Starflite conclusion

[supergenius74]

Hello all, it's been a while since my last confession, uhmm, I mean post.
I did some speed runs this past holiday weekend and after owning this boat for 5 years now I have come to a conclusion.
The starflite is not a speed hull, at least in terms of real speed, I have heard this before but now I am a believer. It "sticks" to the water too much, I would classify it is a very stable medium speed hull. Medium being 45-65 mph. I finally had the chance to run it on glass conditions and for the life of me could not get it to go over 63 mph. I could get the RPM's to go higher from prop blowout from too much trim but no speed. This was with 1/4 tank, no extra stuff and just me in it.
The best speed I have ever seen is 71 and the RPM's were still not maxed out, this is on rough water 6-12" chop and running on the ragged edge and barely keeping control of the boat. It seems that what it takes to get the speed out of it, also makes it dangerous. No one enjoys riding in the boat at 65+ including myself and it just seems like a waste big waste of HP with my engine. I have thought about a hydrofoil as a last resort but if that doesn't work then I am pretty much out of options.
My engine is loud and smokey (premix of 32:1) and better off on the back of a hydrostream or stv. So I am thinking of options here, Either buy a hull that is more realistic for running at 75 mph, or just scrap the whole idea and sell it and maybe get a bigger slower boat just for convienence. I would like to hear some opinions and any feedback from any starflite owners. I have read all the threads of the past where some of you have put big HP engines on starflites and ran in the 80+ speed, Either you guys have huge balls or you found a way to tame this hull at high speeds. thanks.

 

[ndaniels]

My 02...
I'd keep the BP and look for a performance hull to bolt that bad boy up to... (or sell it to me) Mount somthing with big displacement that makes good torque and uses oil injection up to the Flite to make it fly- it'd heavy, so it'll have some good leverage to air it out.

How does the BP do out of the hole on that hull?
How much setback are you running?

 

[teamhart2]

I'm no expert, but I think youll always get higher speeds in some chop compared to glass, cause you can unstick that hull a bit and get some air under it. Also, if you have more RPMs left, isnt that a setup or prop issue?

 

[Vandalizer]

If you could post all your setup details, we might be able to help... never know.

 

[supergenius74]

My setup is this, 13.5" of setback, 5.5" jackplate all the way up, 8" extension that also gives an inch or so of lift. I have 1/4" aluminum plates on both sides of the transom to spread the load but I am afraid of adding more setback even if it needs more. I know the engine is probably the lightest of the 2.4's I was told 360-380 lbs. I run a 22p lab finished chopper that has been worked for bow lift by rich junker. Redline is 8K and peak HP is dynoed at 6900 RPM. I hit about 6500-6600 at 70 but it is chine walking so bad that I can't keep it smooth enough to go any faster or trim any higher. This is in choppy rough water, last weekend on calm or nearly glass water it was 63 mph @ 6K and as i trimmed up the RPM's went up but i started slowing down and shooting a beautiful rooster.

I know that chop will be faster than glass but i think this v-hull is worse than other speed boats when it comes to riding stable at high speeds. My old MX-15 ran great on glass or light chop, just couldn't handle the rough stuff like the starflite. I know there are other things i can do like hydraulic steering and a 4-blade trophy prop to help but I am thinking why spend a grand on that stuff when i could just change to another hull, I think i understand why they changed to a pad on the pulsare.

Oh and to ndaniels,
It comes out of the hole like a rocket, at leas in my opininion it does, with just me in the boat it is on plane in a couple seconds, with 5 people maybe 6 seconds. I love this engine I think it is the perfect outboard engine, sounds cool, runs like a beast and I have taken very good care of it, I just feel like it is a waste on this hull.

 

[Craig]

I just drove my buddy’s Starflight over the weekend……76 on GPS, no chine walk at all…of course he has hydraulic steering. It’s really easy to drive. 225 Pro XS and 10” setback…..26” Trophy, I think.

I also had a Starflight years ago and it was very stable, although it would only run mid 60’s with a 200 Merc.

I wouldn’t say hydraulic steering is a “must”….but you do need to have zero slop in whatever type steering you have to keep it stable. Once you have that, it should be a very driveable boat just like the Pulsare….

-Craig

 

[supergenius74]

hmm, maybe it isn't the hull, maybe its just my crappy dual cable, i know one cable is bent a bit so i have to keep it looser than i would like to keep it smooth enough to turn, It's just hard to believe that would be enough to do it. I have never had hydraulic so I don't know.

 

[Great East Predictor]

a loose cable would be enough to make it hard to control. i have hydraulic and love it, no slop at all...i can let go of the wheel at 80 as long as the water is flat. keepin the boat or not depends alot on how big the water is where ya boat to...mine doesn't go out a ton on the weekend when the lake is packed, it'll just beat the snot outa me. i do know there ain't nothin like the sound of a bridgeport singin at 7k, i definately wouldn't sell that mota.

 

[JW]

The Starflight is a fast boat, you just need the correct setup. Some of the fastest Starflights were rigged with the V8 Johnson, if that tells you anything. You just dont have enough motah
My buddy Checkmate243 on this site has a standard 225 EFI 3.0, and he's been as high as 76-78 on GPS with a stock prop. He broke the prop, got another one same model/pitch, and it was 5 mph slower. Keep trying props!

 

[Vandalizer]

Since you already have plenty of setback, you might want to experiment with your steering setup... that could be the weak link.

 

[ndaniels]

If you do go to hyd steering might want to check these guys out:
http://www.bassboatcarpets.com/products.asp?cat=10&pg=2

From what I found when I bought mine they had the best prices on steering. I bought everything alacart. I have kevlar hoses, standard 2.0helm, and the allison cylinder(about $865). Only problem I ran into was they sent hoses that were too long, I made a call and they fixed me right up!

