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What's the biggest engine?

2

21mate

New member
OK all you Starflight owners out there, what's the largest motor you all have hung off the back of your boat and how fast have you got her to run?
I have a '90 Starflight and am repowering.
I was running a 200 mounted right on the transom.
Well, I am looking at getting a 260 or so and wondering about set-back/jackplates.
Any comments/suggestions?

Thanks,

Scott
 
not me but one of guy i have seen has a 250vmax on his starflight got a 5 1/2 inch setback and runs around 80 on speedo so im guessing mid 70's realy
 
Looking at repowering my Starflight myself.I was looking at OMC V8's but have been told by a few that they are hard to get parts for.Others tell me they are a cheap way to 300 + horsepower but the weak link is the lower unit.I really want a 250 XS or 300 X but they are to pricey at this present time for me.260 Merc is a good motor but they are high on the maintenance side,low on torque.I think the Starflight needs cubic inches due to its weight,Im not saying a 260 or 280 Merc isnt a good choice just not the BEST choice for your hull.I have heard of V8 Johhnyrudes pushing Starflights into the upper 80s.I would bet you would see 70 to 75 With a 2.5 260 and the right setup.Good luck and let me know how ya turn out with your project!
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I am hoping that the 2.5 will push better and have the torque I need.
This one is actually a 245 hp carbed version.
I know they like rpm's but I hope they are not too finicky.
I have a 12" rapid jack on the way so I am hoping to have things up and running in a week or two.
 
HEY 21MATE, I'VE BEEN RUNING THAT COMBO FOR 10 YRS NOW. 92 STARFLITE - 92 CARBED 2.5 245HP.I HAVE 15IN TOTAL SETBACK AND JACK. WITH A STOCK BOTTOM AND STOCK 21 LAZOR II IT WOULD RUN 73/74 MPH NOW ABOUT THE CARBED 2.5 EXPECT 25O/3OO HRS BETWEEN REFRESHING. NEED TO INSTALL AN HOUR GAGE. I'M ON MY THIRD POWERHEAD NOW AT $8OOO APEICE THERE NOT CHEAP. THIER NOT TO COLD BLOODED, BUT DO PUT OFF THE SMOKE, A BIT EMBERASSING. FRESH PLUGS TWICE A SEASON HELPS. SOME WHAT LOUD. AND IF THE LOWER UNIT IS CLE WITH OLNY 2 WATER INLETS BELOW THE BULLET (FIRST YR OR 2ND STYLE) BE AWARE THAT THEY SUCK UP THE SEAWEED AND FRY THAT MOTOR IN NO TIME. THE 2ND HALVE OF SEASONS I'M ALWAYS JUMPING IN THE WATER PULLING THE INSPECTION PLATE OFF CLEARING THE OUT THE PICK UPS. NOT FUN IN 2/3 FT. ROLLERS. THEN THERES THE 16 AMP CHARGING SYSTEM NOT MUCH GOOD ANYTHING BUT KEEPING THE IT CRANKING OVER.INSTALLED A ON BOARD CHARGER AND KEPT IT PLUGGED IN WHILE ON THE TRAILER. REPLACING THE BATTERY EVERY 2 YRS HELP HERE TOO. I'VE GONE TO DAUL BATT. I WOULD INSTALL A FUAL FILTER/WATER SEPERATOR ALSO. NOW FOR THE POSITIVES. SOUNDS LIKE HOTROD, THE LIGHTWEIGHT ALLOWS THE BOAT TO FLY FLAT AND LEVEL, AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE MORE UNDER THE HOOD THAN 200'S AND 225'S. BEST OF LUCK 21MATE E-MAIL IS mercury245@comcast.net FOR FUTHER QUESTIONS.
 
What do you think about putting a 300x on a Starliner. What kind of transom bracing would I need????? I have a 10 inch set back hydraulic jackplate (CMC).
 
A merc 300 or 300x is the best choice. My Pulsare ran 85 on GPS with a 300 Promax. It ran around 76 mph GPS when I had a 225 Promax on it. I’m guessing a Starflight would run a strong 80. I happen to have a 2000 300 Promax for sale. It is very, very, nice. See my ad on this website and on Scream&Fly.

-Craig
 
BTW: I'm down to $11,750 on the price. Fairly firm on that, but there may be some wiggle room since it's the end of the season and I need to sell it.

-Craig
 
Do you fellas remember this one?

This is a boat Kunkels rigged up during the mid 80's and it was radared at 87 MPH.

Kunkels8.jpg
 
I have a 1986 Starflight with a stock 300hp Johnson V8 on it. It has 6" of setback, 150lbs of sand in the nose, and a 29 pitch Mazco 3blade prop. It runs 88 on the gun and mid 80s with 3 people in it. The Kunkel's boat was set up the same way. The V8 works great but the boat has no holeshot at all with the big prop. Don't think any more setback will help as the hull has about 6" already built into it.
Best, Rob Vose
 
Well, it has taken a long time due to hurricanes and other crap, but here is my latest.
My 94 245, with 12" rapid jack, turning 22p big ear chopper, 76 mph @ 7300 rpm.
Damn, I am happy!
My old dog 2.4 200 was only good for 61.
At about 75, she even started walking a little on me.

This is one person, half a tank of fuel.
I imagine when my better half comes along, 74-ish will be all we'll get.
 
21mate Glad to hear that, thats a good top end. just keep in mind the maintance needs of your 2.5. and let us know any thing you do to alleviate them. maybe I missed something myself. merc245
 
going to setup a 3.4 300 merc this summer . 12"setback 20" mota 30-32" chopper hoping for at least 85 . My starflite is lightened no foam in bottom old stuf was wet from bow to stern thiner floor except around buckets no rear seat and will try with 12 gal plastic tank but will probably go back to the aluminum 29 as the 300 is supposed to be a gas hog with 6 big one barrel carbs.Heard all sorts of crazy speeds with big old v8 omc's and merc's between 90-104 mph hard to belive.

my 2 cents
jon b
 
My repowered 21 Starflight is hitting the water in about 2 weeks... thinking "happy mothers day", I'm going boating honey???
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1992 21 Starflight (bow foam removed)
1999 300 Promax Offshore 20" mid...
(has 2000 ecu & coil packs, 6400 rev limiter)
Sportmaster 1.75 lower...
10" CMC hyd plate with dial-height & gauge...
Hydrolic steering...
SEVEN Merc SS props to try...(24 Rev.4, 25 Temp.plus, 25 Mirage, 26 Chopper, 26 ET, 27 LazerII, 28 Chopper)... and still collecting!
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Dialed in, I'm looking for a consistant family friendly 80+MPH boat... We'll see soon enough! Should be a good combo (until my NEXT boat)!
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Jim.
 
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