89 Starflite 150 force max mph 42 ????

[caliburn]

Ok so im not new to a starflite i actuall redid one over 10 years ago a complete restoration meaning striped and flipped redid bottom to reinforced transom etc powed by a merc 225 2 stroke with 6 " set back ran about 60mph. I was given a offer i could not refuse and missed it ever since.
So i traded a polaris ski for another starflite that had no spark on top cylinder so i jumped on it. Has a 150 force on it no setback tried fixing the no spark myself to finally taking it to a shop they went through the carbs and fixed it but they are saying max mph is 42 at 5500 rmp, i know it still has the foam in it in the nose but even still 42 with a 150 shouldnt it be more like 52/54 mph?????
Its still at the shop, my intention is to repower her with at least a good 200 or 225 when i can find one in the mean time i would like to at least inprove on mph thank you for any advice.

 

[caliburn]

Ok so im not new to a starflite i actuall redid one over 10 years ago a complete restoration meaning striped and flipped redid bottom to reinforced transom etc powed by a merc 225 2 stroke with 6 " set back ran about 60mph. I was given a offer i could not refuse and missed it ever since.
So i traded a polaris ski for another starflite that had no spark on top cylinder so i jumped on it. Has a 150 force on it no setback tried fixing the no spark myself to finally taking it to a shop they went through the carbs and fixed it but they are saying max mph is 42 at 5500 rmp, i know it still has the foam in it in the nose but even still 42 with a 150 shouldnt it be more like 52/54 mph?????
Its still at the shop, my intention is to repower her with at least a good 200 or 225 when i can find one in the mean time i would like to at least inprove on mph thank you for any advice.

 

[caliburn]

My first starflite over 10 years ago

 

[karzrus]

Set back and raising the motor are likely your best path to speed

 

[jumbofordman]

Have you investigated engine issues with the 150? I actually gained speed in my Checkmates the longer the boat was with the same motor (Predictor went around 58, Eluder went 61 and Enchanter went 63 all with a Merc 175.) I tried a 200 on a Enchanter and it only went 45 - discovered it had a bad cylinder.

 

[caliburn]

Thank you both so im going to dial it in as much as i can got it back from the shop lol fuel is leaking from carb bowls and engine idled far beyond high so im going to fix that tomarrow, as of right now it has a 23 pitch stainless prop, i will give you all a update when i personally take it out.
I know set back and height would help but idk if i want to mess with that this year i plan to redo this check and reinforce reglass the transom so i can put a 225 or 250 on it if i find one in my budget i dont like doing things twice from what the shop said 42mph at 5500rpm does not sound right at all.

 

[caliburn]

Anyone know of replacement latches as the other one is broken and this ones about to break??

 

[Mark]

Congrats on the new ride. Starflite is a classic. They do require some horses to get the most out of them. Not trying to discourage you but the Force 150 is pretty light duty for that hull. Only 5 cylinders and 2L displacement with a 5250 max rpm, they are meant for a much lighter boat. If and when you repower don't go less than 225 or you will be disappointed again. Add a jackplate as well when you do. I went from 200 to 225 to 250 on my Starliner. A 250 really rocks.
In the meantime you can still enjoy a boat that runs somewhere in the 40's (doubt you will hit 50). Great ride. Fun cruiser and you will still be able to ski behind it. I bet I spent most of my time day cruising at 35 mph. Only opened it up when I was by myself to see how fast it would go. Never lived there. Enjoy your new toy.

 

[Mark]

And I realize you know all about these hulls. Just giving you my .02.

 

[caliburn]

Congrats on the new ride. Starflite is a classic. They do require some horses to get the most out of them. Not trying to discourage you but the Force 150 is pretty light duty for that hull. Only 5 cylinders and 2L displacement with a 5250 max rpm, they are meant for a much lighter boat. If and when you repower don't go less than 225 or you will be disappointed again. Add a jackplate as well when you do. I went from 200 to 225 to 250 on my Starliner. A 250 really rocks.
In the meantime you can still enjoy a boat that runs somewhere in the 40's (doubt you will hit 50). Great ride. Fun cruiser and you will still be able to ski behind it. I bet I spent most of my time day cruising at 35 mph. Only opened it up when I was by myself to see how fast it would go. Never lived there. Enjoy your new toy.

