evi he says... nope in my book I dont go boating without my "BIG JOHNSON!" Tony 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 35,581 #18 Posted February 13, 2017 I like my big J, but, my little J brought it home a couple times. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clueless 2,898 #19 Posted February 13, 2017 1 hour ago, Docwheelhorse said: Ok... that cements it. Im gonna find a clean Johnson cover for it. Fat Ass Evi he says... nope in my book I dont go boating without my "BIG JOHNSON!" Tony I guess that would make it a true Jonny/Rude. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Docwheelhorse 2,560 #20 Posted February 14, 2017 For the guys that dont know... Evinrude 135, Johnson 135, OMC 135 are all same motor with different colors and stickers. Actually there all the same regardless oh HP Of the three I always like the Johnson Super Sea Horse emblem and paint scheme the best. I Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,116 #21 Posted February 14, 2017 That was a super sweet score Tony with a nice trailer to boot! In capable hands that is a very simple and straight forward project and you are the right man for the job! If I would have seen that ad I would have been on it like stink on dog poo.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
