Throw the Tomato thread

[Craigmri]

Its been a week since my Challenger 180 has sold. My Garage is empty and I feel lonely. Its winter and what does that mean?????Time for my next boat deal!!

I found a NEW, never been in the water 2008 Starcraft 1800 Limited Sport. Its an 18 foot bowrider thats sitting on a galvanized trailer with brakes. It has a great extended swim platform, bow and cockpit snap-on covers and best of all.....A 220hp 4.3 liter MPI Mercruiser.

This baby should be good for 50 MPH+ and all for a low price of $16,000 plus tax and registrations. Wahooooooo!

Let the Tomatoes fly!

Craig

 

[Dr Honda]

all i see are red X's

 

[Craigmri]

Tony, I tried using the photo "link" button but the luinks were too long I guess so I simply attached pics instead.

Craig

 

[timeman]

It looks sweet...but, somebody left a folding lawn chair on the swim step

 

[Dr Honda]

Nice boat... but you have to be taking a beating buying and selling every 3 or 4 weeks. :rofl:

You won't get any throwing of tomatoes from me. I'm not one of those kinds of guys that are brand loyal. At one time... I thought I was a "Chevy" guy... but now I realize that most American cars are c@ap. Also... for a long time, I was loyal to Yamaha. (owing over 20 different vehicles from them over the years) but in 2005... I had an FZ6 that was showing signs of a bad throttle position sensor, and they were not going to take care of it under warranty. The R6 and R1's were having the same problems. It took a year of me seeing other people with the same problem, yelling at Yamaha to get them to fess up to the issue. Needless to say... I traded the bike in on a different bike before it died completely.

Oh... last thing. From your last thread... you said the SeaDoo got sold because you were loosing "Daddy" time with your kid. I would think it would work to both of your benifit... as he could bring his girlys around to go out on the boat. I know you are in Florida, and water isn't a big deal... but I lived out in SoCal until I was 29... and boats were always a good time. I had PWC... but I only knew a few people with boats.

Anyway... good luck with it.

 

[Craigmri]

Tony,

Actually, the Utopia I sold to Tarheel I purchased this time last year. I promise I did not lose money on that boat. As for the Challenger 180 I just sold, I sold it for what I paid. of course the upgrades like the speakers, rack and impeller were a loss but I did get to run the boat for several months. I suspect I will re-sell this boat in the early summer for a profit as well. Its a hobby. Buy in winter, sell in summer. Buy low, sell high

Funny you should mention FZ6...I own an '07....LOVE MINE! 10,000 miles and its been flawless. I mean FLAWLESS. It has never been to the dealer. I do all my own maintenance.

Craig

 

[rookie101]

Nice looking boat Craig. Love the swim platform, my Utopia may be going down the road this summer for just that reason. The 4.3 should be a bullet proof engine and should deliver reasonable fuel consumption as well. The only thing I notice, is there is no carpet. Does it come with a snap in kit, or are you going to look for another solution?

Aaron

 

[Sikiguya]

Love the bolster seat. Love the cockpit. Love the back end. Even love the bow seating.

Not loving the ladder. Not loving the 'drink' bracket.

Did you pull the trigger or are you still looking?

 

[seadooya]

interiors nice, but what about a side view shot, or is there, pink and purple stars' decals, that your not to fond of...:rofl:,

 

[Craigmri]

Deposit

Jimbo,

I put a deposit on it this morning. I get it a week from today!

I do agree about the drivers drink "Bracket" but I can live with that. As for the ladder, I actually like it....Four step job. Thats actually an upgraded deal as most of these boats comes with a 3 step. Makes it MUCH easier to climb back in the boat.

Aaron, No carpet. I am glad for that actually. We never used the carpet from our challenger while we had it and all we did was step on the snaps in the floor and curse. So I'm delighted this isnt a carpet optioned boat.

I really like the one piece upper hull construction. Very Seadoo-like.

Craig

Love the bolster seat. Love the cockpit. Love the back end. Even love the bow seating.

Not loving the ladder. Not loving the 'drink' bracket.

Did you pull the trigger or are you still looking?

 

[Craigmri]

Side view

OK here's a side view for you guys!

Craig

interiors nice, but what about a side view shot, or is there, pink and purple stars' decals, that your not to fond of...:rofl:,

 

[rookie101]

I rarely take the carpet out of the Utopia other than for cleaning. I have a no shoe rule in my boat, so I like the feel of the carpet over a hard floor, but that's just opinion. Interesting that the shot of the leg shows no prop. I know from the people I boat with that have stern-drives that the multi-blade props, such as the high-five tend to be much better performers out of the hole as compared to the cheap three blade that most come standard with (you will lose about 2mph though). See if you can get them to allow you to try a variety of props before you decide on one.

Aaron:cheers:

 

[Craigmri]

Prop

Aaron,

They are in fact going to install a Mercury Black Max 3 blade Aluminum prop. Its a standard all round prop. A guy I work with is partners in a prop business and he said if I bring my new boat to Sarasota we can take the boat and try a dozen different Stainless props till I find the one I want. This way the aluminum one the dealer provides will become a spare kept on the boat.