Thank you for the reply as , I knew very little on that engine but now I do thanks to you, ok will take it easy on this engine i just put a sound system in it and the bimini top so will have fun with it this year and I will be on the lookout for a 250, my plan is to make it a sleeper by taking the decals off of the newer 250 and going to name her cigarette butt lol not big enough to be a cigarette boat so its a butt lol. For some of the runs on lake of the ozarks.

 

[caliburn]

 

[Mark]

That's a nice looking ride with the red! Definitely a keeper. I totally miss mine... but you can only own so many boats at one time. Or so my wife says.

 

[caliburn]

That's a nice looking ride with the red! Definitely a keeper. I totally miss mine... but you can only own so many boats at one time. Or so my wife says.

The red was painted over unfortunately so next year i will sand it off and redo it with a duraflint 2 red give it a new bump rail reinforce the transom with at least a 1/4" thick fiberglass wrap the entire transom and hit it with a white duraflint 2 befor finding a 225 or 250, amusingly i had a polaris jet ski that i paid $500 for fixed it and traded it for the checkmate that had no spark on top cylinder paid a shop that put on a stator and cdi for $500 so i have 1k in it plus gas, i think someone redid the inside at some point because its to nice to be 37 years old.
Hey if you get any leads on those rear latches for thise 2 storage compartment that are metal please let me know as im pretty good at fabing things but those im at a lose to figue out a decent replacement. Thanks

 

[caliburn]

So i took it out unloading at the ramp with transome in the water she leaks pretty badly from the bump rail seams my guess, trimed it up and she started to slip was my only way to get it above 4k-4300 to 5k 43mph on a 23p 13w ss prop did not run right so i re set from the carb linkage to the cables, re adjusted carbs to 1 and 1/8 turn out she seems to purr like a mottor should, just got a 8" jack plate going to install it and do my adjustments to 2" below v and take it out for memorial day to see what my gaines are

 

[caliburn]

So jack plate on 12hours later lol that was no joke and its off a smige

 

[caliburn]

Raised to about 3.5 from v better then the 6.5 without jack, i can lift it to about 2" but turning she climbs in rpm, got it to 5k rmp at 41mph with 1other person on a basic ss 23p 13w prop so im kinda let down as still trying to figure out how guys with a 200hp and a tempest can get close to 70mph i can not see how with 50 more hp and a prop can get a person 30mph faster makes no sence to me.

 

[Mark]

The guys claiming 70mph with a 200 are lying. I think I got 61 mph with a 200 EFI 24p Tempest prop. I also never gained any speed when I raised it above 3.5". The reason in part is you start to lose lift. My favorite prop was a 25p Rev 4 (which most people don't know is actually a 4 blade Tempest). Tons of lift. However they require high horsepower to turn so I do not recommend it for the Force 150. I had it on my 250 Etec.
The challenge you are facing is that motor does not have enough HP to lift the bow and reduce the wetted surface. I had a friend with a 150hp V6 on a Starflite and he never broke 50 mph. He upgraded to a 175 got over 50 but I don't remember what exactly. It always felt a bit slow for how fast the boat looked sitting still. That is why I said earlier that 225 is minimum for this hull. You also cannot compare this hull to a Pulsare. They are much faster with the same HP.
Not trying to discourage you but I would not be chasing MPH with the Force 150. Recipe for disappointment. I would just think of it as a cruiser and enjoy the ride until you have the funds to repower. Best

 

[caliburn]

The guys claiming 70mph with a 200 are lying. I think I got 61 mph with a 200 EFI 24p Tempest prop. I also never gained any speed when I raised it above 3.5". The reason in part is you start to lose lift. My favorite prop was a 25p Rev 4 (which most people don't know is actually a 4 blade Tempest). Tons of lift. However they require high horsepower to turn so I do not recommend it for the Force 150. I had it on my 250 Etec.
The challenge you are facing is that motor does not have enough HP to lift the bow and reduce the wetted surface. I had a friend with a 150hp V6 on a Starflite and he never broke 50 mph. He upgraded to a 175 got over 50 but I don't remember what exactly. It always felt a bit slow for how fast the boat looked sitting still. That is why I said earlier that 225 is minimum for this hull. You also cannot compare this hull to a Pulsare. They are much faster with the same HP.
Not trying to discourage you but I would not be chasing MPH with the Force 150. Recipe for disappointment. I would just think of it as a cruiser and enjoy the ride until you have the funds to repower. Best

Thank you so much thats a welth of knowledge that I did not know, Im sure next year I will find a 225 or 250 glad you said something because the list I had I was convinced a 200hp would get me where i wanted to be this is the list and it is on this forum.