How does a starliner/starfire take chop?

[Needafunboat]

OK, so I should have gotten a sled like my buddy told me. It's now cold in MI and the sportfire (and all the other toys) are winterized up north so my mind is wandering to the next toy. My (still new to me) sportfire is great, but I'm already seeing that a 17' boat may beat my very little kids up on rough / crowded lakes too much. Plus I knew at some point I'd want a BR.

So I'm looking at the starliners out there. Can anyone tell me how much better they will take rougher water than my little sportfire. I've heard they smooth out chop better than a 1400lb hull normally would. I think the hull is the same as a starfire.

Thanks for any input!

[Mark]

You mean the same as a Starflite! The Starfire is a different boat altogether. Well, it just so happens I own both a Starliner and a Diplomat (open bow Sportfire). The Starliner is a far, far better rough water boat. We ski and run around in the Diplomat most of the time for fuel economy sake. But as soon as the big chop whips up the Diplomat becomes airborn, so we put it away and use the Starliner. It is as solid as a rock and handles beautifully. It can pull a U-turn on a dime at 40 MPH like no other. It is easy to ski behind as well. Great boats both!

[HobieHernandez]

I like going air born and my starliner catches air and makes nice landings,I see some videos of the smaller checkmates catching air and they are scarey,they look like there going to flip back,,I typically go out with 6 to 8 peeps on board,,when you have it weighed down with passengers it is smooth sailing in the rough stuff..easier to park , beach and anchor with the open bow,closed bow looks alot sharper,but more work..

[HobieHernandez]

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa119/hobiehernandez1/100_7043.jpg

[hotdaddy27]

I never had a 17'er, but I did have an 18.5 and the handling was night and day....even had no problem with the starliner in the ocean (obviously I had to watch the weather first).

I am hoping that my new 21 handles anywhere near as well as my old one.

I am not "plugging" the starliner just because I am selling one, they really are great boats.

See mine here. I am willing to negotiate, make me an offer.

http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10241

Shoot me an email, I am willing to drive some as well.

[rowdy1]

The starliner handles chop great. The faster you go the better it gets. If you have a hyd. jackplate & a low water pick up you can get it up on top , & let it eat. With the V8 johnson on the back, I try not to go airborne, for the transom's sake.

[checkmate DOH!!]

yup---the diplomat is a great smooth water boat or in mild chop----but when it gets rough its either bang over them at half speed or just open it up and try to skim over the tops of the wakes which does get a little scary especially with little ones aboard---

[Needafunboat]

That's right - starflight, not starfire. Thanks for all the info... well maybe not - now I'm definately in the market for a starliner! The sportfire/diplomat is a great boat and while it doesn't take the chop as well as the boat I had growing up, it is much more stable crossing wakes and in sideways stuff.

With the 2 kids, the sporty gets rough when the water kicks up and I can't really pound over stuff in it with them. Plus that pic of the kids in the Bow is pretty much my life - that bow area is really nice sized!

Hotdaddy - your boat looks nice, but is a little more of a project than I'm looking for. The 2 starliners in the listings both look like nice boats - that $5500 one way out in WA is just taunting me. Such a good deal - sooo far away. Even with transport, it's still an OK deal. 'hmmm. Anyone driving in from seatle and want to make some $??

[hotdaddy27]

I understand.
As long as you get what makes you happy, that is what matters:cheers

[HobieHernandez]

take a week off,fly up with the family,rent a rv and do some site seeing on the way back..LOL..
my family pic,I was looking for a pontoon,needed weight capacity for my crew..plus they always want to bring friends,parked next to a checkmate one day and saw the capacity 8 peeps or 1975lb,wow that is the boat for me,who wants to putt putt in a pontoon anyway..
The Starliner is a Great Family Sport/Speed Cruiser