 

[illMATTic]

I will agree the steering is the #1 culprit for poor handling. Others are over trimming, weak engine mounts, and wrong props.

I think with a diff prop you would be more stable. You will never know till you try 3 or 4 what works best. I bet a 22 or 23P trophy would be best. BUT i am just guessing on that.

Like others said, the 2.4's just don't have the torque to get these 1400# boats out of the water. You could have a 300 hp BP and it may not even do it. Its like the engines in allot of the sport bikes. Sure they have 180 hp but it would never work in a Ford Focus. No guts.

Try tight steering and a prop change first before you make a rash decision.

 

[hotdaddy27]

I assume your Bridgeport motor has solid mounts?

I had a BP on a Starliner, with tons of money dumped into it, it still couldn't handle the load of a 21' Checkmate (Low to Mid 70's and it sucked out of the hole, too much prop to keep the R's in range.

Also, do you do any skiing or water sports?? If you do, then read below...

Speaking from experience, you have two (2) options:

1. Keep the Bridgeport and get a smaller boat if you want 80MPH consistently.(you may get there at some point with your current setup, but at what cost and how often)
2. Keep the Checkmate and find a 300X or XS 3L motor.

Unfortunately my friend, those are the options... Even finding a Pulsare won't gain you the speed that you are looking for (with a BPort). I had a 2.5 280ROS on my 2100 and there is no comparison to the torque and large props that you can spin with more displacement.

Don't waste your time on the Stingray, it isn't going to do anything for speed or handling as it aint in the water at speed.

If you intend on keeping the boat, do the steering as you can use it with a 3L motor should you upgrade. I would also pick up a 21P Trophy Plus and see what it does for you. In my experience, a Chopper on a 21' Checkmate is not my choice for a good handling prop (won't help the chine walk that is for sure). I ran one last weekend and when I put my Trophy+ back on I couldn't believe the difference.

Sorry so long, but as you can see, I have made many mistakes chasing the 80+MPH mark with a 21' Checkmate.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Good luck and let us know what you do.

Thanks.

HD

 

[BagMan]

HD is absolutely right on.

I currently have a 280 on my 91 Starliner with a 21 Trophy Plus. Seeing about 63-65 @ 7K. With just me, it can hit the limiter quick and hard. With 6+ people, which is how I normally boat, it'll still reach limiter (just not as easy) so I guess it's the right prop.

Allison Ram and prop has made boat handle like an ABSOLUTE dream. IMO the 280 will never spin anything above a 23 efficiently. I may be able to turn a 24-25 Chooper 2, struggle to hit 7K with just me, and possibly get mid 70's, but it's not what motor is meant to do.

That being said, however, I wouldn't change this setup for the world. For what I use it for, weekend outings of skiing & tubing with the family, there is nothing more of a blast than this boat with the 280. I'm absolutely not looking to race anyone. It goes fast enough to get everyone excited and there is NOTHING that responds and sounds like a 280! When you hit this thing, it's like a fire breathing monster. SO COOL!!

Lucky I'll only put probably 25 hrs/yr on motor, though, cause it drinks gas and the Precision Blend oil might as well be liquid gold.

So like HD said, if you truly want top end out of this boat, you'd have to go with a big liter, start spinning some 26-28 props, and also address steering to keep everything under control.

Sorry I talked so much.

 

[supergenius74]

thanks so much for all of the responses, the hydrofoil was just a last min idea. I think i will go with the hydraulic steering, it is the sort of thing i can keep for another boat, or will help if i get a bigger engine.

I kind of wish that I had known that a 2.4L was not the "ideal" engine for my boat before i bought it, it's not that it isn't awesome, it's just that I thought i was getting something special since most of the starflites I saw at the time had 200 mercs on them.

I love the way my starflite looks and I think it is one of the best speed boats there are when it comes to handling rough lake chop. I think that after reading all of the posts, i should get the hydraulic steering, experiment with some props, and run this engine till it's done and then look at a 3.0L engine as a replacement.
-shane

 

[hotdaddy27]

I think that after reading all of the posts, i should get the hydraulic steering, experiment with some props, and run this engine till it's done and then look at a 3.0L engine as a replacement.
-shane

If your BP is still a healthy motor, why not try to sell it???

There is still a pretty good following for those motors (at least there was a few years ago when I sold mine). Then you have something ($$$) to start with towards a 300X or XS.

Bagman, you are so right about the gas/oil guzzling 280!!! If my math serves me right (usually it does), my 300XS will pay for itself 9 months out of the year with what I save from the 280 in Fuel/Oil. Factor in fresh rings every 2 years on the 280 and I am ahead of the game... I use my boat a bit more that you (60 to 75 hours per year).

Do I miss the sound of the 280 or the BP??? HELL YES. So I went and put in a SICK stereo system and now I listen to that. Dual batteries, subs, amps, and speakers probably make my 2100/300XS the slowest one around, but I still get 80+ and have tons of fun. My friends have Big $$$ boats and still ask the little Checkmate for the tunes!! lol

Good luck Super G.

HD

 

[87checkmate]

my starflite is not properly setup as i have just been usuing it this summer and did not want to start ripping it apart in the middle of summer when i bought it but i ran the boat with a 26 chopper at around 6300 rpm and couldnt even break 52 mph on gps. i threw my 24p trophy plus on there and im almost dead on 60mph at about the same rpm now and my boat is bottom painted at the moment(previous owner =/) i would try a trophy they seem to run very well on most boats. I have a 23p trophy and hit a little over 56mph with that prop. im looking to get a labbed 25p trophy and around 12' of setback and see if i can break 65. i have a 200 2.4l. with the chopper my boat looks like a submarine, my friend took picture and the water is breaking infront of the driver seat lol