Best for the waves? Starcraft SFM 176 vs Lund 1700 Pro Sport

[Jigtoss]

Can I get some help with this question? I'm looking at 2 used boats. Which of these boats would be best at cutting through chop? The Starcraft Superfisherman 176 (1996) or the Lund 1700 Pro Sport (1999). Both have similiar layouts. I'd like to buy the one that gets the nod for handling rough water. Any first hand experience of someone that's been in both boats?

[jake]

i have a 196, and while i've never been i a 176 i think they both have the same deadrise. in my opinion and a friends who has also been out with me and on many lunds, the starcraft takes rough water better than any model lund and drier to boot. i always bring a raincoat, and wear it, when going out on my brothers 1900 pro v.


"ya' don't need a weathervane to know which way the wind blows"

[Sparkchaser]

But seriously??????...............

[crispycreamlov]

First, I will tell you that the 1700 Pro Sport is very rough. However, it is a great boat with a nice layout. It does not matter which you choose. Once you get in some decent waves, they are all rough. Just depends how you drive the boat.

[Jig A Lowe]

I owned a 2000 SFM 176 with a 90 HP Merc. The boat did handle very well and I certainly felt safe in it. HOWEVER, I returned the boat to my dealer after 3 wks. in Canada because everything inside it got wet. There is NO dry storage in the boat. In fact, here are some of my notes that I used to write Starcraft about the problems:

Starcraft

The convertible top doesn’t work properly. It is too difficult to snap to the windshield and when snapped causes the glass to separate from the windshield. The dealer has contacted Starcraft and was told it was a problem with the windshield and that a new windshield would be sent. As that has yet to happen, it would be convenient for the windshield to be replaced now that the boat has been returned to the factory.

The seats retain moisture. It seems that rain is able to enter the seat when they are in the folded position and is absorbed by the foam rubber. Once this has occurred there is not way for the seats to properly dry. Although the vinyl surface of the seat will appear and feel dry to the touch, when someone sits in the seat for any period of time moisture is drawn thru the vinyl or the seams and the person gets a wet “butt”. This can occur many days after the seats have been rained on. This also occurs with all 4 seats.

Following rains, items stored in all of the storage areas were SOAKING wet. Items which I had previously stored in storage areas of my Lowe boat for 10 yrs. were ruined after just 1 rain.

The bow storage compartment … I realized that the front pedestal hole would allow rain to enter the bow storage compartment so when I removed the cover from the boat I placed one of the pedestal seats in that position. However, everything in that compartment got wet. More than that I had a small plastic tool box that I discovered was completely full of water and many of the tools had rusted and are now ruined. I also had a “urinal” stored in that compartment that was coincidentally in the upright position. When I went to retrieve it, I discovered that it was ¾ full of water. Items in plastic bags were also soaked, e.g. ropes, towels, etc. Don’t forget that one of the pedestal seats was in the bow seat holder.

It appears as if the drain tube for the channel around the lid may not be working properly as there is still water in it. However, I can’t imagine how even that would explain the amount of water that must have leaked in to this compartment and it must have been from above thru the floor.

The same is true of the rear floor storage area. I had a ski harness in a sealed plastic container and the webbing was dripping wet. Items in cardboard boxes were just ruined. It appears as if the drain tube for this storage area is too short to route the water away form the floor of the storage area.

Also, items stored in the rear side compartments were also soaked. I had a roll of paper towels in the rear compartment which were ruined. This roll of paper towels had been in my Lowe boat for 10 yrs. I had a down-rigger weight in a cardboard box so that it wouldn’t roll around – the box disintegrated. Also, the original cardboard box holding a spotlight which I had had for 10 yrs. in my Lowe also disintegrated.

As you can see, there was no storage area of the Starcraft that would keep anything dry. I am not complaining about a little dampness or moisture. Containers were full of water, cardboard and paper towels were ruined, ropes and towels in plastic bags were soaking wet.

This all occurred during a 3 wk. vacation in Canada. There were approximately 35 other boats docked at the same place. I visited most of these other boat owners following every rain. No one was experiencing any water problems in their dry storage areas. These other boats were Sylvans, Smoker Crafts, Legends, Lunds, Alumacraft, Monarks, Lowes, Mowhawks, Crestliners, BASS Trackers, etc.

Finally, the main 4 pedestal seat holes fill up with water and never drain. The screws in the bottom of the holes have rusted. The floor remains wet and damp for days following a rain and probably has never really dried properly and these pedestal seat holes will stay full of water indefinitely.

By the way, Starcraft refunded my full purchase price which was very commendable but also an admission of guilt.

I would defintely go with the LUND.

[MarkG]

I had owned a 16.5 Starcraft several years ago,mid 1980s, and several same size Lunds since. No comparison. In a good chop,the Starcraft rattled and flexed,was a real kidney buster. The same size Lunds were a much tighter quieter smoother ride.

[REW]

If you want a smooth ride, get a boat which has a deep dead rise, a very deep v, and a double reverse chine to deflect the spray.

None of these items are present in either of the above mentioned boats.
However most of these are common items found in nearly any of the glass run abouts which frequent the waters of our state.

There are quite a few choices in boats, besides the ones that you have mentioned.
Check some others for the afore mentioned features, and I suspect that you will be finding a boat, which is much smoother riding, and much drier.

Take care
REW