88 Starflite

[jetwet1]

I have finally found one that is not 1000 miles away from me, I am driving down tomorrow to go over the boat.


Are there any known major issues ?


I already have it in my head that I will have to replace the flooring and I will be looking at the transom very closely.


The seller has been pretty up front with a couple of small issues (gauges not working) and honestly, it's $2k with a 200hp merc engine, so the investment is not that large to start.


I don't have pictures, this is going through a friend of a friend who has made it clear he doesn't care if I buy it or not so no real help there.

 

[JUPITER PULSARE]

I have finally found one that is not 1000 miles away from me, I am driving down tomorrow to go over the boat.


Are there any known major issues ?


I already have it in my head that I will have to replace the flooring and I will be looking at the transom very closely.


The seller has been pretty up front with a couple of small issues (gauges not working) and honestly, it's $2k with a 200hp merc engine, so the investment is not that large to start.


I don't have pictures, this is going through a friend of a friend who has made it clear he doesn't care if I buy it or not so no real help there.

Quite a few Starflite owners have removed the foam forward of the cabin bulkhead due to being water logged. If you're removing the flooring, check the stringers and transom knees while the floor is removed. If I removed the floor of any early Checkmate, I personally would replace the stringers and transom knees with Coosa board so it never rots again. Plus it saves weight! I would also beef up the transom knees and tie the stringers, transom and topdeck together with glass.

 

[merc245]

I’m thinking see how it’s sitting on the trailer, if bunks make sure the bunks extend past the transom. An old wet hull could sag creating hook in the bottom over the yrs. same with rollers pushing up divots in the bottom. I pull about a 100 pounds water soaked foam from bulkhead of my starflite. I had typical soft spots, ski locker edges rotting, seat bases pulling out, Fell thru my rear seat once. I wouldn’t put a huge bracket on it either. I Put 10 in on between the jackplate and hull. It didn’t add any recognizable speed increases but stress the transom lip to foreseeable repairs. It also ruined the holeshot and ability to pull up an aduit salom skier.

 

[JT Patroni]

Take a look at the restoration I did on my 85 Starflite. Major rework.
the link is in my signature.

 

[Turn & Burn]

Take a look at the restoration I did on my 85 Starflite. Major rework.
the link is in my signature.

@JT Patroni Do you mind reposting the link to your Starflite restoration? I own an 87 and the floors have some soft spots so I'm looking into getting them replaced.

 

[harleyhopper]

JT,

Take a look at the restoration I did on my 85 Starflite. Major rework.
the link is in my signature.

JT, the link you mention does nor work. Would love to see them, too, as I am redoing everything to a 1979 Enchanter.

 

[JT Patroni]

I tried to access my photobucket account with no luck. Apparently they have removed my account. Sorry for any inconvenience. I’m not sure if I have any pictures I can send you. My restoration was over 12 years ago.

 

[caliburn]

JT,

JT, the link you mention does nor work. Would love to see them, too, as I am redoing everything to a 1979 Enchanter.

I redid a starflite befor over killed it complete stripe and fliped it upside down did a pearl white main metalic blue with a plain white contrast

 

[caliburn]

More

 

[JT Patroni]

More

Nice job. Mr. Determination bought my Starflite 2 years ago just before I sold my house in Cape May, NJ. I’m now back in the 1000 Islands, NY full time. I still have to get another boat. Not sure what I’ll end up with. Wife wants to Toon. I guess that can work, so long as I can hang a pair of 300’s on the back! Just kidding! I’m now in my mid 70’s so I guess it would be sensible to slow down.

 

[caliburn]

Nice job. Mr. Determination bought my Starflite 2 years ago just before I sold my house in Cape May, NJ. I’m now back in the 1000 Islands, NY full time. I still have to get another boat. Not sure what I’ll end up with. Wife wants to Toon. I guess that can work, so long as I can hang a pair of 300’s on the back! Just kidding! I’m now in my mid 70’s so I guess it would be sensible to slow down.

Ha ha ive seen guys with 250 on a toon befor man they fly,
Im not letting this new one go going to fix it up the starflite is the only boat the i have owned that people will go out of there way to say nice boat

 

[JT Patroni]

 

[harleyhopper]

Ha ha ive seen guys with 250 on a toon befor man they fly,
Im not letting this new one go going to fix it up the starflite is the only boat the i have owned that people will go out of there way to say nice boat

Excellent job. I’m 70 myself so I’ve really slowed down. Been redoing a gutted 1979 Enchanter. Did the transom, knees and support last month and just finished stringer, foam and glassing in floor. No upholstery steering motor….

 

[caliburn]

Excellent job. I’m 70 myself so I’ve really slowed down. Been redoing a gutted 1979 Enchanter. Did the transom, knees and support last month and just finished stringer, foam and glassing in floor. No upholstery steering motor….

Looks great you will get there

 

[RidinDirty]

Nice work patroni. Do you still have the boat?

 

[JT Patroni]

Looks great you will get there

 

[JT Patroni]

As mentioned, I sold my Starflite to Mr. Determination back about 4-1/2 years ago. Do I miss that boat? Hell yeah. My wife didn’t think the same way.
Life is empty without a Starflite!

 

[RidinDirty]

As mentioned, I sold my Starflite to Mr. Determination back about 4-1/2 years ago. Do I miss that boat? Hell yeah. My wife didn’t think the same way.
Life is empty without a Starflite!

Just visiting this thread through a google search

Looking for ways to strengthen an existing starflite transom. Or ways to strengthen to prevent any future issues

Ya know i can imagine. Love mine

 

[JT Patroni]

I will try to get into my photos and get the pictures of the replacement of the transom, stringers and flooring. If the forum allows me to post them I will. otherwise you could send a PM with your email address.

 

[JT Patroni]

Your in luck. Found pictures of the entire restoration. I copied the pics of the reconstruction of the transom, stringers floor and bow eye block.
Unfortunately the files is 80 MB large. I'll need to have my IT buddy put it in a Zip file. Can't estimate when that will happen since he is out of country right now.
I used West Epoxy instead of resin. All structural glass was 1708. Floor was covered with CSM.
When Mike (son of Checkmate founder) saw my resto info he asked me if I planned on mounting a pair of 300's on it, He claimed I got carried away. I probably did, but was confident it wouldn't break. That is why Mr. Determination (from this forum) wanted to buy it. He did some racing in the Chesapeake Bay and I think in the Atlantic Ocean off NJ.