Sterling tunnel hull or?

[Mhall222]

I am going to look at this boat in the morning and was told its a 1982 sterling 18ft. I have not been able to find any info on these boats and all the 18ft pictures I find are flat nose like an old skater 18. Is this possibly the 19ft Sterling? Whatever the case where these good boats or junk? I can pick this up pretty cheap for a stripped hull and trailer goes but, if these are horribly built boats I may reconsider. Any info on sterling would be great.

Thanks
Mike

[RLP]

I think its a sterling,looking at the sponson edge.
A friend of my parents had one in 1982 on blacksheir that ran 106 was always the # i remember.
Not sure on the good or bad.
Ya know i will try and call him and ask to be sure.

[RLP]

May not be a sterling.just remember the boat like that Ben had was a different name like that and the bottom edge of sponson had a notch like that one looks to have. Will find out tonight.

[Mhall222]

I just got home with it and I think its a sterling for sure. The boat is in pretty good shape but, does have some soft spots in the transom. The actual motor mount plate seems to be rock solid on the hull but taping around the transom you can hear the lack of bonding between the outer skin and the wood core. The bottom is pretty flat with no major blister that I can see anywhere and the rails look to be in good shape. I have a xr4 that may find its home on this boat to see if it is running the numbers like i was told which was mid 80s on a 150hp.

[STV_Keith]

What's the first 3 letters of the HIN?

[Mhall222]

Its hard to make out for sure but I think STL is the first 3 of the HIN. All the glass still looks good and solid but, the stringers are rotten and the forward bulkhead and side bulkheads are also rotten inside. The floor sounds rock solid without any hollow sounding spots found yet but, Im sure I will find some. Looks like this would be pretty easy boat to recore and install stringers in.

[Mhall222]

[STV_Keith]

Its hard to make out for sure but I think STL is the first 3 of the HIN.

That comes back to

STL

STALLION MOTORBOATS

2304 CONIFER COURT

GREEN BAY

WI

[Mhall222]

It may be possible that the first letter may be a Z although the first letters are very hard to make out.

ZTL38194M82G is what i can make out or think the HIN is. The Z could be a S and the G could be a C.

[Mhall222]

HIN is XTL98194M820. I do not know why I didnt just look at the bill of sale. haha

[mr fun]

it's an eliminator, re-copied, and re-copieded again. what ya gonna do ??? a guy won the "Parker" marathon in one with a 300 xs a few years back. for it's purpose, it's a badassed hull, save it, use the best products, make it your own! fun out

[FrenchPhil]

Sweet. I like the simple jackplate.How is it attached to the hull ?

[Mhall222]

MR Fun, that is great news to hear. At the moment all I have to power this boat would be a low time XR4 2.4 but, i do have a set of 200hp carbs and front half to install on it which i was told would bring HP up to around to the 200 mark. I need to do some research on the difference between the 2.4 merc motors as i have seen some hauling butt then when i research what I can do to this xr4 it seems limited even though it is a 2.4.

The only thing i would seek to change on this hull is the dash height. It is so low that you really have no place for your legs and for sure the inside leg as there is no drop off from a center pod. I was playing around with the idea of building a windshield and raising the dash up a little for a little more comfort but, if this would destroy the value of such a rare hull i may leave it be. Any thoughts on something like this?

Mike

[mr fun]

I think that looks very nice. have herd that complaint before, if it's something your up to, it would solve that problem. one guy told me he feared having his legs stuck under there if it went over. something to think about. later Keith

[wotjohn]

some pics of my 1991 Eliminator Iam working on