I am with you though, since we're going to do mostly watersports, a prop that will launch us out of the water will probably be what I seek. Imagine 220hp MPI power with a High 5 prop? My wakeboarders will require shoulder surgery ;-)

Craig

I rarely take the carpet out of the Utopia other than for cleaning. I have a no shoe rule in my boat, so I like the feel of the carpet over a hard floor, but that's just opinion. Interesting that the shot of the leg shows no prop. I know from the people I boat with that have stern-drives that the multi-blade props, such as the high-five tend to be much better performers out of the hole as compared to the cheap three blade that most come standard with (you will lose about 2mph though). See if you can get them to allow you to try a variety of props before you decide on one.

Aaron:cheers:

 

[CypherAZ]

You traded 1 18ft bowrider for another 18ft bowrider? I don't get it. I thought you got the Challenger because it would fit in your garage. Which the extended swim platform will this it in your garage?

 

[Craigmri]

Cypher, Yes it will fit in the garage. The Challenger 180 fit in no problem and I didnt even have to swing the tongue. I do however expect to have to swing the tongue on this rig.

Craig

 

[seadooya]

OK here's a side view for you guys!

Craig

Boats clean....i dig the wheels.

 

[seadooya]

overtons

Cypher, Yes it will fit in the garage. The Challenger 180 fit in no problem and I didnt even have to swing the tongue. I do however expect to have to swing the tongue on this rig.

Craig

If trailer is not equipped, i dug this up.. http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...wing_Away_Bracket&str=swing+away&merchID=4005

 

[Craigmri]

Good find on the swing tongue....I will have to retrofit the trailer with a device like this......I'm thinking I want it welded opposed to a bolted set-up. Thoughts?

Craig

 

[Craigmri]

Dream-o-meter

Just got a call from the broker I'm buying my new boat from. He set up the new Starcraft today, fitted it with a prop and battery. He took it to the lake for a test run as I'm driving 8 hours(each way) Saturday to Sea Trial it and I didn't want any surprises.

He reports that the Speedo(dream-o-meter) read 56 MPH WOT. I'm sure GPS will reveal less but I was like......Dude, isn't there a break-in period on that thing? He subscribes to the Brake it in hard theory.

He said that with just him and 10 gallons of fuel the RPMs were too high and that if he increased the prop size he was confident he'd get 60 MPH out of the boat. I'll report GPS speed when I return as I'm bringing my handheld.

Hope to report back Saturday night with pics of the vessel in my driveway.

Craig

 

[Dr Honda]

He reports that the Speedo(dream-o-meter) read 56 MPH WOT. I'm sure GPS will reveal less but I was like......Dude, isn't there a break-in period on that thing? He subscribes to the Brake it in hard theory.


Craig

Yup... it's the best way. but it's a double edged sword.

In all the years I've built engines, if you want the absolute best power... you break it in hard!

On a fresh engine... I do one warm up, to make sure everything is OK. (no leaks, oil pressure, etc) and during that time... it will not go over idle. Then It goes full throttle, for a full acceleration. (must have a load on it) then off the throttle for a hard decel. Do this a few times, let it cool, change the oil, and it's ready to rock.

This has been proven to seat the rings the best, (because of high pressure, and vac) and produce the max HP.

Now... for the other side...


after this has been done... you don't want to abuse the engine because the piston skirts, and bearings need to seat. (with flat pressure bearings)

When I build a modern 4 stroke dirt bike engine... it has roller bearings, and Teflon coated skirts. It goes from my shop, and is put into a race that weekend with no other ride time.

The only time I recommend a slower brake-in, is with an air cooled "V-twin" kind of bike. The problem is it will have poor heat transfer until things seat, and I tell that to the customer. But... what they don't know, is that I already did a full throttle, 80mph blast to seat the rings. Most of my customers would think I was crazy if they knew.

 

[Craigmri]

See you guys tomorrow night! I'm leaving on an overnighter to get the new boat. I'll report back tomorrow night!

Craig

 

[Craigmri]

The new boat is in the garage!!!!! The 4.3 MPI is an animal! I;d love to challenge a 310hp Utopia cause todays Sea trial revealed one speedy boat! Cant wait to get it out on the water here in Florida. This mornings temp at Lake Lanier GA was 31 with ice on the trees! Still had a smile on my face after the Sea Trial!

Craig

 

[Dr Honda]

Nice. :cheers:

I've always like IO boats. even Whit a beat up prop, they just feel like the jump out of the water. The only down fall is... you find the floating log, or if you think the water is a little deeper than it actually is... say good by to the prop. (get that stainless prop on as soon as you can)

I remeber... in my younger days... I was with a buddy on the Colorado river. We were off the bank of the river by at least 30'... but we found a rock, and it ate the prop. He had an extra in the truck... but that could have ended the weekend early.

You'll have to post up some pics once you get it in some warmer water.

 

[Sikiguya]

You can't just put that post up and that's it. Give us a better description to the pickup!!:cheers:

The question posed now...how is the gelcoat?

 

[rookie101]

And where are the sea-trial pictures????


Aaron:cheers: