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Need help rigging my wifes Starflight

H

HUBB

New member
Hey everybody,

I'm new to the neighborhood.
I'm one of those guys that reads and try's to learn from all these forums but never says anything.

Anyway, My wife just bought a 1987 Starflight with a 220 Laser from a friend of mine. He had the boat for about 10 years and probably used it 10 times.Garage kept.

She says the boat is hers and the motor is mine. So I am now selling the motor and looking to put a Yamaha 300 vmax series II with a hydraulic jack plate, set back 10-12 inches. I LOVE SPEED. So when My wife is not in the boat I want to be looking for that 90 mph. But from what I have read the starflight is a little to bow heavy for that. I am wondering if this is a good setup and also what size shaft 20" or 25".

Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.
 
Congrats on the new boat!

I suggest a 20" shaft, just because that is what I have had luck with, and I think that may be what Checkmate recommends on their hulls.

That V-max should be a screamer, good luck and be safe.
 
mine is an 87' with a vance mnfg. 12inch and not a prob with it! you may want to look at the transome and inspect for cracks.......there are a few guys aroung runing alot more than 12!:thumb:
 
Isn't the v-max 300 a fairly heavy motor?

I probably wouldn't go back too far on the old style transom (has the lip).

As soon as I went over 10" of setback, I developed 2 small surface cracks on my Starliner. More cosmetic than anything, but just be aware.
 
Just curious...What did that boat run ( or did the previous owner say it ran) with that 220 Laser on it? ( I'm guessing about say actually 65 or so. So you're going to spend at least 25K for theoretically another 20 mph or so. That's $1000 for each mph.) Think about it...

Although that Yammi is a great engine trying to ask for any engine to push that hull at 90 mph is a tall order. Anything over 80 mph will be really screaming. That Yamaha is meant to run and run hard but it won't push it for the speeds your looking for no matter how you set it up. It's a bottom-end and mid-range engine. Not a flat-out top-end motor. But it will last forever.

And under NO circumstances do you want a V8 Yamaha. It's a 4-stroke and designed for off-shore boats, multiple engine applications and heavy seas. Not a Checkmate.

It's your money. And certainly your call. But there are more economical power choices ( Evinrude, Johnson , Merc, Yamaha ( used) )that will give more bang for your buck. Unless you're have unlimited funds.
 
i say go for it.

i dont see any difference in dropping that vmax on an '87 or an '07 as long as the boat is what you want. there is nothing cooler than a clean old boat that is fast.
 
Im all for yammis belive me... but if your putting a new VMAX 300 with 10-12 inches of set back you better address the splash well first. With the weight of that motor id stay arond 6-8" myself. The transoms are strong the splashwell seem to be the weak link. Aaron
 
just my input- my boat is rated for a 250hp mota-BUT w/ the right brackets and bracing i think you will be fine...... mind you i'm a bit of a nut when it comes to over doing things:thumb:
 
Thanks for the encouragement guys, I needed that.

Its been a debate - get the 220 Laser running good or bite the bullet and get a yammy. The best motor I ever owned was a pro v 150.

I don't mind over doing it a little either.

Eventhough the yammy weighs 539lbs(only 34 lbs heavier than a 300xs), I've read the starflight is bow heavy and rides a little flat so I am hoping a little xtra weight in the stern might make up for it. (If the stern can handle it).
This boat was in showroom condition back when my buddy bought it. The guy wouldn't even let it rain on it. The hull looks strong and ready to me inside and out.

I am a little worried about the set back though.
 
Does anyone know of an older starflight with a 300 set back 12"

Mine can't be the only one? (soon to be)
 
I know knuckels ran one years ago but it was a V8 and belive they were with very little setback. My transom was solid as a rock until last year running 75 through some not so ideal water about 1-2' chop and that was with a 2.6 yammi. I cant stress enuff if you want to keep that hull mint like it is do not run 12" setback with that heavy of a motor id go as little as I could. The hull is bow heavy but with set up you can make that a whole different game,remove the bow foam and run a trophy plus.
 
It's a very easy cure to beef up the transom on a Starflite to handle the additional stress. Any good Aluminum shop can weld up a bracket to tie the transom knees to the stringers/floor, etc. They can also weld up a transom splashwell lip aluminum plate to help distribute the load up top. I personally would run the boat with a 300xs, 10-12" of setback, sidemount hyd. steering, Hot Foot, trim & Jackplate controls in the steering wheel. You should exceed 90 with a DAH Chopper 28-30.
 
The Yamaha 300 Vmax HPDI weighs 540#. You will want to beef up the transom. Anyway with 12" setback it is going to porpoise under 40 MPH unless you trim it right in. I personally would go 8" and experiment with additional spacers till I was happy with the best compromise. I reduced mine from 13" to 11" to get rid of the porpoise. But my 200 EFI only weighs 410#.
90 MPH is probably 5 MPH optimistic for the 300 Yamaha.
 
Thanks for all the comments guys, greatly appreciated.

Finally, tonite I'm stripping the flite of the old 220 Laser, steering and guages.

Everything is on order should have it done sometime next week.

2008 YAMAHA VMAX 300 - 20" MID

10" HYD JACK PLATE

NEW GUAGES

I WILL POST SOME PIX SOON

Oh yea, can any one suggest what kind / pitch of prop to buy.
 
i want to see some pics!!!!-also when i said you will be fine running excessive set-back i meant to say to do some reinforcements!!!! you don't want to hurt that nice ride! that thing will scream......i'm not sure what prop to run seems how i'm olny running a 200hp merc! check around and the guys will help you out! good luck:thumb:
 
HUBB said:
Thanks for all the comments guys, greatly appreciated.

Finally, tonite I'm stripping the flite of the old 220 Laser, steering and guages.

Everything is on order should have it done sometime next week.

2008 YAMAHA VMAX 300 - 20" MID

10" HYD JACK PLATE

NEW GUAGES

I WILL POST SOME PIX SOON

Oh yea, can any one suggest what kind / pitch of prop to buy.
Click to expand...
Good choice.:bigthumb: I would think a 27" Trophy would be a good starting point. But you will need to experiment. Try before you buy.
 
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