Starcraft Boats for Sale
Starcraft has been making boats in northern Indiana for more than a century, and it's still run by the family that started it. Used Starcrafts range from old aluminum fishing boats to modern pontoons.
From railroad tanks to boats
In 1903 Arthur E. Schrock went to work at the Star Tank Company in Middlebury, Indiana, which made galvanized steel tanks for railroads and farms. The company started making galvanized steel boats on the side, did well, and became the Star Tank and Boat Company. Schrock bought into the business, and when the owner died in 1926 he bought the rest, renamed it Starcraft and put it entirely into boats. He died in 1966 at 85.
Starcraft launched its first fiberglass boats in 1958. In 1965 it introduced what it calls the first high-performance aluminum fishing boat with a deep-V hull. Starcraft added pontoon boats in 1985 and later developed its HMX pontoon tubes.
Starcraft went through corporate ownership, including Brunswick. In 1991 the Schrock and Smoker families bought Starcraft Marine back from Brunswick, and it later merged with Smoker Craft. It's built today in New Paris, Indiana by a company with more than 500 employees.
What you'll find for sale
- Pontoons: Starcraft's main line now, from smaller family boats up to tritoons with HMX tubes.
- Aluminum fishing boats: deep-V and utility boats, including many older ones.
- Older fiberglass runabouts and deck boats.
Note that Starcraft RVs and campers are a different business. Make sure the listing is for a boat.
What to check on a used Starcraft
Pontoon tubes. Look along the tubes and nose cones for dents, cracks, corrosion and patched welds. If the boat sits low on one side, a tube may be leaking.
Aluminum hulls. On fishing boats, look for leaking rivets, cracks at the transom corners and corrosion. Put it in the water and check the bilge.
Decks and floors. Walk the whole deck. Many older boats have plywood floors under carpet or vinyl that can rot.
Transom. Check for cracks and flex where the outboard mounts.
Furniture and vinyl. On pontoons, look at the seat bases and vinyl, and check the storage for water.
Engine. Get the hours and service records, and check compression and the lower unit.
Trailer. Check the tires, bearings, lights and bunks.
2 boats for sale
Frequently asked questions
Where are Starcraft boats made?
New Paris, Indiana.
Who owns Starcraft Marine?
It's owned and run by the same family that started the company, together with Smoker Craft.
When did Starcraft start making pontoons?
1985.
Is Starcraft Marine the same as Starcraft RV?
No. They share a history but are separate businesses.