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Starflite/Starliner owners questions

C

Carusoracer

Member
I'm soliciting Starflite and Starliner owners opinions on the rough water handling and overall ride quality of these hulls?

What body of water do you run in and what size engine?

2nd, can anyone verify the step increments along the with dead rise angle at the transom? ie does the dead rise increase or is 19 degrees the average?

Lastly would be flooring issues. Do most run with the carpeting or what do you do to preserve your floor? How do you handle water in the boat from waves, rain, spills, etc.

Thanks
 
My old Flite did pretty good in rougher water for being a small boat. Now its still a small boat, so you are going to get bounced around, but not as bad as I would have thought. I ran on Lake Cumberland pretty much all the time. On a normal weekend, I had no problems running the entire lake only occasionally slowing down for bigger waves. On holiday weekends when it got really rough, I left it on the trailer until evening. It wasn't worth getting beat up or putting the boat through that beating to me. That's why I sold it and bought my Convincor, nothing stops me now, but I do miss my old Flite. I had mine powered by a Merc 200 with 12' of setback and sea star pro hydraulic steering. As far as the floor goes, I left mine carpeted. I knew fully well that it was going to get wet in there from rain, swimming ect. i just made sure mine was always stored indoors, with the nose up and I always left it uncovered if it got wet inside and had a fan blowing on it. I never once had any issues with the floor getting soft or any kind of musty smells. Just treat it right, and it will last.
 
Corey nailed it. Nothing to add except I've got a 250 EFI on a 5.5 inch jack. The extra cubes of the 3 liter are a very good thing for these hulls.
 
What they said.

I only have a Yamaha ProV 150 on Starliner, no jackplate or setback. Just as it was leaving the factory. I love driving mine in rougher water, but without the family (I wouldn't even try that!).

As navigator with Mr Determination in his Starflite raceboat, I can say it handles the sloppy race conditions quite well - obviously not as good as a deeper V, but good enough to get out there and race! :thumb:

And I wish I had some photos or video from the trip down the Hudson last September when I was breaking up the big stuff for JRoss's Convincor :devil:
BIG AIR! :bounce:
 
If you own a smaller boat than the Starflite it will feel like riding in a Cadillac for the first two weeks.

They like to ride up the wave/wake, not cut it. It is a medium performance hull. If you have anyone in your family who cries about rough water... do not buy one.

That being said, I would buy another one in a heartbeat. My wife is now spoiled by the fact she does not have to hold on in rough water so I am sure I will not be buying another one soon. ;)
 
Coming from a 15' Hydrostream Viper to a Starflite was a major improvement in rough water handling (pretty obvious there!) However they don't ride as well as a similar sized boat with more deadrise. I think its a great comprimise. I've embarrased a few single big-block Baja's and such with a bone stock 200 Merc with no jack plate. So much depends on the water conditions and wave frequency. Where I boat, I've noticed it rides much better running 35-40 mph on top of the waves, versus 25-30 mph falling down into each trough between waves. If your family is sensitive to rough water, you may want something with a little more deadrise. However, I absolutely love mine and never plan to sell it.
 
illMATTic said:
If you own a smaller boat than the Starflite it will feel like riding in a Cadillac for the first two weeks.

They like to ride up the wave/wake, not cut it. It is a medium performance hull. If you have anyone in your family who cries about rough water... do not buy one.

That being said, I would buy another one in a heartbeat. My wife is now spoiled by the fact she does not have to hold on in rough water so I am sure I will not be buying another one soon. ;)
Click to expand...
I agree with illMATTic word for word. After our Predictor the Liner was like a Caddy.
After a few years the wife wanted bigger and smoother.
I miss the sporty ride of the old Liner.
Take note in the prior photos that my teen boys preferred to ride in the bow of knarloids Liner.
(He gave them the ride of their lives that day. They've probably STILL got bruises.) That's where they wanted to be
and they loved it, as would I.
Now, note where knarloids wife and child were riding. In the chick boat. The Wivesmobile.

6875A5CB-7581-4F58-8B56-6CEC4853615C_zps4pjiauuc.jpg
 
Thanks for the replies, most of my questions, concerns have been answered.

The boats are really not designed for too heavy of seas or sea state due to the lesser degree of dead rise.

Anyone have pictures of the floor of the boats and the drainage or seacock area. I'm trying to get an image of where the water actually evacuates from rain etc.?
 
Carusoracer said:
Thanks for the replies, most of my questions, concerns have been answered.

The boats are really not designed for too heavy of seas or sea state due to the lesser degree of dead rise.

Anyone have pictures of the floor of the boats and the drainage or seacock area. I'm trying to get an image of where the water actually evacuates from rain etc.?
Click to expand...

Any other owners comments :popcorn:
 
Carusoracer said:
Thanks for the replies, most of my questions, concerns have been answered.

The boats are really not designed for too heavy of seas or sea state due to the lesser degree of dead rise.

Anyone have pictures of the floor of the boats and the drainage or seacock area. I'm trying to get an image of where the water actually evacuates from rain etc.?
Click to expand...

The water runs back into the bilge and is not self-bailing. Unfortunately a lot of them are ruined by rain water as it often finds its way into the foam or wood floor. The floors are poorly made. It is the one big knock against the design. I wouldn't buy one unless it had the floor replaced or I was willing to do it. Here is the link to the floor I put in mine. Lots of pics and info. http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4539&highlight=reborn
 
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